ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The rivalry was still alive and well in Ann Arbor.
Players jawed on the field after physical tackles, gestures were raised as each team huddled in the same tunnel at halftime to go to their respective locker rooms. Ohio State was well prepared for the hatred, something that’s been engrained for 728 days since the last time it faced Michigan.
All throughout the week, Ohio State continued to hype up the history of the rivalry, saying it’s the most important game on its schedule, the one that it plans for 365 days a year, the one it has planned for for 3,290 days since the Buckeyes last lost to its rival.
But there was an actual game to be played. And that’s something Ohio State did not seem to be prepared for.
And when Michigan took control in the third quarter, all Ohio State could resort to was the rivalry, as redshirt junior cornerback Cameron Brown ripped the helmet of a Michigan defender off after a play, leading to an altercation: the refs trying to separate 117 years worth of resentment pulsating through the veins of the Buckeyes, a team that was trying to wrap around the unthinkable:
It was going to lose to Michigan.
It wasn’t something Ohio State was used to, like the pressure the Buckeyes saw from the Michigan defensive line Saturday afternoon, like the lack of pressure generated by the Ohio State defensive line allowing Michigan to do what it wanted in the run game, like the 111,156 in the stands above them, helping the Michigan defense generate five false-start penalties to keep an offense that’s been on schedule for the past few weeks behind.
In a game where Ohio State needed to look like the No. 2 team in the country, it didn’t, falling to Michigan, 42-27, for its first loss to the Wolverines since 2011.
It was a game that felt even more lopsided when it was because of Michigan’s consistency, using two scores by freshman running back TreVeyon Henderson — breaking Maurice Clarett’s 19-year-old record for most touchdowns by an Ohio State freshman — to bring it within a score.
But it was a game where the defense could not stop Michigan from taking advantage of its shortcomings, leading to a capacity crowd rushing the field, securing the unthinkable, changing the perception of the rivalry for at least another year.
Now Michigan can beat Ohio State.
The streak is over.
And it started up front.
From the very first drive, Michigan showed success in the run game that Ohio State had not seen in weeks.
From the first drive of the game, all the Wolverines did was run the ball, taking the ball six times for 60 yards — averaging 10 yards per rush — and ending the drive with a 14-yard end-around by A.J. Henning.
The run game was something that Michigan continued to turn to, with senior running back Hassan Haskins putting on a clinic for 169 yards on 28 carries: nothing flashy with a long of 27 yards, but consistent enough to record five touchdowns and keep the clock moving. Sophomore back Blake Corum was the more explosive back, finding enough space for 87 yards on six carries, averaging 14.5 yards per rush with a long of 55.
Really, the Michigan offense was the opposite of Ohio State’s approach that had worked so well over the past few weeks: using the run game as the primary attack option, while the pass game was more complimentary, keeping the offense on schedule and the clock moving.
Over the course of an average of 7.2 yards per carry with 24 first downs, Michigan was able to ground and pound its run defense. With the combination of consistency that Ohio State could not match offensively with a clock that continued to move, the Wolverines’ offensive approach was one of keep-away from the potential of the Buckeye offense, one which worked Saturday afternoon.
Michigan beat Ohio State on its defensive line too
C.J. Stroud hadn’t seen that level of pressure all season long.
After an errant snap by redshirt freshman center Luke Wypler on the first play from scrimmage for the offense in the first quarter, the redshirt freshman quarterback took a snap, immediately feeling pressure in the backfield from Michigan linebacker Junior Coulson, missing Garrett Wilson on two straight tries forcing a three-and-out.
Stroud was rattled. Therefore, the Ohio State offense was rattled, and one dimensional.
Other than one 28-yard carry in the first quarter, Henderson was nearly non-existent, averaging 4.4 yards per carry with one one-yard touchdown run tying Maurice Clarett’s freshman touchdown record.
Without a consistent run game, Stroud reverted back to forcing the ball downfield, something he was able to do with some accuracy, leading to circus catches by each of his main three receivers Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Garrett Wilson.
But Saturday, Stroud was not able to wait for the trio to get open.
The Michigan defense recorded four sacks, four hurries and eight tackles-for-loss, including three by defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. Even when the Wolverines weren’t able to get home, it still led to overthrown passes from a rushed quarterback that was not used to pressure.
Really, it was just the same problems as before but just heightened
From allowing big plays defensively to shooting itself in the foot — accumulating 10 penalties for 66 yards including five false starts and two holding penalties — this is the same Ohio State team that lost to Oregon.
The difference Saturday was that Ohio State was not dramatically better than its opponent. Now, the opponent could take advantage of the mistakes that have plagued Ohio State all season long, ones that an electric offense against porous pass defenses could mask.
So what now?
Ohio State is out of the College Football Playoff conversation and will not play for a Big Ten title next weekend.
But from a larger picture, The Game now becomes all the more real to the Buckeyes. It's not a myth anymore. It's something that Ohio State will have to respond to .
Players jawed on the field after physical tackles, gestures were raised as each team huddled in the same tunnel at halftime to go to their respective locker rooms. Ohio State was well prepared for the hatred, something that’s been engrained for 728 days since the last time it faced Michigan.
All throughout the week, Ohio State continued to hype up the history of the rivalry, saying it’s the most important game on its schedule, the one that it plans for 365 days a year, the one it has planned for for 3,290 days since the Buckeyes last lost to its rival.
But there was an actual game to be played. And that’s something Ohio State did not seem to be prepared for.
And when Michigan took control in the third quarter, all Ohio State could resort to was the rivalry, as redshirt junior cornerback Cameron Brown ripped the helmet of a Michigan defender off after a play, leading to an altercation: the refs trying to separate 117 years worth of resentment pulsating through the veins of the Buckeyes, a team that was trying to wrap around the unthinkable:
It was going to lose to Michigan.
It wasn’t something Ohio State was used to, like the pressure the Buckeyes saw from the Michigan defensive line Saturday afternoon, like the lack of pressure generated by the Ohio State defensive line allowing Michigan to do what it wanted in the run game, like the 111,156 in the stands above them, helping the Michigan defense generate five false-start penalties to keep an offense that’s been on schedule for the past few weeks behind.
In a game where Ohio State needed to look like the No. 2 team in the country, it didn’t, falling to Michigan, 42-27, for its first loss to the Wolverines since 2011.
It was a game that felt even more lopsided when it was because of Michigan’s consistency, using two scores by freshman running back TreVeyon Henderson — breaking Maurice Clarett’s 19-year-old record for most touchdowns by an Ohio State freshman — to bring it within a score.
But it was a game where the defense could not stop Michigan from taking advantage of its shortcomings, leading to a capacity crowd rushing the field, securing the unthinkable, changing the perception of the rivalry for at least another year.
Now Michigan can beat Ohio State.
The streak is over.
And it started up front.
From the very first drive, Michigan showed success in the run game that Ohio State had not seen in weeks.
From the first drive of the game, all the Wolverines did was run the ball, taking the ball six times for 60 yards — averaging 10 yards per rush — and ending the drive with a 14-yard end-around by A.J. Henning.
The run game was something that Michigan continued to turn to, with senior running back Hassan Haskins putting on a clinic for 169 yards on 28 carries: nothing flashy with a long of 27 yards, but consistent enough to record five touchdowns and keep the clock moving. Sophomore back Blake Corum was the more explosive back, finding enough space for 87 yards on six carries, averaging 14.5 yards per rush with a long of 55.
Really, the Michigan offense was the opposite of Ohio State’s approach that had worked so well over the past few weeks: using the run game as the primary attack option, while the pass game was more complimentary, keeping the offense on schedule and the clock moving.
Over the course of an average of 7.2 yards per carry with 24 first downs, Michigan was able to ground and pound its run defense. With the combination of consistency that Ohio State could not match offensively with a clock that continued to move, the Wolverines’ offensive approach was one of keep-away from the potential of the Buckeye offense, one which worked Saturday afternoon.
Michigan beat Ohio State on its defensive line too
C.J. Stroud hadn’t seen that level of pressure all season long.
After an errant snap by redshirt freshman center Luke Wypler on the first play from scrimmage for the offense in the first quarter, the redshirt freshman quarterback took a snap, immediately feeling pressure in the backfield from Michigan linebacker Junior Coulson, missing Garrett Wilson on two straight tries forcing a three-and-out.
Stroud was rattled. Therefore, the Ohio State offense was rattled, and one dimensional.
Other than one 28-yard carry in the first quarter, Henderson was nearly non-existent, averaging 4.4 yards per carry with one one-yard touchdown run tying Maurice Clarett’s freshman touchdown record.
Without a consistent run game, Stroud reverted back to forcing the ball downfield, something he was able to do with some accuracy, leading to circus catches by each of his main three receivers Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Garrett Wilson.
But Saturday, Stroud was not able to wait for the trio to get open.
The Michigan defense recorded four sacks, four hurries and eight tackles-for-loss, including three by defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. Even when the Wolverines weren’t able to get home, it still led to overthrown passes from a rushed quarterback that was not used to pressure.
Really, it was just the same problems as before but just heightened
From allowing big plays defensively to shooting itself in the foot — accumulating 10 penalties for 66 yards including five false starts and two holding penalties — this is the same Ohio State team that lost to Oregon.
The difference Saturday was that Ohio State was not dramatically better than its opponent. Now, the opponent could take advantage of the mistakes that have plagued Ohio State all season long, ones that an electric offense against porous pass defenses could mask.
So what now?
Ohio State is out of the College Football Playoff conversation and will not play for a Big Ten title next weekend.
But from a larger picture, The Game now becomes all the more real to the Buckeyes. It's not a myth anymore. It's something that Ohio State will have to respond to .
