Ohio State Upsets No. 7 Michigan, 37-21

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Posted 5:24PM on Saturday, November 20, 2004

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith ran for 145 yards, Ted Ginn Jr. set school and Big Ten records with his fourth punt return touchdown of the season and the Buckeyes upset No. 7 Michigan 37-21 on Saturday. The loss kept the Wolverines (9-2, 7-1) from clinching an outright Big Ten title and may have cost them a return visit to the Rose Bowl, pending the outcome of Wisconsin's game at Iowa later Saturday. The Wolverines had won their last 13 conference games. They needed Iowa to beat the Badgers later Saturday to earn a second straight Rose Bowl berth. Ohio State's fourth season under coach Jim Tressel has been a tough one. The Buckeyes started the Big Ten season with three straight losses and plummeted out of the rankings. Just when things started looking better on the field, problems arose off. Two weeks ago former Ohio State star Maurice Clarett accused Tressel, his staff and Buckeyes boosters of giving him and other players improper benefits. An NCAA investigation is about to begin. But it's never a bad day in Columbus when Ohio State beats Michigan. Smith led the way with his best game, yet. He had never run for more than 62 yards nor passed for more 192 since relieving the injured Justin Zwick in midseason. On a day where little went wrong for Ohio State (7-4, 4-4), he carried 18 times and came up just one yard short of tying a school record for yards rushing by a quarterback. He also completed 13 of 23 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns without an interception or a sack. Ginn, the freshman wide-out with the sprinter's gait, gathered a punt at his own 18 midway through the third quarter with the Buckeyes up 20-14. He broke a tackle and went into overdrive for an 82-yard touchdown. His fourth return for a score this year matched the NCAA mark. After the Wolverines scored on two impressive second-quarter drives, Ohio State's defense dominated for the most of the rest of the day. Not that there weren't some anxious moments. After the Buckeyes took a 34-14 lead on Smith's second touchdown pass, a 12-yard bullet to Santonio Holmes late in the third quarter, Michigan drove to the Ohio State 8. But Chad Henne's pass was picked off at the 1 by Ashton Youboty. The Wolverines came right back to cut into the lead on Braylon Edwards' 38-yard over-the-shoulder grab from Henne. Twice in the final moments, however, they were unable to convert fourth-down plays to keep drives alive and Henne was picked off again by Nate Salley. Michigan, averaging 165 yards rushing a game, was limited to 71. Henne's first-year running mate in the backfield, Big Ten rushing leader Mike Hart, finished with just 61 yards on 18 carries. Henne completed 27 of 54 passes for 328 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions. Edwards had 11 catches for 172 yards. Ohio State led 20-14 at the half and could easily have led by more. The Buckeyes had a first and goal at the Michigan 2 midway through the second quarter but three runs netted a yard and a pass to Holmes was broken up by Marlin Jackson on fourth down. The Wolverines were unable to get out of the hole on the ensuing possession and had to punt, the Buckeyes taking over at the Michigan 32 after Ginn's 13-yard punt return in tight quarters. Smith avoided a collapsing pocket for a 15-yard gain to the 1, but three running plays lost three yards and on fourth down Tressel elected to take the sure three points on a 21-yard field goal by Mike Nugent, his first of three field goals. The Buckeyes struck first on the game's fifth play from scrimmage, Smith heaving a long pass that Anthony Gonzalez caught before streaking to the end zone past a fallen Ernest Shazor. Michigan came right back with Henne connecting with Jason Avant on a 4-yard scoring pass. Hart's 1-yard plunge made it 14-7. Ohio State scored 13 straight points in the second quarter, with Smith burrowing in on a 2-yard keeper for a touchdown to regain the lead. The game was similar to three years ago at The Big House when Ohio State came in at 6-4 and stunned No. 11 Michigan 26-20.