COLUMBUS - So much for that Heisman talk.
Much had been made about Ohio State tackle Orlando Pace's bid to become the first lineman to ever win the Heisman trophy. His coach, John Cooper has said all season that Pace should win it.
Cooper has said that if the award truly goes to the top college football player in the country, not just running backs, quarterbacks and receivers, that Pace should win.
Even Pace himself had said he thought he was deserving.
Saturday, however, in the biggest game of his season, Pace came up way short. He was supposed to dominate Michigan's defensive front, and the Buckeyes were supposed to dominate the Wolverines.
Instead, Ohio State rushed for just five yards in the second half of Saturday's 13-9 loss.
"Everyone saw what was going on out there," said Pace when asked about the offensive difficulties. "Everyone saw the same game, so there's no need for me to stand here and tell you what happened."
He also didn't want to talk about what most likely happened to his Heisman hopes.
"I'm not actually thinking about the Heisman," Pace said. "The Heisman is the absolute furthest thing from my mind."
Disgusted: Ohio State fans who have been through all of these disappointing losses before had no trouble explaining why Michigan just seems to have their number.
"Psychologically, they can't beat Michigan," Ohio State alum Barry Strickland said minutes after the Wolverines gave Ohio State its first loss of the season Saturday.
The Buckeyes, who came into the game with a No. 2 ranking and a 10-0 record, now have won just two games in the past 12 years against their arch-rivals.
But this year's 13-9 setback was especially difficult. The Buckeyes had already wrapped up a trip to the Rose Bowl and were heavy favorites over the Wolverines.
"It all comes down to who can play under pressure," Strickland said. "Ohio State didn't play to win."
His wife, Beth, said the loss will likely linger when Ohio State plays Arizona State in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.
"No matter what they do from now on, the loss to Michigan is going to stick in their heads," she said. "I don't think they can win the Rose Bowl because their heads aren't in the game."
The mood on High Street near many of the campus bars was somber early after the game, but a Columbus police officer said there were reports of unrest near campus later in the evening.
The officer, who refused to be identified, said people were setting couches on fire and large crowds were congregating in the area. He said some arrests had been made, but he did not know how many.
Police officials expected to send about 350 officers to the campus area to make sure post-game parties didn't get out of hand.
Students and others celebrating victories the past two seasons have turned violent in the area. Police officers have been pelted with beer bottles, couches have been set afire and cars have been turned over.
But there have been few problems since university leaders visited students before the Buckeyes defeated Penn State in October.
Some fans at tailgate parties after the game near the stadium decided to drown their sorrows with alcohol.
"Forget about High Street, this is where the party is happening," said Lynn McClelland, a nurse at the Ohio State University Medical Center.
Michigan fans standing in the parking lot were celebrating the victory and the fact that Ohio State coach John Cooper has five years remaining on his contract.
"Keep Cooper," said Michigan fan Dan Cerimele, of Ann Arbor. "He's 1-7-1 now."
Cooper got a four-year contract extension before this season despite criticism about his record against Michigan.
He will also get another year added to his contract because the Buckeyes clinched a Rose Bowl berth.
Streets' Day: Michigan wide receiver Tai Streets caught the only touchdown pass of the day, a quick slant from Brian Greise that Streets took 69 yards for a score after the Buckeye covering him fell to the turf.
Streets was then mobbed by his teammates in the end zone before he bolted to the sidelines.
Notables: Michigan has not allowed a first-quarter touchdown all season ... Jerame Tuman, Streets, Russell Shaw and Clarence Williams have caught passes in every game this season for Michigan ... Chris Howard's 105 yards made him the first back all season to rush for more than 100 yards against the Buckeyes.
- Daily Sports Editor John Leroi and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
SARA STILLMAN/Daily
Sprint spokesperson Candace Bergen will be out of a job if Michigan wide receiver Tai Streets keeps scoring big touchdowns like the one he had against Ohio State. Streets, caught on the phone after the touchdown on Saturday, was using MCI.