Ohio State Football Awards for 2014 Season

The Ohio State football team still has one more game—at least—left on its slate, but the 2014 season has already been one to remember for the Buckeyes. Despite the loss of two Heisman-caliber quarterbacks and an ugly early-season loss to Virginia Tech, Ohio State finds itself preparing for the first-ever College Football Playoff, starting with Jan. 1's Sugar Bowl showdown with Alabama.

There is still plenty left for the Buckeyes to accomplish this season, including the program's eighth national championship and first since 2002. But it's not too early to look back on what's already been a remarkable year in Columbus, one that's possessed no shortage of storylines.

With that in mind, take a look at Bleacher Report's annual awards for Ohio State's 2014 season.

Game of the Year

Nov. 8: Ohio State 49, Michigan State 37

Ever since last season's Big Ten Championship Game came to a close, Ohio State had Nov. 8 circled on its calendar. It was on that day that the Buckeyes would seek revenge on Michigan State, who brought their 2013 national-title hopes to an end with a win in Indianapolis 11 months earlier.

Once the showdown between the Spartans and Buckeyes arrived, it carried all the hype that was expected. Michigan State was ranked eighth in the playoff poll, while Ohio State measured in at No. 14, as the two one-loss teams squared off to control their respective playoff destinies.

And on the road as an underdog, the Buckeyes managed to play their best game of the season to that point. Totaling 568 yards and at one point leading by 18 points, Ohio State walked away from East Lansing with a commanding victory, jumping to No. 8 in the playoff poll in the process.

"This is one for the ages," Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer said afterwards. "That's how much respect we had for our opponent going into it. We saw what they did. They had one loss and they were actually winning that one game until it kind of got away from them somehow at Oregon. We played a top-10 team and really played our best on the road."

Play of the Year

Joey Bosa's Game-Clinching Sack at Penn State

Two weeks before the Buckeyes headed to East Lansing, they saw their playoff hopes threatened when Penn State managed to force them to double-overtime in Happy Valley. Ohio State had at one point led 17-0, but a sprained MCL suffered by quarterback J.T. Barrett led to a stagnant offense for the Buckeyes in the second half.

Barrett gutted out two rushing touchdowns in overtime, leaving the ball in the hands of Nittany Lions quarterback Christian Hackenberg to force a third overtime period. But as Hackenberg dropped back on 4th-and-6 with the game on the line, OSU defensive end Joey Bosa powered through Akeel Lynch, shoving the Penn State running back into the quarterback for the game-clinching sack.

Bosa finished the night with 2.5 sacks to his credit, but it was his game-winning play in prime time that elevated him to a national name.

"I was so tired I didn't even know it was a sack," Bosa said after the game. "This might have been a double-overtime win, but it doesn't make it any less important, winning in a crazy environment like this."

Assistant Coach of the Year

J Pat Carter/Associated Press

Ohio State offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tom Herman helped the Buckeyes survive the loss of two Heisman-caliber quarterbacks.

Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach Tom Herman

The winner of the Broyles Award, Tom Herman isn't only the best assistant on the Ohio State staff, he's the best in the country.

When star quarterback Braxton Miller went down with a torn labrum two weeks prior to the start of the season, many wrote off the Buckeyes' playoff hopes. And when his replacement, Barrett—who had launched a Heisman campaign of his own—broke his ankle a week before the Big Ten Championship Game, many assumed that Ohio State's season might as well have ended right there.

But with their third option at quarterback in Cardale Jones leading the way and earning MVP honors, the Buckeyes pulled off a 59-0 playoff-clinching win over Wisconsin in the conference championship. After the game, Meyer credited the work of Herman, who, according to Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman, has been named the new head coach at Houston.

"Tom Herman is an excellent coach. His unit the first year was very average," Meyer said in Indianapolis. "Now, it's one of the strongest units on the team. He's done a marvelous job."

Best Interview

Tight End Jeff Heuerman

Never afraid to speak his mind, Jeff Heuerman has been the go-to quote on this year's Ohio State team.

That was even the case before the start of the season, when the senior tight end compared Miller's importance to the Buckeyes' roster to that of LeBron James' to the Cleveland Cavaliers. A few weeks later, he'd have to backtrack on that statement, as he maintained confidence in Barrett, which proved to pay off in the long run.

When Ohio State's senior day arrived against Michigan, it wasn't a surprise to see Heuerman honored as the last senior out of the tunnel, as he's become the heart and soul of this year's Buckeyes' squad. Afterwards, Heuerman expressed his love for the university as he tried to capture the moment of final entrance at Ohio Stadium.

"It was special. It was just a bittersweet moment. I guess it was a don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened kind of moment," Heuerman said. "And that's what I try to do, just embrace it all and I've had a wonderful four years here, man. I love everyone. I love you guys, even answering the questions because you guys are awesome and when I get to do stuff like this, it's truly special. There's no place like Ohio State. There's no fans like Ohio State and just the whole atmosphere around this place is truly outstanding. So I've enjoyed it and it's just time to go."

Freshman of the Year

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

Raekwon McMillan was a steady contributor for Ohio State at middle linebacker.

Linebacker Raekwon McMillan

When Raekwon McMillan arrived at Ohio State last winter, he did so with the 5-star expectations that Buckeyes fans had become accustomed to since Meyer came to Columbus. But very rarely did any of McMillan's highly touted predecessors live up to the hype, perhaps tempering some projections for the Hinesville, Georgia, native in the process.

But McMillan proved to be the exception to the rule, a stabilizing force on the OSU defense as he split reps with senior Curtis Grant at middle linebacker. In 12 games, McMillan tallied 49 tackles, six of which came for a loss, 2.5 sacks and one interception, which he returned for a touchdown.

The 6'2", 240-pounder won't just be crucial in the Buckeyes' game-planning against Alabama, but he will also be a focal point of Ohio State's defense moving forward. In a linebacking corps that was lacking talent the past two seasons, McMillan has provided just that, proving that true freshmen can make an impact for the Buckeyes on the defensive side of the ball.

Most Improved Player

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Michael Thomas has proven to be one of Ohio State's top playmakers.

Wide Receiver Michael Thomas

The nephew of former NFL star Keyshawn Johnson, Michael Thomas showed flashes as a true freshman in 2012. But the 6'3", 209-pounder's preparation was so poor in 2013 that he found himself redshirting throughout his sophomore season.

Thomas, however, bounced back in 2014, leading the Buckeyes with 43 receptions on the year. The Los Angeles, California, native also showed plenty of big-play ability, totaling 680 yards and eight touchdowns as a redshirt sophomore.

With Barrett finding his way through his first season as a starter, Thomas proved to be his most consistent and reliable weapon. Asked what the difference has been between this season and the previous two in his career, Thomas said that it's all been about taking advantage of opportunities.

"When the opportunity comes and presents itself, I just know I need to catch the ball first and get the most out of it," Thomas said following his two-reception, 77-yard, two-touchdown performance against Kent State on Sept. 13. "We've got a lot of talented guys that can make plays too, so just when it presents itself, I take it."

Unsung Hero

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

Evan Spencer is one of Ohio State's most underrated players.

Wide Receiver Evan Spencer

His receiving numbers are actually down from a year ago—and they were never all that impressive to begin with—but Evan Spencer has proven to be one of Ohio State's most valuable players this season. Don't take my word for it—look at what Meyer had to say about the senior wide receiver:

"He's my MVP as far as just all around what we asked him to do," Meyer said of Spencer on Nov. 10. "Evan Spencer deserves more than he's getting. He really does. The good thing is he understands the big picture."

Through 13 games, Spencer has totaled 14 receptions for 142 yards and three touchdowns. But he's also proven to be Ohio State's most reliable receiver from a blocking standpoint and one of the team's more vocal leaders.

What Spencer does best for the Buckeyes might not show up in the box score, but it's certainly caught the attention of his head coach. When it comes to heroes on this OSU team, Spencer is as unsung as they come, and he is a player who deserves more credit for the Buckeyes' success than he gets.

Offensive MVP

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Ezekiel Elliott became Urban Meyer's second 1,000-yard running back.

Running Back Ezekiel Elliott

While the Ohio State passing game had to deal with two changes at quarterback due to injury, the Buckeyes running game remained consistent throughout 2014. A big reason for that was the stellar play of sophomore running back Ezekiel Elliott, who became the second consecutive running back to rush for at least 1,000 yards in Meyer's spread offense.

In 13 games, Elliott tallied 1,402 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. While Jones was named the Big Ten Championship Game MVP, Elliott had the best day of any Buckeye, rushing for 220 yards and two touchdowns against Wisconsin's second-ranked defense.

Perhaps the most impressive part of Elliott's sophomore campaign was the fact that he was able to put it together while receiving single-digit carries in three separate games. His blend of size and speed is a perfect fit for the OSU offense, as is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield (26 receptions, 208 receiving yards).

Only a sophomore, look for Elliott to return as a focal point of the Buckeyes offense in 2015. He could also continue his coming-out party on New Year's Day, as all eyes will be on Ohio State's semifinal showdown with Alabama.

Defensive MVP

Jonathan Ernst/Getty Images

Joey Bosa was one of the nation's top defensive players in 2014.

Defensive End Joey Bosa

One of the top defensive players in the nation, Bosa heads into the College Football Playoff semifinal just one sack shy of tying Ohio State's single-season record. Named an All-American by multiple outlets, Bosa has tallied 13.5 sacks this season, in addition to 20 tackles for a loss through the Buckeyes' first 13 games.

Known for his signature shrug celebration (seen above), Bosa has become one of the most beloved Buckeyes in recent memory. It hasn't hurt that he's been flat-out dominant in his sophomore season, either, as he already projects as a high first-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft.

If Ohio State is going to have any success against the top-ranked Crimson Tide, it's a safe bet that Bosa will be a big reason why. It's rare that a defensive player has the ability to impact a game in the way that Bosa does, but there's a reason why the 6'5", 278-pounder was named a finalist for both the Bednarik Award (best defensive player) and Outland Trophy (best lineman), in addition to being selected as the Big Ten's Defensive Player and Defensive Lineman of the Year.

Team MVP

Jay LaPrete/Associated Press

J.T. Barrett finished fifth in Heisman voting for the 2014 season.

Quarterback J.T. Barrett

While the Big Ten Championship Game may have proved that it didn't matter who was playing quarterback for the Buckeyes this season, there's no denying the special season that Barrett put together in his first 12 games as Ohio State's signal-caller.

After being thrust into the starting lineup two weeks prior to the start of the season, Barrett laid claim to the best statistical season by any quarterback in Buckeyes history. The Wichita Falls, Texas, native broke Ohio State's single-season record for total offense (3,772 yards) and the Big Ten's mark for total touchdowns (45).

For his efforts, Barrett was named the Big Ten's Freshman and Quarterback of the Year, in addition to finishing fifth in voting for the Heisman Trophy. Expected to make a full recovery from his broken ankle by the start of fall camp, the Buckeyes' future at the quarterback position appears to be in good hands, even as Miller's status for 2015 remains up in the air.

Ohio State won't have Barrett to lean on in the College Football Playoff, but his contributions to this year's Buckeyes squad won't soon be forgotten. As a redshirt freshman, Barrett still has plenty of time to grow, which is a scary thought for the rest of the Big Ten.

Ben Axelrod is Bleacher Report's Ohio State Lead Writer. You can follow him on Twitter @BenAxelrod. Unless noted otherwise, all quotes obtained firsthand. All statistics courtesy of cfbstats.com, and recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.