Postgame thoughts

Michigan and its fans celebrated with almost as much fervor as Ohio State did when it beat Miami in double-overtime to win the national championship in January 2003.

After watching the Wolverines' 40-34 victory over the Buckeyes on Saturday in Ann Arbor and writing a bit about some of the key performances on both sides, let me say this:

Don't be surprised if Michigan's "streak" in the series is short-lived.

Sure, the next edition of "The Game" is a year off as the press box thins out on Saturday night at Michigan Stadium, but ask yourself this:

Was the Wolverines' victory really that impressive against a Buckeyes team that missed at least three sure touchdowns because Braxton Miller's accuracy is still not there? The final one of those throws could have gone for a potential game-winning 76-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver DeVier Posey, who was wide open deep down the left sideline.

Miller, a true freshman, made some big plays. But Ohio State left several more on the field. And who knows how many big plays a conservative coaching staff left out there all season by not playing Miller from the start and then severely limiting his opportunities when he finally took the job from Joe Bauserman? With more reps and more opportunities to gain experience, Miller might have been able to give the Buckeyes a better chance to win Saturday.

And if Ohio State's defense was healthy ...

You get the idea. And I know this sounds like partisan whining, but Michigan -- aside from quarterback Denard Robinson and running back Fitzgerald Toussaint taking over against an outmanned defense -- didn't look much like a 10-2 team. Especially on defense.

That said, however, the Wolverines are far better under first-year coach Brady Hoke than at any time in the last three years under Rich Rodriguez. The defense is better than it had been at any time on Rodriguez's watch and Hoke was able to get the most out Robinson's impressive skill set.

And, yes, when you haven't beaten your biggest rival since 2003, you're going to celebrate when it finally happens.

But for all the reasons listed above and a very large one that is still to come -- Urban Meyer -- don't go thinking the tide really has turned in this series.

If, as expected, Meyer's hiring has been in the works and is all but a done deal to be announced Sunday or Monday or Tuesday, the Buckeyes suddenly will become perhaps the most interesting team in the Big Ten.

Meyer has won -- and won big -- everywhere he has coached. There is no reason to think he won't be able to duplicate that in Columbus.

Yes, there are NCAA sanctions on the way. But if they were going to be too debiltating, Meyer probably wouldn't be interested in coming out of a very comfortable "retirement."

The thought of Meyer and his potential staff coaching up Miller, turning on their own Florida talent pipeline and locking down Ohio's best recruits as Jim Tressel did for a decade ... well, that can't be good news for Michigan and the rest of the Big Ten.

If the Meyer hiring happens, it will make the memory of this 6-6 season fade a lot quicker than it otherwise might.