It's rivalry week!

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Ohio State's 9-2 and headed to a Rose Bowl. Michigan's 5-6 and needs a win to be bowl eligible. But you can throw all that out the window. It's rivalry week.

"If you want to look at records, I guess we probably are underdogs going into this game," said Ryan Van Bergen, a senior defensive lineman for the Wolverines. "But I think a lot of people that are around Michigan-Ohio State rivalries know that records kind of go out the gate when you step on the field."

"In Toledo, I can't speak for the rest of the state, but the Ohio State-Michigan game's its own little holiday," said OSU receiver Dane Sanzenbacher, a former star at Toledo's Central Catholic High School.

His coach, Jim Tressel, adds, "It's part of you if you like football and you're from Ohio State or you're from Michigan, if you're in the Big Ten."

Tressel would never be doubted for his knowledge of the rivalry. After all, he's from Ohio, and he's won seven of eight games of the historic rivalry.

His counterpart, Rich Rodriguez, isn't so fortunate.

"Just because I did not coach here before, I did not play here and I'm not from the state of Michigan does not mean I don't understand the rivalry," the 2nd-year Michigan head coach said. "I understand the rivalry as well as any coach could possibly understand it. I've just only played in only one game.

"I'm going to give you a news flash here. I'm a-coach as hard as I can in EVERY game I play, whether I'm playing Delaware State or Ohio State. It's just Ohio State is a whole lot more important to a lot more folks, and I understand that. Trust me!"

There's only one way for Rodriguez to silence his critics - win. But it's not as if the Wolverines need that as extra motivation. Michigan's outgoing senior class has never beaten the Buckeyes and the team is well aware that a win could potentially land them in a bowl game.