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Jim Harbaugh explains what it means to flip the script in rivalry series vs Ohio State

Alex Weberby:Alex Weber•11/28/22
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Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images

Michigan football maintained its stranglehold on the rivalry with Ohio State by beating the Buckeyes handily in Columbus to book their trip to the Big Ten title game, and, in turn, the College Football Playoff. With head coaches Ryan Day and Jim Harbaugh taking not-so-subtle shots at one another throughout the last year, the Wolverines signal caller was a little extra excited to get another victory over The Ohio State University in The Game.

Especially in the fashion in which Michigan won. The Wolverines nearly doubled up the Buckeyes, and on their home field, too. Sure, UM trailed at halftime by three, but JJ McCarthy and that vaunted Michigan offense torched OSU in the second half for long touchdown after long touchdown. And on defense, Harbaugh’s club made Heisman front-runner CJ Stroud look silly for the whole second half. A masterclass coaching performance from the Wolverine sideline.

“It feels great, you know, to come away with a victory in Columbus,” Harbaugh shared afterward, failing to hide hide giddiness at the result. He really wanted to beat the Buckeyes again, and he’s extremely proud of his guys for getting it done.

“And our team really earned it in every in every way,” Harbaugh continued. “Just how I feel is…you know, our team really paid the price. They really put in all the work and that’s what they did. They just did the hard work, the sweat, you know, in every other game.”

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Michigan dominated their schedule from start to finish, from UCONN to Ohio State. No matter the opponent, the Wolverines asserted themselves as the better team from start to finish. They knew they had to take care of business for the first 11 games in order to make that OSU win mean as much as it did last year.

Jim Harbaugh saw that his team kept that focus throughout every game, so that when they reached the rivalry finale, Michigan would be ready to steamroll them just like their other 11 opponents.

“Then you get to this game, and get to this opportunity and we were thankful to be where we are right now, where we wanted to be. And then, we came down here, players were all focused and determined to win the game.”

They did just that. Heck of a win to seal the College Football Playoff spot for the Wolverines.