Notebook: Ohio State vs. Michigan

Super Mario: Mario Manningham led Michigan with six catches for 86 yards, but he had a somewhat scattered day. Manningham caught three passes for 58 yards on Michigan's first drive. His 25-yard reception set the Wolverines up with first-and-goal at the 1, from where Mike Hart ran in on the next play. But the sophomore from Warren Harding was then held without a catch until Michigan's final drive, when he caught three more passes. "I think our young guys were a little nervous at the beginning of the game and maybe gave him a little too much respect," said Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Heacock, a graduate of West Branch High School and the brother of Youngstown State coach Jon Heacock. "But we settled down after the start of the game and played their receivers a little tighter and smarter."
Series notes: Ohio State has won three straight games against Michigan for the first time since winning four straight from 1960-63, and since 1951 -- Woody Hayes' first year at OSU -- the Buckeyes are 28-26-2 against the Wolverines. But, Michigan still leads the all-time series, 57-40-6. Saturday's game was the 18th time both teams were undefeated, but just the third since 1935.
Mr. Smith for the Heisman: Troy Smith finished 29-of-41 for 316 yards and matched his career high with four TD passes. His completions and attempts were also career highs, and he set a single season record with 30 TD passes. Smith has 2,507 yards passing this season, which ranks fourth-best in school history. Joe Germaine threw for 3,330 yards in 1998. Smith also became just the second quarterback at Ohio State to win three games against Michigan, joining Tippy Dye, who went 3-0 against the Wolverines from 1934-36.
No. 1 vs. No. 2: Ohio State became the first team ever to defeat two teams ranked No. 2 (as the top-ranked team) in the same season. The Buckeyes defeated Texas, 24-7, on Sept. 9.
Sidelines: The 42 points marked the most for a Buckeye team against Michigan since the 50-14 OSU win in 1968. ... Former Buckeye and Warren native Paul Warfield was Ohio State's honorary captain. Warfield lettered at OSU from 1961-63. ... The crowd of 105,708 was a stadium record. The previous record (105,565) was established against Texas in 2005. ... Linebacker James Laurinaitis led the Buckeyes with nine tackles, the eighth time this season the sophomore has led the team.
Up next: Ohio State will play in the BCS championship game on Jan. 8 in Glendale, Ariz. It will mark the fourth time in the last five seasons the Buckeyes have played their bowl game in Arizona. The streak started in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl when Ohio State defeated Miami (Fla.), 31-24, in double overtime to win the national championship. Ohio State also beat Kansas State, 35-28, in the 2004 Fiesta Bowl, and Notre Dame, 34-20, in January.
Rob Todor