Sports

OSU, Michigan ranked 1,2

The Ohio State-Michigan game is one of college football's biggest rivalries without a doubt and for the first time since 1976, the two are ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the AP polls.

Since 1935, the two teams have played in the final game of the regular season and, most times, at least one of the two teams was at the top of the Big Ten — sometimes even the national polls — giving the game huge conference and national implications.

As great as this rivalry has been, the 2006 game between these two teams has the potential to be the greatest of them all. It may come as something of a surprise given the teams' powerhouse status, but not since 1973 have the two teams met being both undefeated.

But as one would expect, both head coaches are trying to keep their players focused on the next game and not looking too far ahead.

"We talk constantly about doing what is at hand right this moment," Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel said. "We tell [the players] to focus on what is going on right this second."

Although there is still a month before the teams meet in Columbus on Nov. 18, a glance at the schedule would suggest that it looks more likely than ever that both teams will go into the game undefeated.

Ohio State's final four opponents before the Michigan game have a combined three Big Ten wins, whereas Michigan's schedule is somewhat more difficult, but the Wolverines have three home games with their only road game coming against Indiana.

Nevertheless, Tressel must focus on the Buckeyes' remaining schedule before he can even start to think about the Michigan game.

"I think most of us know we have a long way to go before we become a very good team," Tressel said.

Indiana shocks Iowa

Iowa's upcoming game against Michigan was supposed to be the Wolverines' last true test before their showdown with Ohio State. It may still be, but the Hawkeyes will be going to the "Big House" with significantly less momentum than they had hoped following Saturday's 28-31 loss to Indiana.

Iowa headed into this game ranked No. 15 and had to be looking at it as little more than a tune-up before the Michigan game, but Indiana was able to pull off the upset behind wide receiver James Hardy's three touchdowns.

"It was a big win for our team and our program against a very good Iowa team," Indiana head coach Terry Hoeppner said. "For a lot of reasons, it was a very satisfying win … but we're still a young team that is hopefully maturing rapidly."

While disappointed in his team's heartbreaking loss, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz had nothing but praise for the Hooisers.

"We had a tough loss. All the credit goes to Indiana; they played a tremendous football game," Ferentz said. "We had our opportunities and couldn't get it done, and it was very disappointing for us."

Manningham update

With 24 receptions and nine touchdowns so far, Michigan wide receiver Mario Manningham has established himself as the clear favorite for the Biletnikoff award — the nation's best wide receiver — and a sleeper Heisman candidate.

But Manningham underwent arthroscopic knee surgery last week, missing the Penn State game, and will be out for at least one more week.

Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr has been looking at the glass as half-full though, pointing out the increased opportunities for other receivers due to Manningham's absence.

"Of course you'd rather have him (Manningham) because he would have an opportunity to get better over the course of the season," Carr said. "There's no question though that it creates other opportunities for people to gain experience, to gain confidence. That will, certainly at some point, make you a better football team."