Ohio State defense fierce all over.

Byline: Michael Rosenberg

If Ohio State beats Michigan Saturday, it will become the first Big Ten team in the five-year history of the Bowl Championship Series to make the national title game.

How appropriate that the Buckeyes could do it the old-fashioned Big Ten way (not to be redundant). They are winning with a low-mistake offense, an impressive kicking game and defense. Especially defense. Serious defense.

The Buckeyes are a good-but-not-great 23rd in the nation in total defense; they allow 312.9 yards per game. But the object of the game is to accumulate points, not yards, and this is where the Ohio State defense excels. They allow only 12.5 …