Ann Arbor, MI -- Antonio Pittman ran three yards for the go- ahead touchdown with 24 seconds to play, as ninth-ranked Ohio State rallied behind quarterback Troy Smith for a 25-21 victory over No. 17 Michigan in the annual grudge match at Michigan Stadium.

Smith led Ohio State to 13 points in the fourth quarter and was brilliant on the final drive, completing 7-of-8 passes for 77 yards and running twice for six yards during the 12-play, 88-yard series. He finished the day completing 27-of-37 passes for 300 yards with one touchdown and rushing for 37 yards with a score.

The Buckeyes (9-2, 7-1 Big Ten) will share the Big Ten title with Penn State, but the Nittany Lions will claim the conference's automatic BCS bowl bid thanks to a 17-10 win over Ohio State on October 8.

Chad Henne threw for 223 yards with a touchdown on 25-of-36 passing for Michigan (7-4, 5-3), which had a four-game winning streak stopped. The Wolverines could also have gained a share of the conference title with a win and a Penn State loss.

A 19-yard field goal by Garrett Rivas gave Michigan a 21-12 lead with 7:49 remaining, but Ohio State quickly responded a five-play, 67-yard drive for a touchdown. Smith started it with a 27-yard pass, then ran for 14 yards on 3rd- and-10 before hitting Santonio Holmes with a 26-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-19 game with 6:40 to play.

The Wolverines took just over two minutes off the clock and reached the Ohio State 34 before a pooch punt by Rivas pinned the Buckeyes at their own 12.

Smith, though, was undaunted and led the Buckeyes to the winning score. The big play was a 26-yard pass to Anthony Gonzalez, putting Ohio State inside the Michigan five.

Michigan took over on its own 20 after the kickoff and got near midfield before time expired.

"It was another great game in the Big Ten and another great Ohio State- Michigan game," said Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel, who improved to 4-1 in the storied rivalry. "Both teams played their hearts out and we tip our caps to Michigan for how hard they played. Troy Smith took over the last couple drives to give us a chance. Troy gives you that will to win and that command of his team."

The Wolverines could not run the ball against the tough Ohio State defense, finishing with just 32 yards on 24 attempts. Mike Hart, battling an ankle injury, played most of the first half and ran for 15 yards on nine carries before exiting early in the third quarter.

"I thought we did some very good things, yet with five minutes to go, they put two great drives together, and that of course made the difference," said Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr. "We couldn't offensively keep the ball, because we just could not run the football."

Pittman finished with 85 yards on 23 carries for the Buckeyes, who outgained the Wolverines 418-255.

"In the end Troy Smith made too many plays," Carr added. "He scrambled out of there when we thought we had him sacked and he made the pass. Prior to that, he made a big play on third down. We had him trapped and I thought it was going to be 4th-and-5, but we missed the tackle. Give them credit."

Michigan trailed 12-10 late in the third quarter when a punt by Ohio State's A.J. Trapasso traveled just 18 yards into the wind. The Wolverines took over at the Buckeye 37-yard line and needed just four plays to reach the end zone.

Henne started the series with a nine-yard pass to Steve Breaston and Kevin Grady followed with a three-yard run. After an 11-yard toss to Breaston, a pass interference penalty in the end zone gave Michigan a first down at the two-yard line and Grady carried it into the end zone from there. The two-point conversion by Henne gave the Wolverines an 18-12 lead with just 1:20 to play in the third quarter.

Ohio State followed with a march into Michigan territory, but the drive stalled at the 29 and Josh Huston missed a 46-yard field goal attempt early in the fourth quarter.

Michigan, with the help of a fourth-down conversion by Henne and a 38-yard pass to Mario Manningham, answered with Rivas' 19-yard field goal for the nine-point margin that would not hold up.

"We knew that being nine points down was certainly within striking distance," Tressel remarked. "The wind was pretty significant and we had it with us. We played till the end. We don't think we're ever done and that's the way we do it."

Ohio State took the opening kickoff and Smith engineered an 80-yard drive for the game's first score. Smith kept the series alive early with a 15-yard pass to Holmes on 3rd-and-14, then sandwiched passes of 12 and 15 yards to Ted Ginn Jr. around a 10-yard carry by Pittman. Smith added a pair of one-yard runs with two more completions before finishing the 13-play march with a four-yard touchdown run. The extra point try was missed, leaving the Buckeyes ahead 6-0.

Michigan then took its opening possession from its own 20 to the Ohio State 28, but a pass on 4th-and-1 fell incomplete.

The Buckeyes responded with a 42-yard drive that ended in a 47-yard field goal by Huston to make it 9-0 early in the second quarter.

The Wolverines were forced to punt after their next series, but got the ball right back when Rob Harley fumbled on the first Ohio State play after the kick.

Henne converted the turnover into a 36-yard drive for a touchdown. After a pass interference penalty in the end zone on a third-down incomplete pass, Jason Avant made a brilliant catch on a fade pattern for a two-yard score to pull the Wolverines within 9-7 with 5:18 to play in the half.

Ohio State answered with a 25-yard field goal by Huston just 23 seconds before the break for a 12-7 advantage heading into the locker room.

Michigan got the first big break of the second half when Smith was stripped of the ball by LaMarr Woodley and the Wolverines recovered at the Ohio State 20. The turnover, however, led only to a 27-yard field goal by Rivas to again pull Michigan within two.

"It doesn't matter what team is up, it's always going to be a fight until the end," said Henne. "When two great teams go together, some team has to come out the winner."

Game Notes:

Ginn fumbled twice while trying to field punts, but the Buckeyes were able to recover both. He finished with 89 yards on nine catches, while Holmes added six receptions for 72 yards...Ohio State linebacker Bobby Carpenter limped off the field after Michigan's first offensive play and was later seen with crutches on the sideline.