COLUMBUS, Ohio — “The Game” is getting one-sided.
Jordan Hall broke the game open with an 85-yard kickoff return and No. 8 Ohio State’s defense stymied high-powered Michigan 37-7 on Saturday, stretching the Buckeyes’ mastery in “The Game” to seven consecutive victories.
The Buckeyes (11-1, 7-1) picked up two celebration penalties after touchdowns, but they had a lot to celebrate: a share of a record-tying sixth Big Ten title and, most likely, a Bowl Championship Series bowl berth.
Terrelle Pryor had two touchdown passes and Dan Herron finished with 175 yards on 22 carries.
It was another stumble for Michigan (7-5, 3-5) under Coach Rich Rodriguez, now 0-3 against the Buckeyes and just 15-21 overall with the Wolverines.
Herron ran 98 yards for a score that was disallowed and shortened to an 89-yard gain because of a holding penalty as he neared the end zone.
Michigan’s quarterback, Denard Robinson, was hampered by an injured left hand. He played little more than a half, running for 105 yards on 18 attempts and completing 8 of 18 passes for 87 yards. He came into the game second nationally in total offense at 343 yards a game.
It was the second-most lopsided Ohio State victory in the series since 1968, eclipsed only by a 42-7 victory the last time the game was played in Columbus in 2008. Over those last two Buckeyes’ home games, they have outscored Michigan 79-14.
Ohio State players, dressed in bright scarlet helmets and shoes for the game, were twice flagged for forming an “O” with their gloved hands while celebrating after touchdowns. The crowd of 105,491 booed lustily after each penalty.
The rest of the afternoon was mostly cheers.
Ohio State’s defense - with backup cornerback Travis Howard intercepting one pass and recovering two fumbles - controlled a Michiganoffense that came in averaging 37 points and 515 yards per game. The Wolverines ended up with 351 yards - less than 100 in the second half.
Pryor completed 18 of 27 passes for 220 yards with 1 interception and threw scoring passes of 7 yards to Dane Sanzenbacher and 33 yards to DeVier Posey. Up 24-7 at haltime, most of the drama was drained from the game as Coach Jim Tressel improved to 9-1 against the Buckeyes’ archrivals.
The Buckeyes extended their record for consecutive victories in the 107-game series. By locking up a share of the Big Ten title, Ohio State matched the record of six set by the Woody Hayes’ Buckeyes teams of 1972-77.
In other games involving Big Ten teams, No. 10 Michigan State claimed at least a share of its first Big Ten title since 1990 after beating Penn State 28-22 at Beaver Stadium. Edwin Baker ran for 118 yards and a touchdown, and Keshawn Martin’s 35-yard reverse deep in Penn State territory set up another early score for Michigan State (11-1, 7-1). Quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 152 yards and two touchdowns to B.J. Cunnigham, and the defense held off a fourth-quarter charge by penalty-prone Penn State (7-5, 4-4). ... Indiana’s Mitch Ewald kicked a 26-yard field goal with nine seconds left to force overtime, then won it with a 31-yarder to give Indiana a 34-31 victory over host Purdue to win the Old Oaken Bucket. Indiana (5-7, 1-7) ended a 12-game losing streak in conference play and avoided the school’s first winless conference season since 1995.Purdue (4-8, 2-6) lost to Indiana at home for the first time since 1996. ... No. 7 Wisconsin has earned a share of the Big Ten championship with its 70-23 rout of Northwestern in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin (11-1, 7-1) will split the conference title with Ohio State and Michigan State after both teams won earlier Saturday. Montee Ball rushed for 178 yards and four touchdowns for the Badgers. Venric Mark returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown for Northwestern (7-5, 3-5). ... Duane Bennett’s touchdown run with 4:31 left lifted Minnesota to a 27-24 victory over 24th-ranked Iowa, as the Hawkeyes lost another fourth-quarter lead and fell to the rival Gophers for the first time in four years. DeLeon Eskridge had 95 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries for Minnesota (3-9, 2-6), which outmuscled Iowa on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Freshman Marcus Coker carried 21 times for 90 yards for Iowa (7-5, 4-4), which closed the regular season with three consecutive losses of four points or fewer.
Sports, Pages 38 on 11/28/2010