Ohio State's five-year run a historic high

COLUMBUS — The Michigan football team used to be selfish.

In 2004, the Wolverines lost to Ohio State but still earned a bittersweet Rose Bowl Berth.

“I don’t think it will ease (the loss) at all,” then-senior captain David Baas said at the time. “It’s Michigan-Ohio State.”

Five years later, things have changed.

A Buckeyes' victory in their final regular-season game has become so commonplace that there wasn't even rioting in Columbus this weekend. The Ohio State students seemed to rush the field after the game out of obligation rather than excitement.

The Buckeyes have won five straight over the Wolverines, Ohio State's longest winning streak in the rivalry.

Of other major rivalries, just Auburn over Alabama, Navy over Army and Southern Cal over Notre Dame have been more lopsided. Each stands at six straight victories.

Saturday's loss means Michigan's senior class becomes just the seventh to never beat the Buckeyes.

“Just looking at the other seniors and looking at how tough it was on them," Michigan senior nose tackle Terrance Taylor said, "knowing the things we've been through these four years and knowing the sacrifices we've put in and the struggles we've gone (through), and the hard work we've put in, sometimes it feels like some of it has gone down the drain.

Taylor said he tried to preach a sense of desperation to the Wolverines' freshmen, several of whom were starters.

“Hopefully we got through to them," Taylor said. "I guess not in time.”

On the other hand, the Buckeyes' seniors will collect their fourth (or fifth, if they redshirted) pair of gold pants, the charms awarded to Ohio State teams that beat Michigan.

“We're blessed to be in a position where we don't have to say (we lost to the Wolverines),” Ohio State senior cornerback Malcolm Jenkins said. “We don't have to live with that the rest of our lives. We can always say we beat that team.”

Ohio State's 42-7 win Saturday was its third biggest over the Wolverines and the matchup's biggest differential since the Buckeyes won 50-14 in 1968.

In the last five years, Michigan and Ohio State have entered The Game from a variety of positions:

2004: No. 7 Michigan at unranked Ohio State

2005: No. 17 Michigan vs. No. 9 Ohio State

2006: No. 2 Michigan at No. 1 Ohio State

2007: No. 23 Michigan vs. No. 7 Ohio State

2008: unranked Michigan at No. 10 Ohio State

But each game has ended the same way — with the Buckeyes on top. Still, the Wolverines lead the all-time series 57-42-6.

Much of Ohio State's historic run can be credited to its dominance off the field.

In the last six recruiting classes, including the yet-to-be-signed 2009 group, 45 recruits have chosen between Ohio State and Michigan, according to Scout.com.

Thirty-six picked the Buckeyes.

Three of those players — running backs Chris “Beanie” Wells, Dan “Boom” Herron and Brandon Saine — accounted for 93 percent of Ohio State's yardage on the ground and all three of its rushing touchdowns Saturday.

Buckeye quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who considered Michigan, threw for 65 percent of the Buckeyes' passing yards and tossed two touchdowns. Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez and Ohio State coach Jim Tressel pursued Pryor well past the first day of the signing period, when most recruits sign their letter of intent.

So, in large part because of a group of players who could have been helping the Wolverines on Saturday, Rodriguez lost his first game against Ohio State. First-year Michigan coaches had gone 10-1-1 against the Buckeyes until Saturday.

“I’ve been here for one of them,” Rodriguez said. “So that’s the only one I can really comment on. They’ve got one in a row on us, from what I’ve seen.”

For Rodriguez, it was just another time he didn't want to look at the past. But Michigan's 15 seniors, including the 11 fifth-years, will depart without beating the Buckeyes.