ANN ARBOR, Mich. – To put it in perspective, Ohio State safety Dustin Fox and the rest of the OSU freshman class were in preschool the last time OSU defeated Michigan in Ann Arbor.

But when Fox intercepted Michigan quarterback John Navarre’s desperation pass as time expired, the Buckeyes gained their first win in Michigan Stadium since 1987.

Using the legs of Jonathan Wells in the first half, and staving off a ferocious second-half Michigan rally, the No. 23 Buckeyes (7-4, 5-3 Big Ten) defeated No. 17 Michigan (8-3, 6-2 Big Ten) 26-20 on Saturday.

The victory fulfilled OSU coach Jim Tressel’s sort-of promise 310 days prior to Saturday when the first-year coach promised the Buckeye faithful that they would be proud of the team in Ann Arbor, Mich.

“I can’t say enough about this team today. I didn’t promise this win. I promised that you would be proud of us,” Tressel said. “I think whether we won this game or not, with the way our kids played, you would have been proud of us.

“But it is even sweeter when you come away with a win over a good team like Michigan.”

The Ohio State victory prevented Michigan from winning a Big Ten title and a berth in a Bowl Championship Series bowl game.

“The Big Ten championship was right there, and we were playing for it,” Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. “Anytime you lose to anybody, of course this game with Ohio State and Michigan, it adds to the disappointment.”

The performance of Wells in the first half was enough to make sure OSU and its fans wouldn’t go home disappointed on Saturday evening. In the first 30 minutes, Wells ran the ball 23 times for 122 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for the game’s biggest score with 14:07 to go in the second quarter.

With OSU leading 7-0 and facing a fourth down and one from the Michigan 46-yard line, Tressel called on Wells to pick up the first down. Wells did more than that, taking the ball the distance and giving OSU a two-touchdown lead.

“It was great offensive line play,” Wells said. “I just got a crease in there from the offensive line and I got through untouched.”

The run had to be especially sweet for Wells, after being caught from behind on a long run to the same end zone against Michigan in 1999 and being stopped on a similar fourth down and one play in the fourth quarter against the Wolverines last year.

Another Wells’ touchdown run and a safety gave the Buckeyes a 23-0 halftime lead.

Poised to make the program’s biggest comeback ever, Michigan crawled back into the contest with a Marquis Walker touchdown reception from Navarre a little more than two minutes into the second half, cutting the Buckeye lead to 23-7.

Walker would have a huge second half, hauling in 11 of his school-record 15 receptions. He would finish with 160 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

The play Walker did not make, though, would prove costly to the Wolverines’ second-half effort. Down 23-7 with three-and-a-half minutes to go in the third quarter, Walker dropped a sure touchdown pass on third down. On the next play, Michigan’s misery continued as Hayden Epstein missed wide left on a 27-yard field goal attempt.

Carr said the play was the game’s turning point.

“We got exactly what we wanted and Marquise was open and John threw a perfect pass. That was an opportunity to get back into the game,” Carr said. “You can’t make any mistakes. There’s a small margin of error when you’re down 23-0 at the half.”

OSU’s ineffectiveness on the offensive side of the ball in the second half allowed Michigan another opportunity to get back in the game.

The Buckeyes garnered only one first down and 74 total yards in the second half. The leg cramps Wells suffered, forcing him out of the game midway through the third quarter, played a large role in the offensive demise.

“It was disappointing for me, but my main concern was getting this victory,” Wells said. “(Lydell Ross) went out there and did a good job of running the ball hard. It was tough for me to watch from the sideline, but we had to get this victory.”

Although Ross only carried for 12 yards on 15 carries in the half, the Buckeyes were able to hold on for Wells’ needed victory.

After Walker’s second touchdown grab of the day cut the OSU lead to six with 2:26 to go, the Wolverines attempted an onside kick that the self-proclaimed “Spiderman,” OSU wide receiver Chris Vance, recovered.

Michigan would get the ball back one last time with nine seconds to go and misfired on two long passes.

“You know Michigan never quits, but our defense never quits either,” said OSU safety Mike Doss, who had two interceptions on the day. “We just went out there and took it one play at a time.”