Fiesta all year

This could be me looking a gift horse in the mouth, but what exactly stopped Ohio State from competing for a national title this year?
The Buckeyes are a big-game team with a big-game coach. But the biggest game, the one that now sticks out like a sore thumb, is the loss in September to Texas.
Think about it. If Ohio State beats Texas, there are a whole slew of one-loss teams led by Ohio State and Texas. With the win, the Buckeyes would have gotten the tiebreak over Texas for a berth in the BCS championship. At least that's the popular theory.
Instead, the Buckeyes stubbed their toes not once but twice, losing also to Penn State, and have to settle for the at-large BCS bowl game while Southern California and Texas square off Wednesday night.
They were rally kings against Michigan, and dominated Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl even more than the 34-20 final score would indicate. If quarterback Troy Smith played all games like he did against Michigan and Notre Dame, he'd be a Heisman Trophy candidate.
Instead, we have a reverse-John Cooper factor. During Cooper's years, Ohio State generally took care of business leading up to Michigan and the bowl games, and sputtered thereafter. Now, Ohio State wins the two most important games of the year, but has to guard against mental lapses in the months leading up so they don't ruin their national championship chances.
This was an Ohio State team that should have been competing for a national title. They certainly had the defense, and the last two games have shown the offense has an ability to kick it into a higher gear.
Smith is a mad bomber, capable of finding Ted Ginn, Santonio Holmes and Anthony Gonzalez downfield? Prior to Michigan, who knew?
In a big game, there are few coaches I would rather have on the sideline than Jim Tressel. His ability to remain cool under fire and make his team rise to the occasion is becoming legendary. But he also needs to get his players to realize a loss in September means something, too. The loss to Texas sure did this year.
I am happy Ohio State is once again Fiesta Bowl champions. But not ecstatic. This team could have accomplished much more.