ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez was handed a victory cigar after his each of his four wins in September.

Since then, his season has gone up in smoke.

Michigan has gone from 4-0 to 5-5 and the Wolverines have lost two straight games they were favored to win.

Purdue rallied from a two-touchdown deficit to beat the Wolverines 38-36 Saturday and keep its bowl hopes alive while hurting Michigan's chances.

After trying to explain why Michigan lost its fifth straight Big Ten game, Rodriguez walked briskly past his wife, signed some autographs for some young fans and heard athletic director Bill Martin try to cheer him up.

Rodriguez, though, bowed his head and looked like he was fighting back tears as he posed for another picture.