2004 Fiesta Bowl The 2004 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl , played on January 2 , 2004 , was the 33rd edition of the Fiesta Bowl . The game pitted # 7 Ohio State against # 8 Kansas State . It was a match - up between a perennial powerhouse in Ohio State , and a school that was only recently accustomed to winning in Kansas State . Despite Kansas State ' s historically losing record , head coach Bill Snyder had turned around the program in the decade prior to the bowl game , and K - State was actually making its second Fiesta Bowl appearance in 7 years . Kansas State was the Big 12 Conference Champion , and came into the game on a seven game win streak , winning those games by an average of 39 – 9 . In the game immediately prior to the Fiesta Bowl , Kansas State had soundly defeated # 1 - ranked Oklahoma 35 – 7 in the Big 12 Championship Game . However , the K - State team was badly distracted one night before the bowl game when its quarterback and team leader Ell Roberson was accused of sexual assault . ( No charges were ultimately filed against Roberson . ) In fact , it was not known whether Roberson would play until gametime . Kansas State had been favored to win by 7 points , but some casinos pulled the line over the uncertainty about Roberson . Despite being outgained 378 – 337 in the bowl game , and having a turnover margin of - 1 , Ohio State prevailed 35 – 28 . It was Ohio State ' s second straight Fiesta Bowl win ; they went on to win another one in 2006 . Game summary . Kansas State won the coin toss , and elected to defer . Ohio State ' s first drive stalled , but its punt gave Kansas State horrible field position . On Kansas State ' s first drive , they went 3 and out , and were forced to punt from their 7 - yard line . Harlem Jacobs of Ohio State blocked the K - State punt and John Hollins returned it 7 yards for a touchdown , and Ohio State opened up an early 7 – 0 lead . Later in the first quarter , Ohio State ' s quarterback Craig Krenzel fired a pass to Santonio Holmes for a 6 - yard touchdown , and Ohio State extended its lead to 14 – 0 . In the second quarter , Krenzel fired a 17 yard pass to Michael Jenkins for his second touchdown pass . At this point , Ohio State appeared to have the game under control , as it had a 21 – 0 lead . But Kansas State wouldn ' t quit . The Wildcats ' star running back Darren Sproles ran 6 yards for a touchdown to make the score 21 – 7 . Kansas State ' s defense stopped Ohio State on their next position , and the first half ended with the same score . With 9 minutes to go in the third quarter , Kansas State quarterback Ell Roberson scrambled 14 yards for a touchdown , and Kansas State closed the gap to 21 – 14 . It appeared as though Kansas State was back in the game , but Ohio State wouldn ' t be denied . With 4 minutes to go in the third quarter Krenzel found Michael Jenkins again for an 8 - yard touchdown . Ohio State ' s lead went back to 14 , and the score was 28 - 14 . Later , with only 36 seconds left in the third quarter , Craig Krenzel found Santonio Holmes again for a 31 - yard touchdown , and Ohio State led 35 – 14 . Kansas State ' s Ayo Saba ran 2 yards for a touchdown , and the score was 35 – 21 . Later on , Ell Roberson found the end zone for the second time , and the score was 35 – 28 . However , it was too little , too late for the Wildcats , as there was only 2 : 47 left to go in the game . Ohio State recovered an onside kick , and melted the clock to preserve a 35 – 28 win . Craig Krenzel , with his 4 touchdown passes , was named the Fiesta Bowl Offensive MVP . http : / / www . mmbolding . com / bowls / Fiesta _ 2004 . htm