It is now one week closer to another Michigan/Ohio St. Big Ten Championship game, which would take place November 17^th. A special thanks to those who remained optimistic. A loss from either team in the next two weeks wouldn’t even change the meaning of that game because the next closest team in the big ten has two losses. Michigan’s two early losses meant bad things for student’s trying to sell tickets, but good things in terms of the BCS rankings as well as Lloyd Carr’s job status. However, the current 7-game win streak doesn’t mean a thing until OSU, and ultimately a bowl game (Rose).

Michigan put themselves in good shape this week with a victory over lowly Minnesota, and did so without the likes of seniors Mike Hart and Chad Henne. Despite a slow first half, freshman Ryan Mallet managed to pull himself together to hit up Mario Manningham for 163 yards in the air, while sophomores Carlos Brown and Brandon Minor each carried for over 100 yards on the ground.

Michigan St. discovered that John L Smith was not the cause of their late-season meltdowns as they opened the Big Ten schedule 1-4 after a 4-0 start. The Spartans only have one thing left to do in order to sugar-coat another disappointing, and perhaps bowl-less, season. Beat Michigan. Michigan will have to be on their toes this Saturday against State and for another road test the following week against Wisconsin. But with Hart and Henne back in the lineup, all signs are pointing towards OSU.

This is the year the ‘home field advantage was the only reason OSU won last year’s battle’ claim is confirmed. This is the year that Mike Hart and Chad Henne manage their first OSU and Rose Bowl victories. This is the year for Lloyd Carr's redemption. Wait, wasn’t this the year we lost to Appalachian State?