Heading into the 1999 season, the general sentiment around Columbus was that John Cooper had finally broken through as head coach of Ohio State.
The Buckeyes finished the 1998 season with an 11-1 record, including a rare victory over rival Michigan with Cooper at the helm, and ended the season at No. 2 in the AP Poll, behind national champions Tennessee. Ohio State had also enjoyed a second-place finish in 1996, and landed in the top 15 in each of the last six seasons heading into 1999.
Although Ohio State lost the strong arm of standout quarterback Joe Germaine, his favorite target in David Boston and several pieces from its stout defense — which held opponents to just 11.