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Roundup: Michigan ends 7-game losing streak vs. Ohio St.

Michigan QB Denard Robinson runs for a 41-yard touchdown in the first quarter. He ran for two scores and threw for three. (Associated Press)
Michigan QB Denard Robinson runs for a 41-yard touchdown in the first quarter. He ran for two scores and threw for three. (Associated Press)
Associated Press

Denard Robinson danced with his feet and dazzled with his arm, giving Michigan an edge at quarterback against Ohio State.

Finally.

Robinson accounted for five touchdowns, helping the 17th-ranked Wolverines beat the Buckeyes 40-34 on Saturday at Ann Arbor, Mich., and snap a record seven-game losing streak against their archrival. He ran left, right and center, using his speed to blow past Buckeyes, juke moves to slip tackles and sacks and even showed some power when an extra yard was needed.

The star quarterback had a chance to leave college football’s winningest program when the spread coach he came to play for – Rich Rodriguez – was fired in January. This victory made it all worthwhile.

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else except with these guys,” Robinson said. “I’m glad I stayed.”

Former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel spoke to the Buckeyes before the game. Tressel was forced to resign nearly six months ago in the wake of a cash-for-Buckeyes memorabilia scandal that also led to quarterback Terrelle Pryor bolting for the NFL and several other players serving multiple-game suspensions in what became the program’s worst season on the field since 1999.

Ohio State had a 24-23 advantage at the break. After the Wolverines went ahead 30-24 on Robinson’s 20-yard pass to Martavious Odoms to open the second half, Ohio State pulled within three points early in the fourth and again midway through the fourth quarter.

Michigan (10-2, 6-2 Big Ten) was forced to settle for a six-point lead with 1:59 left on Brendan Gibbons’ career-long 43-yard field goal after two apparent TDs were negated by a video review and then penalties.

The Buckeyes (6-6, 3-5) had the ball once more at their 20 with 1:59 left.

But Braxton Miller’s sailed a pass over Deviser Posey’s head on what could’ve been a 76-yard TD, spiked the ball to stop the clock on third down with 45 seconds left – because he said the coaches told him to – then threw a loss-sealing interception to Courtney Avery.

Robinson was 14 of 17 passing – completing 11 straight passes during one stretch – for 167 yards with three TD passes. He ran 26 times for 170 yards and two more scores.

(2) Alabama 42, Auburn 14: Trent Richardson rushed for a career-high 203 yards and AJ McCarron threw three first-half touchdown passes to lift the Crimson Tide (11-1, 7-1 Southeastern Conference) to the win at Auburn, Ala. The Tide didn’t put the Tigers (7-5, 4-4) away until Dee Milliner’s 35-yard interception return in the fourth quarter.

(6) Virginia Tech 38, (24) Virginia 0: Logan Thomas threw for two touchdowns and ran for one and David Wilson scored on two long runs in the second half as the Hokies (11-1, 7-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) shut out the Cavaliers (8-4, 5-3) in Charlottesville, Va. The Hokies earned the league’s Coastal Division title and a rematch with No. 18 Clemson in next weekend’s ACC championship game in Charlotte.

(11) Michigan State 31, Northwestern 17: Keshawn Martin returned a punt 57 yards for a touchdown just before halftime and Kirk Cousins threw two TD passes to B.J. Cunningham as the Spartans (10-2, 7-1) warmed up for next week’s Big Ten championship game with a win over the Wildcats (6-6, 3-5) at Evanston, Ill. The Spartans had already wrapped up the Legends Division title and a berth in the league championship game next week against Wisconsin.

(12) Oklahoma 26, Iowa State 6: Landry Jones threw for 256 yards, Blake Bell punched in two short touchdown runs and the Sooners (9-2, 6-2) set up a Bedlam showdown for the Big 12 championship with a victory over the Hawkeyes (6-3, 3-5) at Norman, Okla. Oklahoma will visit No. 4 Oklahoma State next week with the winner earning the Big 12 title.

(13) Georgia 31, (25) Georgia Tech 17: Aaron Murray threw four touchdown passes and the Bulldogs (10-2) extended their domination over the Yellow Jackets (8-4) with the victory at Atlanta. The Bulldogs will take a 10-game winning streak into next week’s SEC championship game against top-ranked LSU. Georgia cruised to its 10th win over the Yellow Jackets in 11 years.

(14) South Carolina 34, Clemson 13: Connor Shaw threw for three touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Gamecocks (10-2) to a 10-win season for the first time in 27 years and their third straight victory over the Tigers (9-3), this one coming at Columbia, S.C.

(15) Wisconsin 45, (20) Penn State 7: Montee Ball scored four more touchdowns in his pursuit of an NCAA record, powering the Badgers (10-2, 6-2) to the win over the Nittany Lions (9-3, 6-2) in Madison, Wis., and a spot in next week’s Big Ten championship game. Ball has scored 34 touchdowns this season, the second most in a single season in NCAA history. Barry Sanders holds the record, scoring 39 for Oklahoma State in 11 games in 1988.

(21) Baylor 66, Texas Tech 42: Nick Florence threw two long touchdown passes after Robert Griffin was knocked out of the game and the Bears (8-3, 5-3 Big 12) extended their winning streak to four games with a victory over the Red Raiders (5-7, 2-7) at Arlington, Texas.