Best and worst from Michigan's win over Ohio State
Michigan Wolverines football vanquished Ohio State for a third straight season with a thrilling 30-24 victory at The Big House. Here are the best and worst from the game.
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Epic scene
The Michigan Wolverines are 12-0 and Big Ten East champs, headed to Indianapolis for the third straight season. For the third consecutive year, they’ve beaten a top-five Ohio State squad, which calls for a celebration that started right after the game and will go long into the night.
Biggest rally
It was tough to see Michigan senior right guard Zak Zinter go down with a left leg injury late in the third quarter. His leg was limp and he was carted off minutes later.
The Michigan crowd chanted, “Let’s go Zak!” and his teammates played for him. They rallied by rushing for 110 yards after he went down, scoring 13 more points while closing the game out in physical fashion. Zinter broke his fibia and tibula and underwent surgery Saturday evening, according to his mother on social media.
Biggest disadvantage
Michigan apparently had a “competitive advantage” with former junior staffer Connor Stalions stealing signs, according to rival fans and hostile media. Doubters tried to say some of Michigan’s previous wins were tainted. Those in Columbus were convinced the Wolverines couldn’t have flipped the rivalry and won two in a row without “cheating.”
Michigan proved them wrong and won at a competitive disadvantage, without head man Jim Harbaugh, who was dished an unprecedented suspension by the Big Ten despite there being no proof he had knowledge of any alleged wrongdoing.
“Can’t nobody say s*** else! We did it without our head coach! You ain’t got no more excuse!” Michigan senior defensive tackle Kris Jenkins said on the field after the win.
Most cringeworthy video
Ohio State has been in an identity crisis ever since Michigan won in a beatdown in 2021, and it escalated with a blowout win in Columbus last fall. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day is feeling the pressure, which was obvious when he melted down after beating Notre Dame, proclaiming his Buckeyes are a “tough team!” He bounced around with some of his players before their third straight loss to Michigan in an odd video.
No more excuses
Some said Michigan’s win in 2021 was a fluke. The 2022 victory helped prove it wasn’t. The allegations against Michigan gave the Buckeyes hope they didn’t really fall behind in the rivalry. There are no more excuses anymore.
Sweetest revenge
Michigan junior safety Rod Moore, a Clayton (Ohio) Northmont product, wasn’t recruited by Ohio State. He chose Michigan and told family members that were Buckeye fans that he’d beat them. He’s now 3-0, and clinched Saturday’s win with an interception as the Buckeyes were attempting to score a game-winning touchdown.
Michigan’s other No. 9, junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy, grew up an Ohio State fan and wanted to attend the school, but Day and Co. chose signal-caller Kyle McCord over him. That appeared to be a big mistake, and Michigan’s gain. McCarthy said after the game that it was a “blessing in disguise.”
Two key stats
Under Harbaugh, Michigan is still undefeated when it doesn’t turn the ball over. It was clean with no turnovers (and two forced takeaways) Saturday. The team that has rushed for more yards in this rivalry has won the last 22 meetings, with U-M amassing 156 rushing yards to Ohio State’s 107 in this one.
Best birthday
Senior running back Blake Corum wasn’t planning on returning for the 2023 season, but he pivoted after suffering a season-ending knee injury against Illinois last season. He actually tried to play against the Buckeyes in Columbus but wasn’t healthy enough to impact and shut it down early on in the game. He hadn’t been fully healthy for the rivalry clash during his career, but made a huge impact with 22 carries for 88 yards and 2 touchdowns in Saturday’s victory.
Best Buckeye
Ohio State junior wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. lived up to his billing in ‘The Game.’ He’ll be one of the highest selected wide receivers in NFL Draft history this spring, according to just about every projection. He hauled in 5 catches for 118 yards and 1 touchdown, targeted 9 times by McCord. Michigan kept the Buckeyes’ aerial attack in check, for the most part, 271 yards and 2 touchdowns on 30 attempts with 18 completions, but Harrison got his. Michigan threw some different looks at him, but he’s as impactful as any wide receiver in the country.
Longest drive
Each of the last two seasons, Michigan used long drives to score and chew clock in wins over the Buckeyes. Saturday’s game stuck to a similar script. Harrison scored to pull the Buckeyes within 3 points, 27-24, with 8:05 to go, but Michigan damn-near didn’t give the ball back. The Wolverines ran 13 plays, marched 56 yards and kicked a field goal to go up six points.
The pressure was then on McCord and the Ohio State offense to score a touchdown in the final minute after Michigan sucked the life out of them. While they gained 44 yards on four plays, they couldn’t get it done and Moore ended the game with his pick.
Michigan’s offensive line struggled to run block and pass protect early on in the game. But the group stepped up when it was needed most, and the rest of the offense delivered as well.
Huge addition
Michigan graduate kicker James Turner, a Louisville transfer, had a relatively quiet season before Saturday. He had only attempted 4 field goals in the last four contests. And then came Saturday, a reminder of why the Saline (Mich.) native came to Ann Arbor.
Michigan needed a veteran, someone with experience in big moments, to make sure it could capitalize on a season with high hopes. Turner rose to the occasion with 3 made field goals against the Buckeyes, from 50 (tying his career high), 38 and 37 yards.
