No. 10 Ohio State (9-2, 6-1) @ Michigan (5-6, 1-6)

THE ESSENTIALS

TV: ABC, noon ET Announcers: Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Matt Millen (analyst), Holly Rowe (sideline) Site: Michigan Stadium You should know: For the 10th straight season, this annual game season finale will have a direct impact on the Big Ten championship. Last meeting: 2008 - Ohio State, 42-7 All-time series: Michigan, 57-42-6 Big question: How will Ohio State's Justin Boren, a former Michigan player, handle the emotion of this game? How we see it playing out: Ohio State 37, Michigan 13

For years, the annual showdown between rivals Ohio State and Michigan has been called "The Game.''

Maybe this year it should be referred to as The "Just Another'' Game.

No. 9 Ohio State (9-2, 6-1) has already assured itself of its first spot in the Rose Bowl in 13 years after clinching at least a share of the Big Ten title and the conference's Bowl Championship Series automatic berth with Saturday's 27-24 overtime victory over 15th-ranked Iowa.

"We told our guys they could have three hours to savor that, but when the clock strikes 12 o'clock, we know what week it is,'' coach Jim Tressel said.

In other words, it's time for the contest with the Buckeyes' biggest rival, Michigan.

The Wolverines (5-6, 1-6) have lost four in a row and six of the last seven and remain tied for last in the Big Ten after Saturday's 45-24 beating at the hands of Wisconsin.

"There's no question we've got one more chance,'' embattled Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said.'

What used to be the red-letter day on the calendar for each team has become one of relatively minor rewards.

In addition to sticking it to their nemesis, the Buckeyes would like to win an outright conference title. But it's hard to imagine anyone rallying to the battle cry of "Avoid a co-championship!''

Asked if the teams' vastly different fortunes and the Buckeyes' recent accomplishments would make it difficult to get up for Michigan, Ohio State safety Kurt Coleman said, "It's not tough at all. We want to win the championship outright and to beat Michigan. That's a lot of motivation to play well.''

The Buckeyes have beaten two top-15 teams in as many weeks, knocking off then-No. 11 Penn State 24-7 in Happy Valley two weeks ago. Those two wins gave them the Rose Bowl bid - and a Jan. 1 date against the Pac-10 winner. No. 11 Oregon (8-2, 6-1) currently leads that race, with Stanford (7-3, 6-2), Oregon State (7-3, 5-2) and Arizona (6-3, 4-2) hot on the webbed feet of the Ducks.

Besides, it's not as if Ohio State is steamrolling teams. The offense remains a question mark, with quarterback Terrelle Pryor and the rest of the Buckeyes playing adequately but not much better. Backs Brandon Saine (103 yards on 11 carries) and Dan Herron (97 on 32) combining for 200 yards rushing and three touchdowns. But Pryor totaled just 93 yards on his 14 completions.

Michigan needs a win to salvage its season, but that's sort of like putting lipstick on a pig. A victory would give the Wolverines, who are coming off a 3-9 season a year ago in Rich Rodriguez's debut in Ann Arbor, the minimum requirement for playing in a bowl game - a non-losing record.

Usually the Ohio State-Michigan game is the ultimate winner-take-all contest in the Big Ten. Focus has never been a problem. It has been simple: See rival, beat rival, celebrate.

But this year, the Buckeyes have accomplished so much already - and the Wolverines have struggled so much - it's not surprising that the focus might not be there.

- The Associated Press provided this report.

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