The Wolverines truly outplayed Ohio State in every faze of the game – but some untimely penalties plus turnovers equaled an unfortunate loss.
In their 2nd season under Jim Harbaugh, Michigan was ranked in the upper echelon all season. I can’t imagine that either Penn State or Wisconsin, two teams we beat, will hoist the Big Ten Championship.
Michigan scored first after marching into Buckeye territory twice to begin the game. Ohio State struggled offensively all game long, which made it so unfortunate that we handed them a pick-6 to make it 7-3. But we responded with a long drive to end the first half and punched in the go-ahead TD, 10-7.
We intercepted them to begin the 3rd quarter, and brought the ball promptly near the goal line. Unfortunately, our injured two weeks ago-against Iowa QB fumbled the snap and they recovered. But, awful coaching by Urban Meyer kept us in the game, and after Ohio State failed a fake punt attempt, we took the ball back into the end zone for a 17-7 lead.
If we’d have done nothing but punt the rest of the game, we may have won. Our defense shut them down with an array of well-timed blitzes resulting in several sacks. But, we threw another interception to essentially allow them to score a touchdown, 17-14.
In the waning minutes, OSU missed a chip shot to tie it, but U of M didn’t get a first down on the ensuing possession, and they got another try and this time tied it with one second left.
We almost took the final kick back to the house. In overtime, we struggled to punch it in near the goal line, but converted a fourth down to keep the game alive. We were clearly held on the next possession and thus were forced to kick a field goal. And Ohio State was STOPPED on fourth down, only to be given a free first… and the eventual winning score.
I can’t wait to play them next year and every season after until I die – they are going downhill and I see nothing but the sky as the limit for Harbaugh and these Wolverines.