Rivalry loses its luster

ANN ARBOR, Mich. --- The Game has lost a lot of luster.

Ohio State has beaten Michigan five consecutive times, its best winning streak and the longest in the series since the 1920s.

The ninth-ranked Buckeyes (9-2, 6-2 Big Ten) have already clinched at least a share of their fifth conference title in a row and a spot in the Rose Bowl.

Michigan (5-6, 1-6) is mired in another miserable year -- coming off a school-record nine-loss season -- and is nearly a two-touchdown underdog to lose today at home to guarantee consecutive losing records for the first time since 1962-63.

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel , though, insisted those factors haven't diminished the rivalry.

"That would never occur to the participants," Tressel said. "Perhaps to someone from the outside, someone from Utah or something, might not maybe jump on it because neither team is being talked about every day in the national scheme of things."

Michigan has stayed in the news lately for unwanted reasons.

An internal audit was released Monday in untimely fashion with details about the football program failing to file the school's forms that track how much players work out and practice. The forms are used as a tool to help comply with NCAA rules.

The office of university audits sent coach Rich Rodriguez a memo on July 24 stating that forms from the 2008 regular season had not been submitted.

The Detroit Free Press , citing anonymous players, reported a month later that Michigan exceeded NCAA limits regarding practices and workouts. That triggered a school investigation and later an NCAA letter of inquiry that has the school, program and fans bracing for bad news for the once-proud program.

BUTKUS AWARD: South Carolina's Eric Norwood is one of five finalists for the award that goes to the college football's top linebacker. Norwood joins Alabama's Rolando McClain , Texas' Sergia Kindl e, Missouri's Sean Weatherspoon and Florida's Brandon Spikes in the running for the national honor.

TOLEDO 47, EASTERN MICHIGAN 21

In Toledo, Ohio, DaJuane Collins ran for two touchdowns and Morgan Williams rushed for another to lead Toledo to a win over Eastern Michigan.

Williams finished with 155 yards rushing and one touchdown for the Rockets (5-6, 3-4 Mid-American Conference).

Collins rushed for 145 yards and his two touchdowns.

In the second quarter, Alex Johnson recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown, putting the Rockets up 16-0 with 13:13 left.

Toledo led 23-7 at halftime.