By Rusty Miller
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Everybody knew Ohio State would be better this season. Nobody thought the Buckeyes would be 13-0.

After a series of narrow escapes, the No. 2 Ohio State can get ready for the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 3, and leave it for others to decide whether the team is good enough to play for a national championship.

"You can talk all you want about how we don't deserve to be here, we don't deserve this, we don't deserve that," freshman tailback Maurice Clarett said. "But we don't apologize for winning. We won 13 games - that's all that matters."

Six times Ohio State has played in a game decided by a touchdown or less - and the Buckeyes won all of them. Some are calling them Lucky Buckeyes. Others aren't.

After Ohio State's 14-9 win over rival Michigan on Saturday, Wolverines split end Ronald Bellamy said, "Ohio State's a great team. You can't play that 'woulda, coulda' game."'

Clarett broke the school rushing record for freshmen with 1,190 yards despite missing three games and parts of two others, begs to differ.

The Buckeyes (13-0, 8-0 Big Ten) were drama majors again in the regular-season finale against Michigan. Clarett scored on a 2-yard run in the first half and then caught a 26-yard pass to set up Maurice Hall's game-winning 3-yard sprint with an option pitch with 4:55 left.

The Wolverines (9-3, 6-2) didn't roll over. They drove to first downs at the Ohio State 30 and 24 in the final three minutes but didn't score.

Defensive end Darrion Scott sacked Michigan quarterback John Navarre and forced a fumble recovered by Ohio State's Will Smith on the first thrust. On the last play of the game, Will Allen picked off Navarre's pass at the goal line.

In such a close game, two penalties will likely haunt the Wolverines through a long, cold winter.

Michigan cornerback Jeremy LeSuer was called for interference at the goal line on Craig Krenzel's pass - which appeared to be uncatchable - behind Mike Jenkins. Instead of facing fourth-and-9 at the Michigan 10, the Buckeyes were back in business on first-and-goal at the 1. Clarett scored on the next play.

Trailing 7-6 midway through the second quarter, Michigan ground more than eight minutes off the clock in their longest drive of the season. Navarre lofted a high pass in the right corner to Braylon Edwards who caught it for a 19-yard touchdown.

Seconds later, the official just a few feet away finally was able to pull the yellow flag out of his pocket and called Edwards for offensive pass interference, disallowing the touchdown.

Michigan settled for Adam Finley's third field goal, costing the Wolverines four points that loomed large at the end when all they would have needed was a field goal to win.

Michigan coach Lloyd Carr declined to discuss the calls.

"It doesn't really matter, does it?" he said with a grimace.

As has been the case for much of the second half of this longest season in Ohio State history, the defense was just good enough to make a lead stand up at the finish. After pushing the Buckeyes around in the first half while dominating between the tackles, the Wolverines mustered just 157 yards and no points in the second half with turnovers on their final two possessions.

"You've got to keep your head up," Scott said. "That's why this team's good. All year we've been a second-half or fourth-quarter team."

Ohio State may be unbeaten but has been far from invincible. There is no question that they are just a handful of plays from being back in the pack in their own conference. Instead, they will play for a national championship.

Linebacker Matt Wilhelm said luck had nothing to do with it.

"We're 13-0. We found a way to win," Wilhelm said, his voice rising. "I think it speaks for the seniors on the team, the type of heart we show every time go out there."