<P> Ohio State quickly sought a replacement for Cooper and after a nationwide search hired Jim Tressel . With four NCAA Division I - AA National Championships at Youngstown State University, Tressel, formerly an assistant coach for Earle Bruce, was an Ohioan who was considered to be appreciative of Buckeye football traditions . Although there were some doubts as to whether or not Tressel could repeat his earlier success at the Division 1A level, most fans and alumni met the coaching change with enthusiasm . On the day of his hiring, Jim Tressel, speaking to fans and students at a Buckeye basketball game, made a prophetic implication that he would lead the Buckeyes to beat Michigan in Ann Arbor the following November . </P> <P> Tressel's first season was difficult as the Buckeyes finished 7--5 (all but one loss was by a touchdown or less), but he made good on his promise, beating Michigan in Ann Arbor . While its fans were optimistic about the chance for success of the 2002 team, most observers were surprised by Ohio State's National Championship . Ohio State used strong defense, ball - control play - calling, and field position tactics to win numerous close games, a style of play characterized as "Tresselball", and disparaged by detractors as "the Luckeyes". The 2006 and 2007 regular seasons ended with just one combined loss and consecutive appearances in the national championship game . The Buckeyes lost both by wide margins . On January 1, 2010, the Buckeyes defeated the Oregon Ducks in The Rose Bowl Game by a score of 26--17 . This ended a 3 - game BCS losing streak for Ohio State, having lost 2 National Championships and one Tostitos Fiesta Bowl . Terrelle Pryor was named MVP of the contest with 2 touchdown passes for a career - high 266 passing yards . In addition, he had more total yards than the entire Oregon Ducks team . </P> <P> In December 2010 it was announced that five student - athletes on the Ohio State University football team would be suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season for NCAA violations . The punishments stemmed from an incident when some of the Buckeye players received tattoos for their autographs, according to news reports . Other violations committed by the players included the selling of several items given to them by the University, such as Big Ten championship rings . </P> <P> On January 4, 2011, Ohio State completed its season with a 31--26 win over Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl . The Sugar Bowl win would have marked Ohio State's first bowl victory over a Southeastern Conference opponent in ten attempts, but the win was later vacated due to NCAA violations . Ohio State ended up with an 0--1 record (the lone loss from the Wisconsin Badgers) for the 2010 season after vacating its wins for NCAA violations . </P>

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