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Jim Harbaugh speaks after finally knocking off Ohio State

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•11/27/21•

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Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

He finally did it. Jim Harbaugh beat Ohio State as Michigan head coach.

The Wolverines — the No. 5 team in the nation — dominated from the beginning en route to a 42-27 win over the No. 2-ranked Buckeyes at The Big House Saturday afternoon.

You could hear the sense of relief in the coach’s voice as he chatted briefly with FOX Sports sideline reporter Jenny Taft after the game.

“I just feel so great for the players, who prepared so well for this game and then went out and executed pretty much thoroughly,” Harbaugh told Taft.

Taft asked him about running back Hassan Haskins after his huge day. Haskins rushed for 169 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Michigan offense. But Harbaugh pointed to another Michigan star: Aidan Hutchinson, who set the Michigan single-season sacks record on Saturday by sacking CJ Stroud three times.

“Hassan Haskins, Aidan Hutchinson, two guys that have carried this team on their back all season long and a group of guys that just play their hearts out,” Harbaugh said.

The game is sure to shake up the College Football Playoff rankings. One thing’s for sure, though. Harbaugh finally has a win over Michigan’s arch rival as a head coach.

He had three words to end the interview.

“We did it,” he said before joining his team — and the fans who rushed the field — to celebrate.

Michigan now advances to the Big Ten championship game next week in Indianapolis.

Jim Harbaugh: Michigan has been preparing for Ohio State all year

As Michigan got ready for the Ohio State game, Harbaugh said he was glad to be in this position at this point of the season. The winner moved on to the Big Ten Championship. The loser saw their CFP hopes fade away.

The Wolverines coach knew what was at stake.

“Yeah, it means everything,” Harbaugh said of Michigan facing Ohio State next week. “That was [what] everything that was planned, built for. All the energy that was put in since way back in early 2021, January, February. All the things that the guys have done, the coaches have done, it’s put us in this position. That’s the position we wanted to be in. And we want to finish it.

“We want to win all the marbles. So we’re in the position we want to be in now. We’ve been preparing for this really the entire year. Now bring that preparation to life this week and play for it all.”