Ohio State 31, Michigan 20
[Patrick Barron]
Michigan did not lack opportunity, or talent, or coaching. They just lacked a quarterback.
The Wolverines jumped out to a 14-0 lead, held Ohio State to negative-six yards in the first quarter, got 5.5 yards per carry out of their running backs, and had receivers running wide open through the Buckeye secondary all afternoon. The defense forced JT Barrett to be a one-dimensional runner, kept OSU's star quarterback under constant pressure, and eventually knocked him out of the game with an apparent knee injury.
With Brandon Peters and Wilton Speight watching in street clothes, however, John O'Korn missed far too may of those open receivers. When including sacks, O'Korn averaged only 4.1 yards per dropback. His only turnover came at the worst possible time. With 2:47 on the clock and Michigan down four points after a missed Buckeye field goal, Kekoa Crawford settled down underneath OSU's safeties for what could've been a significant first down. O'Korn read the play differently and chucked a deep ball directly to OSU's Jordan Fuller.
"It was an option route," said O'Korn. "[Crawford] did the right thing. It's all on me."
[Eric Upchurch]
There were plenty more reasons the Wolverines lost. The second quarter featured a momentous change in fortune when Josh Metellus let an easy inteception fall through his hands; two plays later, JT Barrett—with, perhaps, an assist from whatever official was in charge of watching Mo Hurst—scrambled 21 yards to make it 14-7.
Michigan's ensuing drive ended with a 23-yard change in field position after an illegal formation penalty negated their first attempt at a punt. KJ Hill returned the next one to midfield—again, with a potential penalty overlooked—and Barrett needed only three plays to tie the game on a 25-yard pass to Marcus Baugh.
The teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter, though Ohio State took a one-point edge thanks to a blocked extra point. That loomed large when Sean Nuernberger hit a 44-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. It loomed less large when O'Korn threw the interception.
With an average quarterback performance, Michigan wins this game. The gameplan couldn't have reasonably been better; any criticism of Harbaugh or the coaching staff about this game can be mocked with impunity. When it came down to it, Harbaugh couldn't throw the ball for his quarterback, and that proved to be the difference.
"The hardest part for me is you come here to win this game for the senior class and we couldn't do it," O'Korn said with tears in his eyes, before again putting the blame on himself. "It's the worst feeling in the world."
Better days are ahead. This one's still going to sting for a while.
November 25th, 2017 at 4:58 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 4:59 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 4:51 PM ^
I believe Mone and Winovich can return if they choose to.
November 25th, 2017 at 4:53 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:10 PM ^
I don't mean to denigrate Kugler, but who would celebrate his play? And why assume a Winovich departure? He has several positive aspects, but though he started like a monster and finished above average, he disappeared around midseason. He has major potential but is unfinished.
Michigan's OL will at worst be the same next year as this -- middling on the outside (and younger), a mountain inside (and older). The DL meanwhile can return Gary-Mone-Solomon-Winovich, which could lead the Big Ten. Especially given the seasoning for the guys behind them (Kemp et al.).
November 25th, 2017 at 4:43 PM ^
Too many Losers on this team-Okorn(top loser)
Defense(can't hold a lead,breaks down when other team goes ahead ) Coaching-special teams has to go
Never mind enthusiasm,how about mental toughness. Two years in a row we should have beaten them and we just gave the game away.
November 25th, 2017 at 4:43 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 4:44 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 4:57 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 6:06 PM ^
He's shown me that he's not JOK - that's all I need.
November 25th, 2017 at 4:44 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 4:45 PM ^
Too many Losers on this team-Okorn(top loser)
Defense(can't hold a lead,breaks down when other team goes ahead ) Coaching-special teams has to go
Never mind enthusiasm,how about mental toughness. Two years in a row we should have beaten them and we just gave the game away.
November 25th, 2017 at 4:59 PM ^
Won't be long before you are nuked.
November 25th, 2017 at 5:23 PM ^
I hope he flunks his geometry test on Monday.
November 25th, 2017 at 5:10 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 4:45 PM ^
Too many Losers on this team-Okorn(top loser)
Defense(can't hold a lead,breaks down when other team goes ahead ) Coaching-special teams has to go
Never mind enthusiasm,how about mental toughness. Two years in a row we should have beaten them and we just gave the game away.
November 25th, 2017 at 5:54 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 4:45 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 4:51 PM ^
Wow excited for Long and Lavert. Two stud corners!!
November 25th, 2017 at 4:45 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 4:46 PM ^
But the D had a great chance to put this game away. Up 6 with a back up QB in for OSU, and the D's only stop the rest of the game was a missed FG. Best statistical 3rd down D in the nation but couldn't get it done when it counted the most.
That said, I really feel good about this team next year. There are a lot of good young players that are coming back. But can we finally get a QB?
November 25th, 2017 at 4:47 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:09 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 4:47 PM ^
I couldn't help but look and Haskins was the #91 composite player in 2016 and Peters was #61. Hopefully it is a good battle for years to come. I know Dmac will be in the mix but we need a great QB to even the playing field. It cost us at least 2 games this season.
November 25th, 2017 at 5:01 PM ^
If our OLine blocked for Peters the way OSU's blocked for Haskins he would look just as good, I'm sure. The off season has to be brutal for this O Line. We need 7-8 guys to gel and grow in a hurry.
November 25th, 2017 at 4:49 PM ^
As pissed as we all are, he's gotta feel absolutely sick right now. We really should've won this game
November 25th, 2017 at 4:50 PM ^
I'm proud of the way we balled today. This game came down to a a few small things and it came down to JOK, while giving it his best, was just not as good as Barrett/Haskins. If Metellus comes up with that pick, that changes the dynamic of this game. You won't get an easier ball to catch either. We still had our chances when Haskins came in and Watson really biffed it. 3rd and 8 on a long slant route where he forgets all about technique, is caught flat footed and gives the WR an arm bar. Then on 3rd and 13 while in great postion to bat the ball away, he has a fucking towel in his hand and cannot deflect the pass. Drop the fucking towel man! It's the little things that cost us this game. Overall, I'm proud of the effort and the offensive gameplan was outstanding.
November 25th, 2017 at 4:51 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 4:51 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 4:55 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 4:59 PM ^
I feel the same. Team came ready to play today. They showed heart. We were just down to our 3rd string QB and it showed. There wasn't anything the coaches or other 21 starters could have done to make up for our 3rd string QB. And, I don't mean to dump on JOK, he played maybe slightly better than his norm, but he's just not upper echelon Big Ten QB material. I hope next year we have QB depth and talented backups so we can look back at this year and treat it like a Sheridan/Threet year where we just had a roster problem.
November 25th, 2017 at 4:52 PM ^
No mention at all of Dwayne Haskins coming in and lighting up Michigan?
Kind of a glaring hole in the recap.
November 25th, 2017 at 5:02 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:44 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 6:02 PM ^
I really hope Brian does the UFR for this game because I'm very curious to see the breakdown of our defense on those drives
November 25th, 2017 at 4:53 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 6:50 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 7:07 PM ^
It isn't luck that OSU's backup QB came in and lit it up. That's coaching and preparation.
November 25th, 2017 at 4:55 PM ^
Agree that it was the QB and partly the refs that decided this game for the most part. JOK was the primary reason and the refs were FAR on the side of OSU once again. By my count Michigan got two calls where they were grabbing WRs go uncalled, but about 10 calls went OSUs way or were not called. But agree that a marginal QB wins that game.
However, it should be noted that we were up 20-14 when JT f'ing Barrett was knocked out of the game. Our defense gave up 17 unanswered points to a freshman backup. That is a gut punch....
November 25th, 2017 at 4:56 PM ^
Losses can be numbing.
No doubt, with even average QB play we would have won this game.
Future is bright. Don't be fooled by the middling record.
Peters and McCaffery will lead future Wolverine teams to glory.
As far as the OSU streak -- big believer in regression to the mean. Tide will turn. When it does Urban Meyer will go back to "spending more time with his family".
Forever Go Blue
November 25th, 2017 at 5:01 PM ^
I'm furious, actually. I'm tired of bad decisions and blown opportunities across the board. I'm tired of excuses. We need more fire and less nonsense from the head coach. Their redshirt frosh QB walked in and had his way with the defense while O'Korn looked like he's never led a football team. There were so many missed throws and bad decisions. Like the other "big games" before this, the game was there for the taking. And we blew it. O'Korn was simply unprepared. That's on the staff. The proverbial buck stops with the head coach. Say what you want. Neg me if you want, sunny-dayers and apologists. I am out. And so is the football team. Enjoy the shi-TAY bowl game. Hopefully we'll field a team with depth at QB next year; you know, the most important position on the field. We had the defense. We had some skilled players with heart. But we had no real chance with this QB situation. And you all knew it. So there you go. Peace.
November 25th, 2017 at 5:08 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:08 PM ^
I hope your "I'm out" means you go root for MSU or OSU or whoever you want. We don't want you as a Michigan fan or on this blog. Go away,
November 25th, 2017 at 5:21 PM ^
Do you have a mouse in your pocket?
November 25th, 2017 at 6:52 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:08 PM ^
I hope your "I'm out" means you go root for MSU or OSU or whoever you want. We don't want you as a Michigan fan or on this blog. Go away,
November 25th, 2017 at 5:02 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:02 PM ^
We out coached and largely outplayed OSU for the second time in two years. You can’t say that about our other three losses this year.
The only thing that really bothered me: why haven’t we been running that offense all year? That offense beats Michigan State. It gives Penn State a scare. And it would have destroyed Wisconsin. My sincere hope is that we start 2018 running a version of that offense: heavy on misdirection and easy passes that setup our players in space. Great, great offensive coaching that took too long to arrive this season.
November 25th, 2017 at 5:55 PM ^
November 25th, 2017 at 5:04 PM ^
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