The Buckeyes won that game 14-3 on a dreary day at The Big House. It was Carr's final regular-season game after coaching the Wolverines since 1995. Ohio State's Chris "Beanie'' Wells ran for 222 yards (most ever by a Buckeyes back against Michigan) on 39 carries and scored both touchdowns.

Wells is back, and will go against a Michigan defense that is OK against the run (128 yards a game) but often spend too much time on the field because of the Wolverines' unproductive offense.

"It's a daunting challenge,'' Rodriguez said. Then, he channeled the late Schembechler, growling, "But if you're not a competitor as a coach or player and don't appreciate it ... hell, I've got guys that can play. These guys can go in this environment and compete their tails off. Who knows what happens? We're not going to go down there and forfeit.''

Playing in his first game in the rivalry will be Ohio State freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor. The Buckeyes are 7-1 since Pryor, who chose Ohio State over Michigan, took over as the starter.

The 6-foot-6, 235-pound speedster can turn a broken play into an end-to-end touchdown. But this is a long way from the Pennsylvania High School playoffs he was competing in a year ago.

"I don't know, but I just keep getting it pounded in my ears, 'This is why you came here, for Michigan,''' he said after last week's victory at Illinois. "I can't wait to find out.''

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