By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - OK, so Ohio State's not going to the Sugar Bowl. Beyond that, little is certain regarding its bowl picture.

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Saturday's game

There are five bowls for which the Buckeyes potentially could be picked. The biggest debate now is if they rate admission to one of the other Bowl Championship Series bowls - Orange, Rose or Fiesta.

"If the chips fall certain ways, then we have a chance to go to a BCS bowl," OSU athletic director Andy Geiger said. "That's not for us to decide. . . . We won't know until more facts get into the thing. We'll have to be patient."

If OSU (10-2) doesn't get a BCS bowl, it is likely bound for one of the other Jan. 1 Big Ten tie-ins: the Capital One Bowl (formerly Citrus Bowl) in Orlando, Fla., or the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla.

The Fiesta and Orange Bowls are expected to look at OSU as a potential at-large team. The Rose Bowl could do the same only if Michigan finishes first or second in the BCS and goes to the Sugar Bowl.

The final BCS standings and bowl bids are announced Dec. 7.

"It'd be a shame if we're not in the BCS," offensive lineman Shane Olivea said. "We deserve to be. We don't want to play in the Outback Bowl or down in Orlando."

PROPS TO DUDLEY: After rushing for 154 yards, Michigan tailback Chris Perry sang the praises of fullback Kevin Dudley, a graduate of Franklin County High in southeast Indiana.

"Kevin Dudley does not get as much credit as he should," Perry said. "He is my bodyguard. . . . It was a team effort all the way."

THREE DON'T START: Three Buckeyes were seemingly disciplined for their role in a fight last Sunday by not starting: wide receiver Santonio Holmes and kick returner Troy Smith, who had been charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct, and cornerback Chris Gamble, who reportedly was at the fight but not charged.

Holmes and Gamble each entered on their respective units' second series. Smith played later on special teams.

BUCKS NOTES: OSU punter B.J. Sander (Roger Bacon) punted nine times for a 49.1-yard average, landing three punts inside the 20. . . . Tight end Ryan Hamby (Moeller) had three catches, matching a career high, for 18 yards.

RECORD CROWD: The crowd of 112,118 was an NCAA record. The previous record was 111,726, set by Michigan earlier this season against Notre Dame.