OSU seniors aiming for clean sweep of Michigan

COLUMBUS - All those Ohio State seniors who came back for one more season this fall, all those guys who put the NFL on hold, how do they feel about that decision now?

James Laurinaitis and Malcolm Jenkins almost certainly turned their backs on first-round NFL money when they decided to stay.

Alex Boone, Brian Robiskie and Marcus Freeman also decided to play another year at Ohio State instead of taking a chance they could play for pay.

Are they OK with their choice? Or, now that this season can only be very good, not great, after losses to Southern California and Penn State, are they having second thoughts?

Freeman insists he hasn't regretted his decision as he approaches the final regular-season game of his career against Michigan on Saturday.

"Coming back, you obviously have the goal of winning a national championship and winning every game you play," the senior linebacker said. "The loss at USC hurt, the loss to Penn State hurt even more.

"But at the same time you come back to Ohio State to be around these guys, to be around your teammates and have fun. I'm enjoying every minute I'm here. Maybe I didn't expect to lose two games this year but that's part of football. I have no regrets," he said.

Jenkins said, "My choice was based on enjoying my senior year and taking in playing for Ohio State. It is all that I wanted when I came back."

Senior fullback Brandon Smith didn't have the option of going to the NFL, but he watched his teammates make their decisions.

"I'd like to be remembered as part of a class that didn't fold the tent," Smith said. "We lost two national championship games. Guys could have said, ‘Forget Ohio State.' "

Ohio State's goals melted away like a stock-heavy 401k over the course of the season. A possible national championship and an unbeaten season went first. Then a chance at an undisputed Big Ten title was taken out of the picture.

But, with a win over Michigan on Saturday at Ohio Stadium, Ohio State's fourth and fifth-year seniors can leave without ever losing a game to their biggest rival.

They could become the first team to win five in a row in this series since 1927. They would be 7-1 against Michigan in Jim Tressel's eight seasons as head coach.

"Obviously, beating Michigan one more time is right up there," Robiskie said.

No. 10 Ohio State (9-2, 6-1 Big Ten) is almost a three-touchdown favorite over Michigan (3-8, 2-5 Big Ten). The Wolverines are having their first losing season since 1967 and no Michigan football team had ever lost eight games before this one.

Still, Ohio State's seniors say they aren't taking a win for granted.

"To me, this game takes on the same meaning as when it was No. 1 vs. No. 2 (in 2006)," Laurinaitis said.

Smith said, "Each time we beat them, it's like ‘Wow, we actually did it.' It's tough every year regardless of what their record is and I expect the same thing this year."