Offense notes: Michigan proves it's tougher than Ohio State in 30-24 win

The team that won the rushing yard battle has come out on top in the last 22 meetings between Michigan Wolverines football and Ohio State. The Wolverines put up 156 hard-fought yards on the ground to Ohio State’s 107, and helped secure the victory with a seven-minute field goal scoring drive to take a six-point lead with just over a minute to go, before the defense came away with an interception to seal it.

“The mindset was, get the first down,” senior running back Blake Corum said of that Wolverine possession. “Smash someone. The last, last drive, we weren’t able to get the first down and we were able to kick the field goal to go up. And we relied on the defense, and they were able to get the job done.”

Michigan saw 122 of its rushing yards come after halftime.

The Wolverines had a three-and-out on their first two drives and punted in three of their first five, but settled in as the game went on. Michigan had four second-half possessions not including the kneel down at the end and came away with a score on each of them — 3 field goals and a touchdown. Ohio State tied the game at 17-17 midway through the third quarter, but the Wolverines grabbed the momentum back and rode it to victory.

“Huge. We always talk about never flinching, and our guys don’t flinch regardless of the situation,” interim head coach, offensive coordinator and line coach Sherrone Moore said of answering with 10-straight points. “Just such a great response by our guys. What else would you expect from a trained group like ours?”

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There was talk out of Columbus all season long that the Buckeyes have become tougher and more physical. Senior wideout Roman Wilson wasn’t buying it.

“Definitely not,” Wilson said. “I told the receivers this whole week, you got guys who you want to put on the Louis V., the $1,000 outfit, you want to act hard, but when we were out there, they’re not hard. I saw the film. You’re not tough. I don’t think I’m the toughest guy in the world, but I’m out there, I’m getting physical. I don’t think they wanted it like how I wanted it.”

Michigan was criticized for its conservative play calling the last two weeks, in wins against Penn State and Maryland, but Moore was more aggressive Saturday, by design. Michigan went 3-of-12 on third down but 3-for-3 on fourth down.

Corum picked up a 4th and 1 to keep alive what wound up being a touchdown-scoring drive, and sophomore tight end Colston Loveland was the recipient of a play-action pass to convert on a 4th and 1, three plays before junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy made a “ridiculous” throw (per Moore) to Wilson for a score on 3rd and 10.

“Coach Moore said from the get-go that he was going to call the most aggressive game he’s ever called,” McCarthy revealed. “For the big boys, for Blake, for myself, that’s just music to our ears. Knowing that he has confidence in us to go get that extra yard or get that 2 yards, it means the world, because that’s who we are. That’s who we are. We’re going to get that 2 yards or that 1 yard no matter what.”

Zak Zinter goes down, Michigan rallies

A hush fell over the crowd late in the third quarter, after Michigan senior right guard Zak Zinter went down with a left ankle injury, his teammates waved over the training staff and he was carted into the locker room and taken to the hospital.

But after Zinter received a standing ovation while giving a thumbs up and fist pump, The Big House, and the Michigan team, had a strong response.

On the very next play from scrimmage, Corum dashed 22 yards for the score and celebrated by putting up 6 and then 5 fingers in the air, for No. 65 Zinter.

“I haven’t had a chance to talk to him, but when it happened and I looked back and Zak was screaming and [graduate offensive lineman] Karsen [Barnhart] was literally holding his foot as it was just limp … it was a sight that I don’t wish upon anyone to see, and just at that moment seeing and looking at everybody’s eyes, seeing them rally together,” McCarthy said. “There’s something about it, it was spiritual, honestly. Just seeing that … it was a different drive that came out of everybody after that happened, because we’re doing it for one of our leaders and one of our brothers that we all love.”

“My guy was going down, Zak’s my guy. He’s another guy that came back for unfinished business,” Corum added. “That’s why we came back. To see him go down the last game hurt. Very emotional seeing what he was going through down on the ground. But we came together and we knew we had to do it for him. The very next play, boom, we went up.”

Michigan moved Barnhart from right tackle to right guard and inserted graduate Trente Jones wide of him. Moore said the decision came down to getting the best five available linemen on the field.

“It worked out well,” Moore said.

The Michigan coach was on the phone with Zinter’s mother, Tiffany, just before taking the podium for his postgame press conference. He revealed that she shared “positive news” with him.

“He’ll heal, and he’ll be ready to go down the road at some point,” Moore noted.

Based on the severity of the injury, it’s highly unlikely that a return this season is in the cards.

“I know he’s going to come back stronger than ever,” Corum, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last season, remarked. “One of the best guards in the nation. It’s tough, losing a piece like that, but I believe in my guy, I believe the next man is ready to step up. But I’m praying for Zak, and I know he’ll be back better than ever.”

Blake Corum celebrates birthday, stamps his mark at Michigan

The majority of the Michigan roster has never lost to Ohio State as a Wolverine. In fact, only 11 graduate players have suffered a setback to the bitter rival. Corum will go out 3-0, after a stellar season. He came in with 20 rushing touchdowns for the year, tied with Hassan Haskins‘ 2021 campaign for the most in program history. He punched in 2 against the Buckeyes and is now U-M’s single-season leader.

“This being my last game in The Big House, my last four years, I will look back and just pray I left a legacy,” Corum, who rushed 22 times for 88 yards on his 23rd birthday, said. “I stamped my mark here, I made a difference on and off the field.

“But looking back at this game, I feel like this is why I came back. I didn’t go out in The Big House like I did last year — hurt. So, I came back for a game like this. I hope I just left a legacy that will be remembered. I’m so appreciate of the University of Michigan. It’s been nothing but good, and best believe I’ll be back every chance I can to see The Big House and the best fans in the nation.”

Corum now has 53 career rushing touchdowns, standing in second place in program history behind Anthony Thomas (55). He’s the only player in the FBS to score in each game this season.

Miscellaneous Michigan football offense notes

• Michigan has won the Big Ten East Division in three straight and four of the last six seasons. The Wolverines shared the title in 2018 and won it outright from 2021-23. The Big Ten has eliminated divisions starting in 2024, when the league will expand to 18 teams.

• The Wolverines have been victorious in 24 straight Big Ten games dating to 2021, the longest streak in program history and the third-longest in Big Ten history. Michigan has been victorious in 28 consecutive regular-season games, matching the record set by the 1901-03 Michigan teams and matched by the 2005-07 Ohio State teams.

• McCarthy went 16-for-20 passing for 148 yards and 1 touchdown and rushed 4 times for 17 yards, including a 15-yard scamper. He is the first Michigan quarterback to start in back-to-back wins over Ohio State since Elvis Grbac in 1990-91. He’s the third to accomplish the feat since 1980, joining head coach Jim Harbaugh (1985-86). Brian Griese started 1995 and 1997 wins over Ohio State and came off the bench in a 1996 victory.

• McCarthy (5,718 career pass yards) passed Shea Patterson (5,661 yards) for seventh on the program’s all-time passing list. Todd Collins (5,858 yards) ranks sixth on the list.

• Michigan never trailed against OSU on Saturday. U-M has trailed for only 23:33 of cumulative game time in 2023, as opposed to 1:05:05 through 12 games last season. The Wolverines have not trailed at any point in the second half all year.

• Michigan has scored 14 or more points in every first half this season, which includes the 14-spot in the opening two frames against Ohio State. U-M was the first team to eclipse 10 first-half points against the Buckeyes this season.

• U-M has scored three offensive touchdowns in every game this year. The Buckeyes had not allowed more than two touchdowns in any game this season, and had only allowed 10 total.

• In McCarthy’s 25 career starts, U-M is 24-1 for a win rate of 96.0 percent, the best mark by a starting quarterback in at least the last 10 seasons (minimum 20 starts). That mark ranks above those of Trevor Lawrence (34-2; 94.4), Tua Tagovailoa (22-2, 91.7) and Trevone Boykin (22-2, 91.7).

• Wilson has 11 receiving touchdowns, the most by a Wolverine pass catcher in the Harbaugh era (previously, Jehu Chesson, nine, 2015). They are also the most by a Michigan wideout since Mario Manningham had 12 in 2007. For his career, Wilson is up to 19 receiving touchdowns (plus two rushing), tied with Tai Streets (19) for seventh-most in Michigan history. Derrick Alexander (22) is next on the list.

• Loveland has at least one catch in every game this year with 37 catches for 550 yards and four receiving touchdowns, ranking second on the team in catches, touchdowns and yards.