Things Stay The Same In One-Sided Rivalry
The Michigan Wolverines quest for glory against their arch-nemesis Ohio State Buckeyes will have to wait another year.
The No. 10 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes overpowered the No. 4 ranked Michigan Wolverines 62-39 on Saturday afternoon at Ohio Stadium to ruin Michigan’s chances at a Big 10 East title and playoff birth.
Dwayne Haskins led the Buckeyes with 318 passing yards and five touchdowns in Columbus. Haskins and Ohio State’s offense dominated, racking up a total of 567 yards vs the nation’s top defensive team.
Ohio State (11-1) wasted little time in jumping out to a lead as they started strong, scoring on a six play/57 yard touchdown drive that ended in a 24-yard touchdown strike from Dwayne Haskins to Chris Olave.
Haskins torched one of college football’s best secondaries for 222 passing yards and three scores in just the first half, surging Ohio State out to a 21-6 lead in the second quarter.
Shea Patterson and the Wolverines rallied to make it a game after his two touchdown passes brought them within two points before the half, with Ohio State ultimately leading 24-19 at the half.
In a dominant showing on defense and special teams, Ohio State’s two units would create points for Ohio State as they blocked a punt for a score and intercepted Patterson deep in Michigan territory as they outscored Michigan 17-0 in the third quarter.
They would continue the scoring in the fourth quarter to put away their hated rivals, ending a 10-game winning streak for Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines.
Harbaugh fell to 0-3 vs the Ohio State Buckeyes in his tenure at Michigan, with this being the most disappointing setback of the three meetings.
Ohio State’s 62 points on Saturday are the most against Michigan all-time and the most points allowed in a regulation game for the program.
For Urban Meyer and Ohio State, it’s their seventh consecutive victory over Michigan, who they have dominated over the past decade plus.
With Ohio State set to play Northwestern in the Big 10 title game next Saturday having clinched the Big 10 East today, there is a realistic chance that a victory there could help Ohio State shoot up to the fourth and final playoff spot in the CFB, but they will need help to get there. Either a combination of a Georgia and Oklahoma loss or a Georgia loss.
This may have been Urban Meyer’s final game at Ohio Stadium as head coach of the Buckeyes, as health concerns have led to speculation this could be his final year.
If it was, it’s been a special run for Urban Meyer, who in his career has helped lead two teams to National championships.
What were your thoughts on Ohio State’s victory over Michigan? Leave your comments below!