Buckeyes Secure Share of Big Ten Title

As always with an Ohio State, Michigan football game in late November, a lot more than just bragging rights against rivals is at stake.

For the Buckeyes, a share of a record-tying sixth straight Big Ten title and, most likely, a Bowl Championship Series bowl berth was on the line this Saturday.

Ohio State took care of business extending its win streak against Michigan to seven games with a dominating 37-7 victory as the Buckeyes finished the regular season 11-1 (7-1), securing a share of the Big Ten title with the Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan State Spartans.

The victory was the second-most lopsided Ohio State victory in the series since 1968, eclipsed only by a 42-7 win the last time the game was played in Columbus in 2008.

After jumping out to an early 10-0 lead, the Wolverines showed some glimmer of hope when they marched down the field and scored on a 1-yard touchdown run by Michael Shaw to cut the Buckeye lead to three points with 8:02 remaining in the opening quarter.

Any glimmer of hope for the Wolverines was shattered on the ensuing kickoff as Ohio State’s return man, Jordan Hall, took a short kick back for an 85-yard touchdown.

From there, the Buckeyes never looked back as the defense began to figure out Denard Robinson and the Michigan offense while the OSU offense rattled off 27 unanswered points.

Terrelle Pryor had TD passes covering 7 yards to Dane Sanzenbacher and 33 yards to DeVier Posey and Dan "Boom" Herron finished with 175 yards on 22 carries. Herron also tied a record for longest run from scrimmage in 88-year-old Ohio Stadium when he went 89 yards in the third quarter. He actually raced 98 yards untouched, but the touchdown was called back because Sanzenbacher held a defender as Herron was heading into the end zone.
Pryor was efficient, completing 18 of 27 passes for 220 yards with one interception. Up 24-7 at the half, most of the drama was drained from the game as Tressel played went with his typical game plan with a lead, sticking to the ground game. With the win, Tressel improves his record to 9-1 against the team from up North.

Michigan's dynamic quarterback, Robinson, was hampered by an injured left (non-throwing) hand. He played little more than a half, running for 105 yards on 18 attempts and completing 8 of 18 passes for 87 yards. He came into the game second nationally in total offense at 343 yards a game.

Ohio State's defense with backup cornerback Travis Howard stepping up big time, intercepting one pass and recovering two fumbles, controlled a Michigan offense that came in averaging 37 points and 515 yards per game. The Wolverines ended up with 351 yards, less than 100 in the second half.

What’s next for the Buckeyes? Now they wait and watch…

Most signs point to the Sugar Bowl against an SEC opponent, but regardless, another 10 win season, Big Ten title and a victory over Michigan constitutes another successful OSU football season.

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