91 days until Michigan football: U-M 45*, Ohio State 23
There’s much anticipation heading into the Michigan Wolverines football season, and TheWolverine.com is counting down the days until the Sept. 2 opener against East Carolina. We’ll discuss current Michigan events, the upcoming season and/or take a look at a significant number that correlates with how many days remain until kickoff, whether it be a player’s jersey number, a year, a date, a score, etc.
There’s an asterisk next to the 45 in Michigan’s 45-23 thrashing of Ohio State last November in Columbus. Not an asterisk like the ones by the Buckeyes’ 2010 season — all 12 of those victories were vacated amidst the tattoo fiasco — but instead because the Wolverines should have won by more.
A pity whistle took away what would’ve almost certainly been another Michigan touchdown.
Michigan EDGE Taylor Upshaw — No. 91 — should’ve had 2 turnovers. Fellow edge rusher Eyabi Okie should’ve had a strip sack.
Upshaw already had the interception that stuck the fork in the Buckeyes and caused the 100,000 OSU fans in attendance to file out of the stadium early, with their tails tucked between their legs.
Then came quarterback C.J. Stroud — the No. 2 overall pick in this spring’s NFL Draft — marching his team up the field again. On 2nd and 1 from his own 45-yard line, he dropped back, was pressured by Okie and spun down. As he was falling but well before his knee hit the ground, the ball came loose. Upshaw was there for an immediate recovery with nothing but green turf in front of him.
Whistles blew. Why they did, nobody knows. The official in the backfield either thought he was down by contact (it wasn’t close) or forward progress (really?). Either way, it was bewildering.
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In the official stat sheet, Okie was credited with a sack. But those of us who watched will remember what it really was.
In the end, it’s a forgotten play, but 52-23 looks a heck of a lot better than 45-23, already a glorious set of numbers for Michigan players, coaches and fans to look at. More importantly, though, it’s closer to the truth of what happened in the game. But the officials took it away.
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On the next play, Michigan safety Makari Paige notched an interception — Stroud’s second of the day — gallivanted to the sideline to take a picture with the ‘Turnover Buffs’ and let his offense take kneel downs to end the game.
Taylor Upshaw’s wild offseason
Upshaw entered the transfer portal following his fifth season at Michigan, committing to Colorado. But after a few months in the program going through winter conditioning and spring practices, Upshaw decided to hit the portal again.
According to MLive, over 80 percent of the Buffaloes’ roster from last season moved on. That didn’t even include Upshaw, who wasn’t on the team until this past semester.
Upshaw has since committed to play for Arizona under head coach Jedd Fisch, a former Michigan assistant coach.
In five seasons and 37 games with Michigan, Upshaw recorded 36 tackles, 10.5 stops for loss, 5 sacks, 1 interception and what should’ve been a fumble recovery and touchdown.
