Big Ten track meet

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Back in the old days of Big Ten football, when Bo Schembechler stalked the sidelines for Michigan and Woody Hayes did the same for Ohio State, the first-down chains inched forward one link at a time.

On Saturday, the markers barely managed to keep pace with the frantic flow, as No. 1 Ohio State held off No. 2 Michigan 42-39 in the highest-scoring contest played between the longtime rivals.

The Buckeyes maintained their lofty status and cemented a spot in the Bowl Championship Series title game Jan. 8, shocking the Wolverines with one big play after another.

The Michigan defense, which had not allowed a rushing gain of more than 25 yards in any of the first 11 games – all victories – allowed a 52-yard touchdown run in the first half and a 56-yard scoring run in the second as Ohio State extended its winning streak to 19 straight.

Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith all but wrapped up the Heisman Trophy as college football’s most outstanding player, completing four TD passes to justify the Buckeyes’ claim as the top team in the country.

“I’ll probably be wearing this smile for the rest of the week,” Smith said after the Buckeyes defeated a second-ranked team for the second time this season.

They’ll face a No. 2 once more in Glendale, Ariz., in January.

But nobody is certain which team that will be. Could it be Southern Cal, which defeated California on Saturday? Could it be Florida, which destroyed Western Carolina? Or could it be the same team the Buckeyes just beat before a record crowd of 105,708 at Ohio Stadium?

Could it be Michigan all over again?

“I think it will be very interesting to see what transpires in the polls,” Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. “But I don’t care to speculate. I know that it will probably be controversial either way.”

The only thing for certain is that Ohio State (12-0) started the season atop the polls and will remain there, at least until Jan. 8, when they’ll become the first No. 1 to face three No. 2s in a season.

Not even Friday’s death of legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler provided the Wolverines enough emotion to get past their greatest rival.

“It’s definitely hard to swallow,” Michigan quarterback Chad Henne said.

The schools were playing for the 103rd time. But the latest meeting stood out from all the others, with Ohio State and Michigan bringing identical 11-0 records – not to mention their 1-2 rankings – into the contest.

The outcome lived up to the hype even if the style of play did not come close to matching expectations. Instead of a defensive war, the Buckeyes and Wolverines made it a track meet.

“It was a fast-break game the whole time,” Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said.