Michigan season riding on Saturday

There's a lot at stake for both the Wolverines and Buckeyes.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan salvaged its season after starting 3-3 by winning four straight games.
The 17th-ranked Wolverines won't consider the year a success, however, unless they make it five in a row with a victory over No. 9 Ohio State.
"For both teams, I think this season will be a major disappointment with a loss," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said Monday. "There is a lot at stake."
As usual, a lot will be on the line Saturday at Michigan Stadium in the 102nd meeting in one of college football's greatest rivalries.
The slightly favored Buckeyes (8-2, 6-1 Big Ten) can clinch at least a share of the conference championship with a victory, and they would claim the title outright if Penn State also gets upset later in the day at Michigan State.
Need help for piece of title
The two-time defending Big Ten champion Wolverines (7-3, 5-2) need a victory and a Penn State loss to earn a piece of the title.
Michigan leads the series with Ohio State 57-38-6, but over the last 50 years, both teams have won 24 times and tied twice. Carr is 6-4 against the Buckeyes -- 1-3 since Jim Tressel replaced John Cooper in 2001.
Despite losing a school-record four All-Americans, much was expected of the Wolverines this season.
Michigan began the season ranked No. 4 and rose to No. 3 after opening with a win over Northern Illinois.
Dropped out of poll
Losses to Notre Dame and Wisconsin dropped the Wolverines out of The Associated Press poll Sept. 25 for the first time since 1998, ending a streak of 114 straight weeks in the rankings, which was the longest run in the nation.
"People didn't give us much hope," tight end Tim Massaquoi said. "They really cast our season away."
Setback to Minnesota
A setback to Minnesota on Oct. 8 dropped the Wolverines to 3-3, their worst start since 1990.
"We knew that we weren't playing up to Michigan's level," linebacker David Harris said. "We knew that wasn't acceptable."
Flirting with the Wolverines' worst record in mid-October in almost 40 years, Chad Henne threw a touchdown pass to Mario Manningham with no time left to lift Michigan to a 27-25 victory over the Nittany Lions.
"If you look back on it, I'd have to say that definitely changed our season," left tackle Adam Stenavich said. "If we didn't make that play and win that game, we wouldn't be in the position we're in now."
The Wolverines went on to win at Iowa in overtime and at Northwestern, then had a much-needed off week before routing Indiana on Saturday.
Receiver Carl Tabb said the team has been confident throughout the season, even when things looked bleak, and that allowed it to put together a winning streak.
Made decision
At 3-3, Tabb said the Wolverines had a decision to make.
"It just made us look in the mirror and determine what kind of team we wanted to be because we have a choice," he recalled.
"We can either go in the tank and throw the year away, or we can do what you have seen us do, which is come back fighting and swinging and fighting our way out of the corner that we dug ourselves and put ourselves into."