Their time is now: this season's Ohio State-Michigan showdown--with a conference title and possibly a Sugar Bowl berth on the line--was bigger than ever. Next season's game likely will mean far less.

Tony Pape had trouble sleeping last week.

"How'd I do it?" the Michigan offensive tackle asked with his head cocked. "NyQuil, man. Lots of NyQuil."

Hey, it was Ohio State week. Pape's mind raced with possibilities--good and bad--when his head hit the pillow each night. The fifth-year senior, called "Fat Elvis" by teammates because of his 6-6, 304-pound frame and 1970s vintage muttonchops, hadn't yet beaten the Buckeyes as a starter. Fat Elvis didn't want to leave the Big House a loser. He didn't: Michigan 35, Ohio State 21.

After last Saturday's conquest, Pape looked like a champ in his tailored suit, tie cinched against his tree-trunk neck. What did you expect, a rhinestone-studded jumpsuit? Pape grabbed a towel from his shoulder and dabbed sweat from his brow. He had worked hard, helping pave the way for Michigan's 170 rushing yards against an Ohio State defense that had rationed teams to 50 per game, the best in the land. The Wolverines' ground effort helped secure the win, which sealed the Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl bid for Michigan and trashed the Buckeyes' bid to repeat as national champions.

Did this battle of Big Ten titans signal a return to the era to which Pape pays homage? Instead of Bo vs. Woody, will it now be years of Jim vs. Lloyd? Nope. As good as Lloyd Carr's Michigan team is, and as lucky as Jim Tressel's Ohio State squad is, the 1-2 punch they threw the Big Ten this year was as much an aberration as Northwestern's consecutive Big Ten crowns in 1995 and '96. Why? The 85-scholarship limit forever has leveled the playing field. Plus, there are several fine coaches in the Big Ten who won't let it happen.

How odd was this year's dominance by Michigan and Ohio State? This is the Wolverines' first outright Big Ten title since 1997. Ohio State hasn't clutched the trophy by itself since 1984 (Iowa also finished league play undefeated last season). Since 1995, seven teams have won at least a share of the crown.

The senior-heavy Michigan and Ohio State clubs figure to take a step back in 2004. The Wolverines will lose 13 starters, plus a few others who could go pro early, and the Buckeyes also will lose 13. With so much attrition at the Big Two, keep an eye on Iowa, Northwestern, Purdue, Penn State and Minnesota next tall. But none of that matters now.