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This battle between the top two teams lived up to the hype, as Ohio State built a first-half lead and then successfully responded to Michigan's counterpunches. Troy Smith most likely locked up a Heisman award by throwing for three touchdowns and also rushing for 48 yards, gaining a couple crucial first downs during critical drives. The unflappable Smith hit Anthony Gonzalez midway through the first quarter to open the scoring, only to watch the Wolverines tie it two possessions later on a quick strike from Chad Henne to Mario Manningham that covered 54 yards.

The Buckeyes added two more touchdowns in the first half, as Smith again found Gonzalez in the end zone, while Antonio Pittman scored on a short run late in the second quarter to leave OSU up 21-10 at the break. The third quarter saw the teams exchange punts twice, and then it was Henne to Manningham again, this time from 30 yards away, to cut the lead to 21-17. After Smith made one of his few errors in the game, throwing an interception early in the fourth quarter, the Wolverines hit a field goal to pull within one, but then Smith led the Buckeyes on a backbreaking drive that ended in his TD pass to Ted Ginn Jr. Michigan couldn't respond, giving the Buckeyes a berth in the national title game.