ANN ARBOR — Ohio State had 19 players end their Big Ten careers yesterday without ever experiencing a loss to rival Michigan or anything shy of a conference championship.

With their 21-10 victory, the Buckeyes beat the Wolverines for a sixth straight time and made their fifth consecutive Big Ten championship another outright title.

“It’s a tremendous feeling, to walk off that field singing and smiling and knowing we beat our rivals again,” Ohio State senior defensive lineman Doug Worthington said. “It means a lot to every guy in this room. The Big Ten championship and beating Michigan — if we only got one of those it wouldn’t feel near as good, so getting both of those goals again is tremendous.”

By ruling the series in its earlier days more than 100 years ago — Michigan did not lose in the first 15 games with Ohio State, going 13-0-2 — the Wolverines hold a 57-43-6 historical advantage. But the Buckeyes’ seniors are part of a decade of domination that has Ohio State 8-2 against Michigan over the last 10 years.

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, who ran his personal record against Michigan to 8-1, said he was only hoping to win the first one when he took over the Buckeyes’ program before the 2001 season, but long-term success has been the result of bringing in the right people, like his current senior class.

“We’ve been blessed with great kids,” Tressel said. “They really love being a part of this game.”

“It was really important to all of us that these guys leave with another victory over Michigan,” Sanzenbacher said. “We stress the significance of this game all year long, and a major part of that is seeing the seniors on the team walk off that field after beating our rivals. That carries a lot of meaning for everybody in the Ohio State program.”

THROWBACK REVIEWS: The Buckeyes wore “throwback” uniforms for yesterday’s game, designed to pay tribute to the 1954 Ohio State national championship team. The uniforms, part of Nike’s “modern classics” line and its “rivalry” series, featured white helmets with a red stripe down the middle and black numbers on the side. The Buckeyes wore white jerseys with scarlet numbers and a patch of gray on the shoulders and gray pants with a dual scarlet stripe down the side.

Tressel said since the team was victorious wearing the unique uniforms, “they’ve got a chance” to make a repeat appearance, although Nike promoted the event as a one-time thing. Sophomore center Mike Brewster said the players liked the feel of the more lightweight uniforms and the overall look.

“The uniforms looked cool, and the helmets were awesome,” Brewster said. “It was a neat thing to do, to show some respect for that championship group of Buckeyes.”

SPIELMAN REMEMBERED: The Buckeyes honored Stefanie Spielman by wearing her initials on their helmets in yesterday’s game. Each white Ohio State helmet was dressed with a decal showing a pink Buckeye leaf over the initials SS.

Stefanie Spielman, the wife of former Ohio State star linebacker Chris Spielman, died last week at the age of 42 after a 12-year battle with breast cancer. She and her husband were active in numerous fund-raisers for cancer research.

“We know what kind of Buckeye she is and Chris is. They are part of our family,” Tressel said.

BOREN BLOOD: Ohio State offensive lineman Justin Boren, who started his college career at Michigan and then was publicly critical of the program when he departed two years ago, said once the game started, he set aside all of the emotion surrounding his return to Michigan Stadium.

“I wasn’t too worked up before the game, but I have to admit it was a little emotional coming into the stadium today,” Boren said. “It was different, but I made the right move for me by coming to Ohio State, and I’m just trying to make the best of it.”

Tressel said he expected Boren to be relieved now that all of the hoopla surrounding his return to Michigan is in the past.

“I’ll just bet he is glad this day is over,” Tressel said.

SIX PACK: The Buckeyes won their sixth straight game in the rivalry with Michigan, but Tressel said that while he certainly celebrates the accomplishments of his teams, he finds no long-term relief in that streak. “It means that we get to come back for another year,” Tressel said. “It means nothing, because in 2010 I’ll be terrified [again].”

BUCKEYE BITS: Michigan has scored only 20 points in the last three games against Ohio State. ... With yesterday’s 251 rushing yards, Ohio State has rushed for at least 200 yards eight times this season — the most in the nine seasons Tressel has been head coach. ... Terrelle Pryor is 18-3 as Ohio State’s starting quarterback. ... Brandon Saine went over 1,000 rushing yards for his Ohio State career with 84 yards on 12 carries against Michigan, including a 29-yard touchdown run in the second quarter — his fourth of the season and seventh of his career.

— Matt Markey