#1 Ohio State Tops #2 Michigan
Troy Smith and Ohio State did it all, overwhelming Michigan with offense, winning the Big Ten title and streaking into the national title game.
The Wolverines may have another shot at the Buckeyes, though. They, too, can still make it to the BCS title game in Arizona.
Smith and the top-ranked Buckeyes put their dazzling speed on display with a barrage of big plays, and they needed every one of them to beat an inspired Michigan team, 42-39, on Saturday.
Smith tightened his grip on the Heisman Trophy with his performance.
Ohio State's sensational quarterback passed for three touchdowns in the first half and made several big plays in the final minutes to lead the Buckeyes to victory.
Once again, the strong-armed Smith came up with a brilliant effort against the Buckeyes' biggest rival.
The clincher was his 13-yard pass to Brian Robiskie on a quick-stop reception at the left goal-line marker with 5:38 left that pushed the lead to 42-31.
Michigan's Mike Hart finally had a big game against Ohio State, running for 142 yards and three touchdowns in the losing effort.
In Michigan's two previous losses to Ohio State, Hart was held to 76 yards on 27 carries.
Hart entered the game averaging 124.8 yards rushing a game — sixth in the nation — and surpassed that against the Buckeyes' defense that was geared to stop him.
The shifty running back got Michigan off the mat with a 2-yard score early in the third quarter to make it 28-21 and scored his third TD early in the fourth to make it 35-31.
The Game of the Century, the first 1 vs. 2 matchup in this storied rivalry, was played a day after Michigan lost one of its legends in Bo Schembechler.
The feisty and revered former Michigan coach died Friday, and the top two teams in the nation couldn't have honored his memory with a better game — though it wasn't the type of football that Bo and Woody Hayes played when they were coaching.
Two defenses that came in allowing 20 points per game combined were unable to stop each other's attack, making the 103rd Ohio State-Michigan meeting the second-highest scoring game in the series.
It was surely one of the most entertaining.