Will Howard hit Emeka Egbuka with a 26-yard pass to pull the Buckeyes closer to field goal range, but an offensive pass-interference call on freshman Jeremiah Smith pushed Ohio State back. On third-and-20 on the Oregon 38, Howard took off running with four seconds left but gained only 12 yards and slid as time ran out.

In any game where the teams are pretty equal in talent, it often comes down to other tangibles and moments in the game that make all the difference between winning and losing. Such is the case