Michigan’s Rodriguez foresees an opportunity

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan-Ohio State joke was making its rounds on both sides of the border less than 24 hours after the Wolverines lost a school-record eighth game.

Did you hear they had to cancel the game?

No, why?

Because Michigan can’t get past Toledo.

It’s gotten that bad for college football’s winningest team.

“I’m sure we’ll hear all week that our guys have no chance,” said Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez, whose Wolverines did lose to the Rockets (2-8) this season.

Why does Rodriguez think the Wolverines (3-8, 2-5 Big Ten) have a shot to beat the 10th-ranked Buckeyes (9-2, 6-1)?

“It’s 0-0 when you start,” he said. “If they’re favored by whatever and up 21-0 before you kick off, that’s tough. But it’s 0-0 when you start.”

One of Ohio State’s youngest — freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor — considered Michigan only after Rodriguez was hired nearly 11 months ago.

Rodriguez knew he would be starting another rebuilding job as he had at West Virginia. But he and no one else thought it would get this bad at Michigan.

Northwestern beat the Wolverines 21-14 Saturday, handing them eight losses for the first time in their program’s 129-year history.

Michigan will play its final game against Ohio State for the first time since 1974, the last year the conference allowed only one school play in the postseason.