COLUMBUS – The Buckeyes trounced arch-rival Michigan 42-13 Saturday, but the win was not enough to earn them a return trip to the Big Ten Championship game.
Michigan State defeated Penn State 55-16 to earn the right to face Iowa next Saturday for the conference title.
The 29-point margin of victory was the largest for Ohio State (11-1, 7-1 Big Ten, 8th CFP rankings) in Ann Arbor since a 50-20 win in 1961.
Ohio State rushed for a season-high 369 yards and five touchdowns on the way to its fourth straight win over the Wolverines (9-3, 6-2).
Ezekiel Elliott rushed 30 times for 214 yards and two TDs, passing Eddie George for second on Ohio State’s all-time rushing list.
Quarterback J.T. Barrett rushed for 139 yards and three TDs while the Ohio State defense held Michigan to a mere 57 yards on the ground.