Ohio State tops Michigan but loses starting QB

COLUMBUS, Ohio - For Ohio State, the thrill of beating rival Michigan was tempered by a season-ending injury to star quarterback J.T. Barrett.

Ezekiel Elliott scored untouched on a 44-yard run on fourth-and-1 with 4:58 left to help Ohio State, which lost Barrett early in the fourth quarter to a broken right ankle, beat the Wolverines 42-28 on Saturday.

With no postseason, the only thing left to be decided for Michigan (5-7, 3-5 Big Ten) is the future of coach Brady Hoke. Interim AD Jim Hackett will make the call on whether the coach stays or goes.

Barrett threw for one TD and ran for two before his right leg crumpled underneath him when he was tackled on a run.

Barrett will undergo surgery on Sunday, a team spokesman said.

"Yeah, he's for sure out," coach Urban Meyer said.

Tight end Jeff Heuerman said he was one of the first players to get to Barrett.

"I heard him yell and I ran over to help him up," he said. "When I went over I saw his ankle and it wasn't pretty. I just told him, 'Stay down, stay down.' It kind of hit me, 'Oh man."'

Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner came to his side and spoke to him before he was taken off the field, as did several Ohio State teammates.

"It's like having a little brother get hurt," Gardner said. "I didn't like to see that at all."

He expressed respect for how "humbly" Barrett had been since he had grown into a start since taking over for Miller.

Before he was injured Barrett ran for two touchdowns and passed for another. He completed 13 of 21 passes for 176 yards, and also ran 15 times for 89 yards.

Meyer said Cardale Jones would have to assume the reins when the East Division champion Buckeyes play at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis against the West winner, either Wisconsin or Minnesota.

"The good thing is, he's going to get a lot of reps," Meyer said of Jones.

Before the game, walk-on defensive lineman Kosta Karageorge, who has been missing since earlier in the week, was recognized along with 23 other Buckeyes scheduled to appear at their final game in Ohio Stadium. A police poster showing Karageorge, with the word MISSING stamped across it in vivid color, was shown on the large video board at the south end of the field.