Michigan on the mind: Buckeyes pass final test

OSU crushed Northwestern to set up a showdown between the country's top two teams.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Despite rolling to 23-point halftime advantage, top-ranked Ohio State's pass defenders allowed unheralded Northwestern quarterback C.J. Bacher to throw for 212 yards in the first half of the Buckeyes' final test before the Michigan final exam.
A concern? Not on the scoreboard.
Thanks to the Wildcats' extreme generosity, the Buckeyes (11-0) converted five turnovers plus a blocked punt into a 30-point lead in the third quarter as Ohio State won easily, 54-10, Saturday at Ryan Field.
The blowout, which comes a week after the Buckeyes struggled against Illinois, preserves the matchup between Ohio State and their biggest rival.
"Ohio State-Michigan is always the biggest game," coach Jim Tressel said of Saturday's 3:30 p.m. game in Ohio Stadium. "The fact that it's No. 1 vs. No. 2, that's the way it should be. We're excited."
Big Ten over BCS
Tressel chose to play up the Big Ten's annual monster faceoff over the BCS implications.
"This game is always the biggest game -- it doesn't matter what the records are, what's on the table with the outcome" Tressel said. "I'm proud of the way our guys have stayed on the task at hand."
Tressel was referring to how the Buckeyes have won six straight games against unranked opponents after they defeated three Top 25 teams in September.
Despite the lopside score, Ohio State showed some vulnerability in the first half but was rescued by three interceptions and two fumbles.
Buckeyes safety Brandon Mitchell triggered two touchdowns, first by recovering wide receiver Shaun Herbert's fumble 73 seconds into the game. Stripping the ball from Herbert's grasp was sophomore linebacker James Laurinaitis.
Five plays later, Ohio State led 7-0 when quarterback Troy Smith found wide receiver Brian Hartline for a 14-yard touchdown, the first of his two scores.
Momentum-stopper
Suddenly, the energy the Wildcats had produced after Bacher's first two completions was zapped. It got much worse for Northwestern.
"We always talk about having a relentless defense no mater what is happening," Tressel said. "Eventually they are going to get some pressure on you and cause something to happen."
Such was the case Saturday. On the Wildcats' second series, Bacher fumbled a shotgun snap and blitzing cornerback Antonio Smith recovered at the Northwestern 27.
Four plays later, senior running back Antonio Pittman scored from the 1. Pittman finished with 81 yards on 19 carries to become the first OSU back to top 1,000 yards in two consecutive seasons since Eddie George did it a decade ago.
Bacher's next mistake was a pass behind wide receiver Ross Lane and Mitchell anticipated. His 46-yard interception had the Buckeyes ahead 21-0 before the first quarter ended.
After Illinois' onside kick went through his arms last week, Mitchell said he's happy to focus on the game everyone else has been anticipating nearly all season.
"We know the importance of this game," Mitchell said of Michigan. "We had a couple of bad drives but I think we took two steps forward."
Trying to stay close
The Wildcats produced two scoring marches in the second quarter -- a 12-play, 69-yard drive capped by Joel Howells' 29-yard field goal and a six-play, 75-yard drive that ended with tailback Tyrell Sutton catching an 8-yard screen pass and running for a score.
Still, the Buckeyes outscored Northwestern in the quarter. Larry Grant set up Ohio State's fourth touchdown when he blocked and caught Slade Larscheid's punt at the Northwestern 16. Smith hit Hartline in the back of the end zone for a 27-3 lead.
Right before halftime, wide receiver Ted Ginn fought off cornerback Sherrick McManus to haul in a 34-yard touchdown.
Smith, who tied his career mark with four touchdown passes, said, "There are still things we can do to get better."
Tressel admitted that two unbeaten teams going for the conference crown is special.
"Here we are entering game 12 with a chance to reach our goals," Tressel said. "There aren't many teams out there who have still can reach the goals they've set.
"I'm excited for this group of seniors. They've been everything that I had hoped they would be from a maturity standpoint. I'm excited about their Senior Day."
So are the rest of the nation's college football fans.