• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Ohio State crushes Michigan, clinches share of Big Ten title

Nov 23, 2008 - 1:41 AM COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) -- Thanks to a handful of big plays, Ohio State coasted to a historic beatdown of Michigan.

But despite gaining a share of another Big Ten title with another win over their hated rival, the Buckeyes will not be going to the Rose Bowl.

Chris "Beanie" Wells rushed for 134 yards and a touchdown Saturday as 10th-ranked Ohio State used five big plays from scrimmage to crush the hapless Wolverines, 42-7, and clinch a share of the Big Ten crown.

It marked the fourth straight year that the Buckeyes (10-2, 7-1 Big Ten) won at least a share of the league title.

However, the Buckeyes' slim hope of a BCS bowl game - likely the Rose Bowl - ended later in the afternoon when Penn State crushed Michigan State, 49-18.

The Buckeyes owned a potential tiebreaker over Michigan State courtesy of their blowout win in East Lansing last month.

But Penn State earned the Big Ten's automatic BCS bowl bid by virtue of its 13-6 victory here on October 25.

Before worrying about the Penn State-Michigan State game, the Buckeyes had to beat the Wolverines (3-9, 2-6) - and they more than took care of business.

Ohio State amassed 416 yards from scrimmage and had five offensive plays of at least 35 yards to post its fifth straight win in this storied rivalry.

"(The five-game winning streak) is hard to believe because it's so difficult," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "I remember looking up the statistic about three or four years ago of what the winning streaks were, because you've always got to have something in the back of your mind that you're shooting for."

It marked the first time in the 105-year history of this rivalry that Ohio State has won five consecutive meetings with Michigan.

"It is an honor and blessing to be a part of a team that has made history," Wells said. "It is an unreal feeling and amazing to be a part of something so great."

The 35-point margin of victory was Ohio State's largest against the Wolverines since a 50-14 rout in 1968, when Woody Hayes roamed the Buckeyes' sideline.

"(I am) so proud of these kids to be able to have some of the accomplishments that our seniors have had over the last five years," Tressel said. "If they're a fifth-year guy or four years - if they're a four-year guy, really incredible."

Conversely, the blowout concluded a forgettable season for the Wolverines and first-year coach Rich Rodriguez, who certainly did nothing to endear himself to an Michigan's already unsatisfied fan base.

Despite arriving to great fanfare last December, Rodriguez guided Michigan - college football's winningest program - to the worst season in school history.

"It's disappointing to not be as successful as we would have liked with our record," Rodriguez said. "But there is no panic with it being the first year.

"We have a lot of things to overcome, and I am confident that the work we do Sunday through Friday will show up on Saturdays soon."

After an emotional start that featured a pre-game fight, Ohio State took the lead for good the lead 11 minutes into the contest when Wells burst through the line for a 59-yard touchdown run to make it 7-0.

Ohio State doubled its advantage less than two minutes into the second quarter when freshman phenom Terrelle Pryor hooked up with Brian Hartline for a 53-yard scoring strike.

"I saw that (Hartline) was running even with the defender and just threw it up to him," Pryor said. "It was perfect timing and a perfect catch."

Michigan drew within 14-7 on Brandon Minor's 1-yard TD run late in the first half, but the Buckeyes broke the contest open in the third quarter.

Wells rumbled for a 42-yard run on Ohio State's first play from scrimmage of the second half, and Daniel Herron raced for a 49-yard TD run on the very next play to make it 21-7.

Tressel said the back-to-back big runs turned the tide in favor of the Buckeyes.

"I thought the turning point was when they punted us down to the 9 and then two plays later, we scored," Tressel said. "That was huge. A big run by Beanie and a big run by Boom Herron, and that really made a difference."

Ray Small broke several tackles later in the quarter en route to a 79-yard punt return down to Michigan's 8-yard line.

The long return set up Pryor's second TD pass of the day, an 8-yarder to Brian Robiskie that gave Ohio State a 28-7 cushion and essentially sealed the win.

Herron also scored on a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter and finished with 80 yards on just eight carries.

Pryor completed just 5-of-13 passes for 120 yards for Ohio State, which racked up 232 yards on the ground.

Minor was one of the only bright spots for Michigan, rushing for 67 yards on 14 carries.

Despite the five consecutive losses, Michigan still leads the all-time series 57-42-6.

"It's hard on the guys, but a few years from now I'll bring up this group and say they laid the foundation for us," Rodriguez said. "The only regret I have is not having (the seniors) back next year."