TEMPE, Ariz. -- Cie Grant delivered the final uppercut for Ohio State last night in what will go down in history as one of college football's great upset knockouts.

The senior linebacker forced a bad pass by Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey on fourth down from the 1-yard line in the second overtime. That made Maurice Clarett's 5-yard touchdown run moments earlier the game-winner in a 31-24 victory over the heavily favored Hurricanes. And it made the Buckeyes the national champions.

"It was two great heavyweights slugging it out and our guys came up with the win," coach Jim Tressel said.

The rest of the Buckeyes and many of their fans charged the field and locked in a jubilant throng that enjoyed fireworks, confetti and hugs throughout. The rest of the predominantly OSU crowd of 77,502 in Sun Devil Stadium rocked in the glow of the school's first national championship since 1968 and fifth overall. It capped the winningest season -- 14-0 -- in OSU history.

"We are so proud of these young men, these 13 seniors," Tressel said. "We've always had the best damn band in the land. Now we've got the best damn team in the land."

Miami had gone in as an 11-point favorite to become the first team to repeat as national champion since Nebraska in 1994 and '95. Instead, the Hurricanes, riding a 34-game winning streak, ran into the same OSU team that won any way it could -- usually ugly -- down the stretch of the season.

Miami coach Larry Coker watched the Buckeyes force five turnovers, converting two -- a Mike Doss interception and a Kenny Peterson-forced fumble grabbed by Darrion Scott -- into touchdowns as OSU took a 14-7 halftime lead.

"They had that type of year all year," said Coker, who suffered his first defeat in his two years as Miami's coach. "They are a great football team, well coached and extremely hard to fight."

The game had moved to overtime after Miami kicker Todd Sievers nailed a 40-yard field goal on the final play of regulation to tie the score at 17. It came just as the Buckeyes appeared ready to put the game away. But Miami's Roscoe Parrish took a punt back 50 yards to the OSU 26 to set up the kick.

Miami struck first in OT, with Dorsey flipping a lob to tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. over the head of safety Will Allen.

The Buckeyes came back for the tying score behind quarterback Craig Krenzel, the offensive player of the game. They survived two fourth downs to do it. Facing fourth-and-14 from the 29, Krenzel hit Michael Jenkins with a pass to the 12. Then, on fourth-and-3 from the 5, Miami's Glenn Sharpe was called for pass interference while covering Chris Gamble in the end zone

That put the ball at the 2. Krenzel sneaked in from a yard out on third down, and after an illegal-procedure call, kicker Mike Nugent delivered the tying point.

The Buckeyes drove to Clarett's 5-yard scoring run to start the second OT, then put up a goal-line stand led by linebacker Matt Wilhelm that forced the final play from the 1-yard line. Grant raced in, and the 2002 Ohio State team zoomed into history.

"Everyone should cherish this, because you're never guaranteed to come back here," Grant said. "The last team to do this at Ohio State was 1968. Look at all the great players who have come and gone in between."

He'll have his name wedged in there someplace, as will many members of the OSU defense. Some critics said the vaunted unit would be overmatched by the speed and diversity of Miami, featuring Dorsey, running back Willis McGahee, wide receiver Andre Johnson and Winslow.

Allen's hit on McGahee with 11:39 left in the fourth quarter sent the star to the sideline with a knee injury, and Wilhelm's hit on Dorsey in overtime sent the quarterback to the sideline for a play. Johnson had four catches for 54 yards.

Winslow turned out to be the toughest, catching a Miami bowl-record 11 passes for 122 yards. Whether Dorsey -- he was 28 of 43 for 296 yards, two interceptions and two TDs -- was looking for Winslow on the final play wasn't known. Grant's pressure made it a moot point.

Krenzel gained his offensive player of the game award not for style but for tenacity. He was 7 of 21 passing for 122 yards with two interceptions. But he ran for a career-high 81 yards on 19 carries and scored twice on sneaks.

It also wasn't the greatest rushing day in Clarett's young career -- he was held to 47 yards on 23 carries. But he still scored two TDs and delivered the most bizarre play of the game.

Midway through the third quarter, Miami's Sean Taylor picked off a Krenzel pass in the end zone and headed toward the left sideline before being caught by Clarett, who pulled the ball from Taylor's arms at the OSU 28.

Four plays later, Nugent made a 44-yard field goal to give OSU a 17-7 lead.

That lead didn't last. The Hurricanes culminated a seven-play, 60-yard drive with a 9-yard TD run by McGahee, and then used the field goal by Sievers to send it to OT. While that was a place where Ohio State had been just two games earlier in the win at Illinois, Miami had never been there throughout its 34-game winning streak.

"It's no different than what we've done all year," Krenzel said. "We made plays when we had to."