ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Tate Forcier threw four interceptions and fumbled in his end zone, and No. 9 Ohio
State took advantage to beat Michigan 21-10 Saturday for its sixth straight win in the series.
The Buckeyes (10-2, 7-1) clinched an outright Big Ten championship and will play in the Rose Bowl with a
five-game winning streak.
The Wolverines started the season 4-0 and ended it 5-7. The flop came after a school-record nine-loss
season in Rich Rodriguez’s debut year with college football’s winningest program.
Michigan has endured consecutive losing years for the first time since the 1962-63 seasons.
Forcier’s first turnover came on his first drive, a fumble that Cameron Heyward recovered to give Ohio
State a 7-0 lead. The freshman threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter, ruining Michigan’s
chances to come back in a game it trailed 14-10 in the third.
Terrelle Pryor wasn’t spectacular, but didn’t make many mistakes and made a key throw after Michigan
pulled within four points. He perfectly lofted a screen pass to Dan Heron, whose 12-yard touchdown gave
the Buckeyes a 21-10 lead.
That proved to be enough to beat Michigan, which played perhaps one of its best games of the season but
still had nothing to show for it.
Rodriguez said earlier in the week the Wolverines would not be “doomed” if they were shut out of the bowl
picture. But he desperately needed the feel-good victory to take some heat off him — especially with an
NCAA investigation looming over his program.
Jim Tressel, meanwhile, extended Ohio State’s longest winning streak in the suddenly lopsided series and
matched the best run in the rivalry since Michigan won six in a row in the 1920s.
Pryor finished 9 of 17 for 67 yards with a TD and an interception, off a deflection. He also ran for 74
yards, while Herron had 96 yards rushing and that TD catch.
Forcier was 23 of 38 for 226 yards and a touchdown to Vincent Smith that made it 14-10 with 10:05 left in
the third quarter. He had not thrown more than one interception in a game this season until throwing
four against the Buckeyes.
Michigan’s Roy Roundtree caught nine passes for 116 yards.
Ohio State’s Kurt Coleman made two interceptions, the second coming after a video review at the Buckeyes
6 early in the fourth quarter. Forcier threw his third interception on the ensuing drive, making an
ill-advised pass that cornerback Devon Torrence caught in the end zone with 8 minutes left.
Perhaps fittingly, the Wolverines were flagged for having five men in the backfield on their final snap
and the Buckeyes ran out the clock, much to the delight of thousands of their fans who were at the Big
House.
No. 9 OHIO ST. 21, MICHIGAN 10
Ohio St.
7
7
7
—
21
Michigan
3
7
—
10
First Quarter
OSU—Heyward recovered fumble in end zone (Barclay kick), 10:44.
Second Quarter
Mich—FG Olesnavage 46, 7:59.
OSU—Saine 29 run (Barclay kick), 5:22.
Third Quarter
Mich—V.Smith 18 pass from Forcier (Olesnavage kick), 10:05.
OSU—Herron 12 pass from Pryor (Barclay kick), 4:46.
A—110,922.
———
OSU
Mich
First downs
18
16
Rushes-yards
53-251
31-80
Passing
67
229
Comp-Att-Int
9-17-1
25-42-4
Return Yards
33
12
Punts-Avg.
9-38.6
6-43.0
Fumbles-Lost
1-0
3-1
Penalties-Yards
6-40
3-25
Time of Possession
32:56
27:04
———
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Ohio St., Herron 19-96, Saine 12-84, Pryor 19-74, Team 3-(minus 3). Michigan, V.Smith 8-32,
D.Robinson 10-31, Forcier 6-10, Shaw 7-7.
PASSING—Ohio St., Pryor 9-17-1-67. Michigan, Forcier 23-38-4-226, D.Robinson 2-4-0-3.
RECEIVING—Ohio St., Posey 5-38, Herron 2-17, Sanzenbacher 1-11, Saine 1-1. Michigan, Roundtree 9-116,
Mathews 6-67, V.Smith 3-28, Kev.Grady 2-7, Stonum 1-10, Webb 1-6, Hemingway 1-5, C.Brown 1-(minus 4),
Shaw 1-(minus 6).
