“We gave up too many big plays,” said Carr, who bit his lip and held back tears during his postgame news conference. “Those are mistakes in a game like this, in any game, that will get you beat.”

A video tribute to Schembechler, an Ohio State alum, was shown on the scoreboard before kickoff and the crowd of 105,708 responded with a respectful and loud ovation.

“Michigan has lost a coach and patriarch,” the public-address announcer read. “The Big Ten has lost a legend and icon. Ohio State has lost an alumnus and friend.”

“Win it for Bo!” read a sign held aloft by a Wolverines fan.

“It was definitely difficult for us,” Henne said. “Coach Carr loves him dearly and so do we. .. It’s sad to see him go. We dearly miss him. We tried to fight for him today.”

Schembechler’s death tempered some of the animosity that usually goes with this rivalry — but not the intensity.

Hart plowed in from a yard out on third-and-goal on the second play of the fourth quarter to cut the Ohio State lead to 35-31 after Ohio State fumbled the ball away at its own 9 with a high snap.

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Only the Buckeyes could stop the Buckeyes on this day. Ohio State turned the ball over three times, but gouged Michigan’s defense — a unit that was allowing 231 yards a game— for 503 yards. Chris Wells had a 52-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Antonio Pittman broke one for 56 yards in the third to make it 35-24.

The anticipation for this showdown of unbeatens had been building for more than a month, when it became apparent that only a huge upset would keep the Big Ten rivals from entering the game with perfect records for first time since 1973.

For the Buckeyes, who’ve been No. 1 all season, it was the second time this season they beat the No. 2 team — and with Smith leading the way. Smith has been the Heisman front-runner since September, when he led Ohio State to 24-7 victory at No. 2 Texas.

The offenses started fast, each scoring on its opening drive and doing it by going to the air. Mario Manningham, who missed three games with knee surgery, showed he was back in shape with three receptions for 58 yards that helped set up Hart’s easy 1-yard TD run.

Smith responded by going 9-for-11 for 68 yards, capping the drive with a 1-yard TD pass to Roy Hall.

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“I thought it would be a low-scoring game,” said Michigan’s star defensive end LaMarr Woodley, who couldn’t add to his team-high 11 sacks. “It kind of shocked everybody.”

Smith tacked on his second TD pass with a deep strike off play-action down the middle to Ginn from 39 yards out to make it 21-7. For a moment, it looked as if the Buckeyes were primed to pull away.

No way.

And now the question is: Should they play it again?

“That is really not up to us,” Ginn said. “Today, it was just two really great teams giving it everything they could to win.”