"Big Game" at the Big House

GAME: Ohio State at Michigan
TIME: 01:00 P.M. EST
VENUE: Michigan Stadium

As usual, this year's Ohio State-Michigan matchup contains Big Ten championship and BCS berth subplots.

As important as that is, Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel doesn't want his team to overlook the singular importance of playing in one of college football's most storied rivalry games.

Tressel and the No. 9 Buckeyes (8-2, 6-1) go for their sixth straight win and look to clinch at least a share of the conference crown Saturday when they travel to Michigan Stadium to face the No. 17 Wolverines (7-3, 5-2).

"When guys come back for reunions, they talk about the guy that made the big play in the Ohio State-Michigan game," said Tressel, 3-1 against Michigan. "That's just the legacy that's left and I'm sure the same thing goes up there when people come back and talk about the great pride they have in their program."

The 102nd meeting includes a shot at the Big Ten title and a BCS berth for both squads.

Ohio State can clinch the Big Ten outright with a victory and a Penn State loss later in the day at Michigan State. Michigan, winner of four in a row, can earn a share of the crown with a victory over the Buckeyes and a Nittany Lions loss.

If that happens, Michigan would earn the conference's automatic BCS berth because of head-to-head victories over Ohio State and Penn State. If the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions both win, Penn State would get the BCS spot by virtue of its 17-10 defeat of Ohio State on Oct. 8.

Michigan coach Lloyd Carr knows the season hinges on this game.

"Yeah. Yeah. And I think for both teams," said Carr, 6-4 against Ohio State but 1-3 against Tressel. "I think this season will be a major disappointment with a loss. I can't think of anything less, because there is a lot at stake and I think that's what this game is."

That the Wolverines still have a chance at the title is a testament to their impressive turnaround. Four weeks ago, Michigan sat at 3-3, its worst start since 1990.

"People didn't give us much hope," tight end Tim Massaquoi said. "They really cast our season away."

The Wolverines' last-second win over Penn State, the Nittany Lions' only loss, changed everything, sparking the four-game winning streak that has Michigan alive in the conference race.

Michigan should get additional help Saturday from the expected return of leading rusher Mike Hart. The sophomore tailback, who missed the previous two games with a sprained right ankle, has averaged 122 yards in six games this season.

Ohio State finds itself needing help to win the Big Ten crown, even though its two losses came by a total of four points to No. 2 Texas and then-No. 16 Penn State.

The Buckeyes, though, have outscored opponents by an average of 42-15 during their winning streak and own the fifth-ranked defense in the country as they look to lock up a share of the title against their archrivals.

"This is it. What else do you have left?" Ohio State defensive end Mike Kudla asked. "It's a month before your next game in the bowl and ... our season rides on this. We need to get a share of that Big Ten title or that's it. It kind of means everything for us."

Michigan leads the series with Ohio State 57-38-6, but the teams have split the last 50 meetings 24-24-2.

Ohio State won last year's meeting 37-21 in Columbus.