Defense / ST notes: Michigan bends but doesn't break in win over Ohio State

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines football didn’t shut down the top-ranked and downright prolific Ohio State offense, but it didn’t have to in a 42-27 win Saturday afternoon at The Big House.

The Maize and Blue defense did enough — forcing two field goals on four red-zone trips, coming up with 10 third-down stops on 18 attempts, committing zero penalties, making eight tackles behind the line of scrimmage and sacking redshirt freshman quarterback C.J. Stroud four times.

Ohio State still racked up 458 yards, 394 of which came through the air, and picked up 23 first downs. All of those marks are the highest Michigan has allowed this season. However, the offense answered scores with touchdowns and never took its foot off the gas, and the defense forced four punts and a turnover on downs. Many thought it would take Ohio State turnovers to win, but the Maize and Blue were that solid they won without forcing a single one.

RELATED

• Offense notes: Michigan sticks to its bread and butter, physically dominates Ohio State on the ground

• Michigan football 42, OSU 27: Notes, Quotes & Observations

The Wolverines tightened up after halftime, forcing two straight punts to begin the second half, and giving up 5.2 yards per play in the third and fourth quarters. Ohio State had to throw while trailing for all but 4:36 of game time and averaging just 2.1 yards per carry (3.5 yards per rush when adjusted for sacks). The Buckeyes have firepower, but didn’t find the end zone enough in the first loss to their hated rival since 2011, with their 27 points standing as the second-lowest amount they’ve scored in a game this year.

“Defensively, we let up a couple big plays, which we knew we were going to let up, but we got big in the red zone on some of those drives, and I thought we really played good, complementary football,” junior defensive end Aidan Hutchinson said.

First-year defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald shined in his first taste of the rivalry.

“It was really good,” head coach Jim Harbaugh said when asked about Macdonald’s game plan. “Really good. I knew it was going to be really good at the beginning of the week as he was putting it in. It was really effective.

“I said to the players, coaches, don’t be discouraged when they make plays, when they move the ball and score touchdowns. They’re going to. That will be the offense’s job to respond, and our offense did. 

“The amount of stops today, especially those two right after the half, was really good disguise. Really good packages that we made them doubt what they were seeing. They were seeing one thing, but they weren’t really seeing that. It was really effective today.”

Aidan Hutchinson Sets Michigan All-Time Sacks Record For Single Season

Hutchinson returned for his fourth season in Ann Arbor due in large part to his hunger to beat Ohio State and win the Big Ten. Earlier in the week, he explained he was visualizing what a win would look like, and Saturday was exactly what he pictured.

“This was it, right here,” he said. “Visualizing storming the field. I wanted the goal posts to go down, but I don’t think they’re down. All that, just crying. … We did it, and that’s something I’ve been thinking about for years now.”

In a dominant showing, Hutchinson recorded three sacks on Stroud and drew a holding call. Entering the game with 10 quarterback takedowns on the year, his first sack tied his father, former Michigan All-American Chris Hutchinson, who had 11 sacks in 1992, before matching the program’s single-season sack record on his next one and breaking it with his third.

“It was crazy,” Hutchinson said. “I can’t really put it into words. I really just wanted to beat my dad, and I went a little farther. It’s so cool, and it’s a moment that I can’t wait to share with my dad, wherever he is.”

“Aidan — his performance was awesome,” Harbaugh added. “Dominant. Single-season sack record already. Definitely should be in strong consideration for the Heisman trophy. One of those two players, [redshirt sophomore running back] Hassan [Haskins] or Aidan, would be our most valuable player.”

No team — let alone a single player — had notched three sacks against the Buckeyes this season before Saturday.

Miscellaneous Michigan Football Defense / Special Teams Notes

• For the third time this season, Michigan junior kicker Jake Moody did not attempt a field goal.

• For the fourth time this season, redshirt junior punter Brad Robbins punted two times or less, with two boots for 90 yards, including a pin inside the Ohio State 20-yard line.

• Second-year freshman wide receiver A.J. Henning had two punt returns for 17 yards and four kick returns for 67 yards. He fumbled once but recovered it.

• Ohio State’s 64 rushing yards stand as the least the Buckeyes have accumulated in a game since 2011.

• The Buckeyes picked up three of its four fourth-down attempts.

• Michigan’s defense did not commit a penalty for for the first time all season.

• Ohio State won the time of possession battle, 31:48 to 28:12.

• Entering Saturday, Ohio State led the nation with 7.8 yards per play, but was held to a season-low 5.8 yards per play against Michigan.

• Fifth-year senior safety Brad Hawkins and freshman safety Rod Moore led the Wolverines with nine total tackles each. Moore’s performance marked his third straight game with five tackles or more.