It will take OSU quarterback Kyle McCord a while to get over his two critical interceptions in this game, one of which, in the first quarter, led to an easy touchdown that set the tone for the game.
The second interception ended the game. YIKES
Ohio State’s defense could not get the Michigan offense off the field and allowed 30 points. The Buckeyes D had difficulty getting the Wolverines off the field on the final drive, finally stopping Michigan with only 1:05 on the clock.
Before the game, Ohio State’s head coach, Ryan Day, talked about the importance of the run game and turnovers, both of which the Wolverines won.
Michigan’s run game was better than Ohio State’s 156 to 106 running yards, and only 60 yards for TreVeyon Henderson, which was a surprising stat seeing how well Henderson was running heading into this game.
This loss is going to be hard for Day to overcome, as it now feels like the John Cooper era 2.0 with the defeats to Michigan.
Marvin Harrison Jr. had a big game numbers-wise but needed more touches, and McCord was unable to do so because of that Harrison went through many periods of the game not touching the ball, unacceptable.
It was a tough defeat for the Buckeyes, this will sting for a long time.
For the third consecutive season, Michigan secured a victory over Ohio State. The No. 3 Wolverines triumphed over the No. 2 Buckeyes with a score of 30-24 at Michigan Stadium on Saturday afternoon, securing the Big Ten East title, securing a spot in the 2023 Big Ten Championship Game, and keeping their College Football Playoff hopes alive.
In yet another classic clash between the historic rivals, the game unfolded with pivotal moments in the late stages. Michigan emerged victorious in what may be regarded as one of the most significant editions of this rivalry, especially given that the Big Ten will adopt a non-divisional format starting in 2024.
With 1:05 remaining on the clock, Michigan extended their lead to 30-24 with a field goal. In a last-ditch effort, Ohio State, without any timeouts, initiated a drive requiring a touchdown to win. Despite completing two deep passes to Marvin Harrison Jr. and Julian Fleming, Buckeyes quarterback Kyle McCord faced formidable resistance from the Wolverines defense.
Under pressure, McCord threw an ill-fated pass over the middle, intercepted by Rod Moore. This interception marked the conclusion of the game, echoing the tone set in the first quarter when Will Johnson intercepted McCord, leading to a first-and-goal and a 7-0 lead for the Wolverines. Although the Buckeyes equalized the score at 17-17 in the third quarter, Michigan maintained control and never trailed.
Next week, Michigan is set to face No. 17 Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game.
Kyle McCord’s two critical interceptions, occurring in the pinnacle game of his career, proved to be the decisive factor. Despite finishing 18 of 30 with 71 yards and two touchdowns, the interceptions defined McCord’s performance.
On the offensive front, the Wolverines showcased their prowess. Running back Blake Corum amassed 88 rushing yards and two touchdowns, setting a single-season record with 22 rushing touchdowns. With two games left, he stands just two touchdowns away from tying Anthony Thomas’ career mark of 55 rushing touchdowns for the Wolverines.
Buckeyes’ wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. played a stellar role, catching five passes for 118 yards and a touchdown, leading Ohio State’s offense. This marked his eighth game with over 100 yards and his tenth with at least one touchdown this season, setting an Ohio State career record with 15 games of 100+ yards receiving.
Michigan’s quarterback J.J. McCarthy contributed with 148 passing yards and a 22-yard touchdown pass to Roman Wilson in the second quarter, ending his touchdown drought since Oct. 21.
Notable in the game were only two sacks and three tackles for loss, a surprise considering the strong defensive performances of both teams throughout the season. Additionally, fourth-down conversions played a crucial role, with Michigan going 3 for 3, while Ohio State did not attempt a conversion despite having opportunities to do so.
This victory marked the first time since 1995-97 that Michigan won three consecutive games against Ohio State, with the Wolverines having clinched the national championship after the 1997 season. The game also saw Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh completing his three-game Big Ten suspension, with acting head coach Sherrone Moore improving to 4-0 in leading the team to significant victories over Penn State and Ohio State. Ohio State coach Ryan Day, on the other hand, fell to 1-3 against Michigan, 1-2 against Harbaugh, and 0-1 against Moore.
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