Ohio State Football - Central Ohio News

John Navarre has replayed the final play in his head more times than his Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes have met in their storied series.

He sees it when he sleeps. He sees it when he eats. He sees it every time a prying reporter asks him about it.

It can't be rehashed or regretted too much, not when it has left an indelible mark on a series that turns 100 this year.

"To be honest with you," Navarre said, "I botched the call."

With one last crack at spoiling Ohio State's perfect season, the Michigan quarterback took the snap from the OSU 24, dropped back in the pocket and fired a pass over the middle to what appeared to be a wide-open target in the end zone.

Undetected OSU nickel back Will Allen cut in front of star receiver Braylon Edwards for an interception to seal the 14-9 victory, clinching a Big Ten co-championship and a berth in the Fiesta Bowl for the Buckeyes as bedlam erupted inside Ohio Stadium.

"It should have been a different call; they had a prevent defense on," Navarre said. "But it shouldn't have come down to that play. When I replay that game, I also replay four or five other plays through the course of the game where I could have made a difference.

"You never want the last play of the game to be the difference-maker."

Ohio State and Michigan fans would beg to differ. What better scenario -- what better way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of this storied series -- than to see the 2003 Big Ten championship come down to the final play between these bitter rivals?

"That would be a storybook ending," said Michigan linebacker Carl Diggs, a Warren, Ohio native. "At the beginning of the season you always come in thinking we'll be undefeated and that they'll be undefeated and that you'll play for it all."

With Ohio State winning the national championship last season and Michigan finishing No. 1 in 1997, this rivalry appears to have grown in stature.

"I don't know if it has gotten bigger, but the focus of the microscope has gotten tighter and tighter," Ohio State center Alex Stepanovich said. "Coach (Jim) Tressel has embraced how big the game is, which I think some coaches hadn't in the past since probably coach (Earle) Bruce and coach (Woody) Hayes.

"The game has always been huge in Michigan and Ohio, but now everybody is paying attention to that game."

Michigan coach Lloyd Carr sees things from a different perspective, having been part of the rivalry for 24 years, including 15 as an assistant.

"You can't tell the players who played 10 years ago that this game is greater than the one they played in; it just doesn't work," Carr said.

"I don't think anything can add or detract from the rivalry. Every year it's one of those games everyone wants to see, and it's a game the players and coaches look at as a benchmark and as an opportunity to play in the greatest rivalry in college football."

Tressel, as Ohioans well know, is just as passionate in his respect for the rivalry.

"I don't know any of the guys playing in this game will say it's special because it's the 100th," he said. "No, it's special because it's theirs.

"Just like the guy who played in the 64th game, it's special because it's theirs. Players and coaches on both sides say it's a privilege to be part of that game. That is true."

Tressel's 2-0 mark against Michigan already matches the series win-total of predecessor John Cooper over 13 years. Francis Schmidt is the only Ohio State coach to win his first three games against the Wolverines. He won four straight from 1934-37.

On the flip side, Ohio State travels to Ann Arbor this season, where it hasn't won two in a row since 1979 and '81. The Buckeyes last won three straight in the series during a four-year run from 1960-63.

"It's going to be huge," said OSU defensive lineman Darrion Scott, looking ahead to Nov. 22. "If we're both undefeated, it will be the most exciting game anywhere ... I can bet you that.

"We can't stand to lose to Michigan. They can't stand to lose to us. We can't swallow it if we lose. It's the biggest rivalry. It's the biggest 'hate' game.

"To beat Michigan for the second year in a row and go to the national championship, you couldn't have asked for anything more. It's almost like winning two championships in a row."

All Navarre asks is for a shot at redemption this year in the Big House.

"When it comes down to the end of the season," he said, "you should be able to finish."