It’s the biggest game of rivalry week, played by the biggest rivals – possibly in all of American sports: The Ohio State Buckeyes vs. The Michigan Wolverines.
Going into the matchup, the message from the top for both teams was clear: don’t play scared, be ready to be great. And on that front, these players most definitely delivered.
After a fairly quiet start to The Game (both teams went three-and-out to start, with only one first down in the opening four possessions), the first big play of the afternoon came from Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, who beat Buckeye star receiver Marvin Harrison to the end of his route, getting the interception on Kyle McCord and setting up the Wolverines inside the Ohio State 10-yard line. A few plays later, senior running back Blake Corum punched into the endzone on fourth-and-one for the first score of the day.
Ohio State responded, with Harrison getting the best of Johnson on a 24-yard catch off a back shoulder throw from his quarterback. After a near-second pick (this one by Michael Barrett), the Buckeyes got on the board with a field goal.
JJ McCarthy, with his run game struggling for much of this game, was superb in key moments today.
After the Wolverines converted their second fourth-and-one of the day with a lunge by Corum over the pile, Michigan found themselves in the same spot again just three plays later. This time, it would be a fake handoff, with McCarthy finding his tight end, Colston Loveland, in the flat to covert. Moments later, on third-and-10, McCarthy finds Roman Wilson on a crossing route – just above (and in between) two defenders from the Buckeye secondary. The window was just insanely tight, but JJ hit it with poise and Wilson had nothing but daylight in front of him to reach the endzone on the 22-yard catch.
The Buckeyes did not wait long to respond. McCord found his tight end, Kyle Stover, for a 32-yard catch (with at least eight of them coming with Stover dragging the defender with him). A holding penalty on Mason Graham gave Ohio State first-and-goal, with McCord finding Emeka Egbuka for the touchdown. In the closing moments of the first half, McCord again found his top target – stepping up in the pocket and uncorking a bomb to Marvin Harrison for a 44-yard catch. On fourth-and-two, the visiting Buckeyes stared down a 52 yard field goal. Michigan offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore, again serving as head coach, iced Jayden Fielding – who then missed on his second attempt. The Wolverines leading 14-10.
After Michigan’s first drive of the second half resulted in a field goal to extend their lead to a touchdown, the Buckeyes delivered their most impressive drive of the afternoon.
Once they found their way to the Wolverines’ side of the field, they leaned on the defensive line of Michigan – jabbing from the inside and landing power punches on the outside, ultimately gaining 46 yards on eight straight run plays – ending in Henderson getting to the endzone for the touchdown. Tie game at 17.
McCarthy and the Wolverines responded. The Michigan QB connected with Loveland and AJ Barner to drive his team into Buckeye territory, where they would suffer a crushing loss. Starting center Zak Zinter, a leader on the offense, would get his ankle rolled badly and leave the game. Galvanized by adversity, another senior that Wolverine fans know all too well – Corum – took an inside handoff and break to the outside for a 22-yard touchdown with 1:55 left in the third.
With 11:57 remaining in the game and after holding the Buckeyes to a three-and-out, James Turner hit his second field goal of the game – this one a 38-yarder (his first in the third was a 50-yarder).
Ohio State refused to stay down, with McCord finding Harrison for the 14-yard scoring pass with 8:05 left.
Turner hit his third field goal of the game with 65 seconds left from 37 yards out to make it 30-24.
Ohio State made a late push down field with just a minute left. After McCord’s first pass was incomplete, he found Harrison on a 22-yard reception to move the chains to the Buckeyes ‘ 41-yard line. McCord then connected with Julian Fleming for 21 yards, but Fleming fumbled the ball. Fortunately for the Buckeyes, Emeka Egbuka was there to recover.
The Buckeyes weren’t as fortunate on their next play, however.
From the shotgun at the Michigan 37, McCord fired a pass that was ultimately picked off — his second of the game — by Rod Moore at the 22-yard line. An unsportsmanlike penalty pushed the Wolverines to their own 11 but it didn’t matter as Michigan ran out the final 25 seconds for the win.
The win gives Michigan its third straight over Ohio State and a chance at its third Big Ten Championship in as many years. The Wolverines will face Iowa in Indianapolis next Saturday at 8pm EST.
Editor Damien Dennis contributed to this article.
