Ohio State Football: Ranking the Top 5 Plays of the Buckeyes' Regular Season

Breakaway touchdown runs through a loaded defensive front. An impossible leaping touchdown grab over a top rival. A spin move heard around the world.

Even though Ohio State fell short of expectations and missed out on this year's College Football Playoff, it didn't have a shortage of breathtaking plays during the regular season.

These five plays stand out not only for their entertainment value—they also turned close games into Ohio State victories. 

No. 5: Darron Lee's Interception vs. Northern Illinois

When Ohio State hosted Northern Illinois in Week 3, Buckeyes fans were hoping the lackluster offensive performance against Hawaii the previous week was an aberration. The Huskies showed that Ohio State's offensive struggles were very real, and they trailed by just three points late in the third quarter when Darron Lee made the game-saving play.

Deep in its own territory, Northern Illinois tried to hit Ohio State with a quick bubble screen to the perimeter. Lee read the play and popped in front of the intended receiver to pick off the pass and return it 41 yards for the score. 

Specific shout out to the ref who gets absolutely steamrolled at the eight-second mark.

No. 4: Braxton Miller's Crazy Catch vs. Rutgers

While Ezekiel Elliott was Ohio State's best and most productive playmaker, Braxton Miller was the team's most electric. He proved that on a few occasions throughout the season, one of which came on the road against Rutgers.

Ohio State's offense was once against struggling with a sluggish start, but it still boasted a 14-0 lead at the tail end of the second quarter. Miller triggered the rout when he hauled in this crazy 45-yard reception that set up Ohio State's third score of the day.

The Buckeyes went on to score 28 second-half points in a 49-7 blowout.

No. 3: Ezekiel Elliott's TD Barrage vs. Indiana

Technically, this is three plays, but essentially, the end results were identical.

Indiana's bottom-dwelling defense was absolutely shutting Ohio State down as the Hoosiers led 10-6 in the early stages of the third quarter. Cardale Jones was struggling at quarterback, so the coaching staff turned to Elliott, who responded with a trio of long touchdown runs against a loaded box.

Elliott ran for a season-high 274 yards against the Hoosiers, 195 of which came on his three touchdown runs. 

No. 2: Jalin Marshall's Absurd TD Catch vs. Michigan

The Ohio State-Michigan game was competitive in the first half. Jalin Marshall's insane touchdown catch to open the third quarter turned it into a laughable rout.

The Buckeyes came out of halftime with a slim 14-10 lead, but they had the opportunity to take control with the first possession after the break. J.T. Barrett and Ezekiel Elliott got Ohio State into position on the ground, and then the coaching staff dialed up a pass play to go over the top. 

Marshall took that literally when he towered over Wolverines cornerback Jeremy Clark to haul in the 25-yard touchdown. That touchdown triggered the Buckeyes onslaught as Michigan was outscored 28-3 in the second half.

No. 1: Braxton Miller's Spin Move  vs. Virginia Tech

Was there any doubt what the No. 1 play of the season would be? 

Miller was making his career debut as a wideout in Urban Meyer's offense against Virginia Tech in Week 1, and the expectations were high. Miller was having a solid game, hauling in a diving 24-yard catch in the first quarter and a 54-yard touchdown bomb to open the third. 

But with the Buckeyes clinging to a 21-17 lead, Miller made the play of the season when he took a direct snap, dashed left around a trio of defenders and then hit a spin move that sent another pair of Hokies into oblivion. Miller raced 53 yards for the score, putting Ohio State comfortably in control as it cruised to an 18-point win.

Specific shout out to the fan who looked on, stunned, at the 17-second mark. She captured the emotions of pretty much everyone who had just witnessed Miller's greatness.

David Regimbal is the Ohio State football Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.