PASADENA, Calif. -- If this really was the end of Urban Meyer's storied coaching career, it was one heck of a way to go out.
No. 6 Ohio State's 28-23 win against No. 9 Washington in the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual wasn't exactly the instant classic the past few versions of the game have been, but it presented just enough late drama to justify Meyer's notorious game-week nerves.
"I don't think nervous is a strong enough term before a game," Meyer said this week. "Deathly ill might be more appropriate."
At first, the Buckeyes provided what appeared to be an effective remedy, quickly building a 28-3 lead that seemingly set the stage for a Meyer victory lap in the Granddaddy of Them All.