TEMPE, Arizona (Ticker) -- Ohio State has fond memories of its last trip to Sun Devil Stadium.
The sixth-ranked Buckeyes will play in the Fiesta Bowl for the second straight year when they oppose resurgent and 10th-ranked Kansas State on January 2 in the first meeting between the schools.
In one of the epic games in college football history, Ohio State posted a 31-24 double-overtime victory over Miami last season to claim its first national championship since 1968.
"We have fond memories from last year. It was a great experience and we look forward to playing against a great Kansas State team," Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel said. "They loved having us there last season."
The Fiesta Bowl especially loved the thousands of Buckeyes fans who made the trip to Arizona last season, prompting John Jucker, the bowl's executive director, to take the Buckeyes over Florida State for this year's game. Kansas State (11-3) was the automatic selection for the Fiesta Bowl as the Big 12 Conference champion.
Ohio State (10-2) was in contention for a second straight national title, but saw those hopes end with a 35-21 loss to Michigan in which it allowed Chris Perry to run wild for 154 yards and two scores.
The Buckeyes featured Maurice Clarett the last time they played in the Fiesta Bowl, but the star running back has not played this season due to a suspension and the offense has suffered. The running game in particular has struggled with Lydell Ross leading the Buckeyes in rushing with just 744 yards.
Quarterback Craig Krenzel has endured an injury-plagued year in which he has just 11 touchdown passes and eight interceptions.
The heart and soul of the Buckeyes is a defense that ranks ninth nationally, yielding just 290 yards per game. Defensive end Will Smith is projected as a high NFL draft pick while Chris Gamble and Will Allen lead a talented secondary.
Kansas State secured its first league title since 1934 and threw the Bowl Championship Series into chaos with a 35-7 rout of then-top-ranked Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game that was the biggest win in Bill Snyder's 15 years as coach.
Given up for dead after three straight losses early in the season, the Wildcats have rolled to seven straight wins. The offense has caught fire behind diminutive running back Darren Sproles, who exploded for 235 rushing yards against the Sooners.
Quarterback Ell Roberson is known as more of a rusher than passer, but he tossed four touchdown passes against Oklahoma.
However, Roberson's status for this game is uncertain. He was identified as a suspect in an alleged sexual assault said to have taken place in a Phoenix area motel, according to a published report.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reported Thursday that the alleged assault was made known to the Paradise Valley Police Department by a Kansas State alumnus early Thursday morning.
Paradise Valley Lt. Ron Warner told the newspaper that Roberson, 23, said he had consensual sex with the 22-year-old woman.
No arrests have been made and Kansas State officials have not released information concerning Roberson's status for Friday's Fiesta Bowl game against Ohio State.
Kansas State players had an 11 p.m. curfew Wednesday.
Kansas State played in the Fiesta Bowl once previously in the 1997 season, defeating Syracuse, 35-18. It is the fourth Fiesta Bowl for Ohio State, which lost to Penn State in 1980 and defeated Pittsburgh after the 1983 season.
