Ohio State 42, Michigan 28
Eric Upchurch/MGoBlog
For the second straight year, a plucky Michigan squad that had no business hanging with a powerful Ohio State outfit did just that.
Unlike last year, however, the Wolverines couldn't stay in it until the bitter end. Despite the best efforts of Devin Gardner, Devin Funchess, Drake Johnson, and the defense, Ohio State pulled away late. The backbreaker came on a fourth-and-one touchdown run from midfield by Buckeye running back Ezekiel Elliott, who burst through the left side of the line and sprinted 44 yards untouched to the end zone, giving OSU a 35-21 lead. Any hopes beyond that were dashed when Joey Bosa stripped Gardner and Darron Lee returned the fumble 33 yards for the final Buckeye score.
The Wolverines played much better than expected, especially considering the disastrous start to this game, an ugly Gardner pick that led to a swift six-play touchdown drive for the home team. Michigan struck back; a long completion from Gardner to Funchess beget a touchdown pass to Jake Butt when the Buckeyes blew a coverage.
Michigan took the lead on a Drake Johnson scoring plunge, but OSU returned the favor mere seconds before the half on a JT Barrett scramble; the rivals headed into the half knotted at 14, to the surprise of all but the most paranoid (and, for the second straight year, prescient) Buckeye backers.
The teams traded rushing touchdowns early in the second half before the game's most lasting and terrible moment occurred. Barrett was folded back by a couple M defenders and suffered what appeared to be a severe ankle injury; he exited on a cart after receiving words and gestures of support from both sides, including a touching moment between him and Gardner.
Cardale Jones replaced Barrett, and while he wasn't as effective, he didn't have to be after Elliott's scoring dash. Michigan added a final, highlight-worthy score on a pass from Gardner to a toe-tapping Freddy Canteen, but it was too little, too late.
That sums up today for Brady Hoke, as well. Even if Michigan had managed to pull this out, it's hard to imagine he would've been retained for making a late-December bowl game; with the loss, his fate appears sealed. His final season goes into the record books at 5-7, with M going 3-5 in the Big Ten for the second straight year.
Fire up FlightTracker. The Harbaugh vigil now begins in earnest.
November 29th, 2014 at 4:23 PM ^
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November 29th, 2014 at 5:48 PM ^
Send us your Harbaugh. I see him there on your avatar.
November 30th, 2014 at 11:02 AM ^
Angry enough to right this ship.
November 29th, 2014 at 4:25 PM ^
I'm just glad I don't have to eat a lemon, poop it out, then eat it again like I said I would if OSU didn't win this game.
November 29th, 2014 at 6:26 PM ^
One lemon, two sups.
November 29th, 2014 at 4:25 PM ^
Let's hope Jim Hackett was texting Jim Harbaugh when the camera was on him
November 29th, 2014 at 4:25 PM ^
Let's hope Jim Hackett was texting Jim Harbaugh when the camera was on him
November 29th, 2014 at 4:25 PM ^
Let's hope Jim Hackett was texting Jim Harbaugh when the camera was on him
November 29th, 2014 at 8:42 PM ^
C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER
November 29th, 2014 at 4:26 PM ^
Let's hope Jim Hackett was texting Jim Harbaugh when the camera was on him
November 29th, 2014 at 4:26 PM ^
Let's hope Jim Hackett was texting Jim Harbaugh when the camera was on him
November 29th, 2014 at 4:26 PM ^
Let's hope Jim Hackett was texting Jim Harbaugh when the camera was on him
November 29th, 2014 at 4:29 PM ^
Wait, what are we hoping for again?
November 29th, 2014 at 4:54 PM ^
November 29th, 2014 at 8:25 PM ^
He was emailing/texting Hoke the meeting time tomorrow morning back in Ann Arbor.
November 29th, 2014 at 4:27 PM ^
November 29th, 2014 at 4:31 PM ^
November 29th, 2014 at 5:21 PM ^
November 29th, 2014 at 4:31 PM ^
November 29th, 2014 at 7:46 PM ^
November 30th, 2014 at 6:44 AM ^
November 29th, 2014 at 4:50 PM ^
In looking on the happy Autumn-fields,
And thinking of the days that are no more.
November 29th, 2014 at 4:33 PM ^
November 29th, 2014 at 4:48 PM ^
said in his radio interview after the game that a blitz was called on that 4th and 1.
Why would a blitz be called there?
November 29th, 2014 at 5:13 PM ^
November 29th, 2014 at 5:23 PM ^
November 29th, 2014 at 5:43 PM ^
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November 29th, 2014 at 6:50 PM ^
November 29th, 2014 at 11:21 PM ^
They had Countess at safety to the field side and Hill, the actual safety, in the box also to the field side. Countess and Hill went with the back running to the boundary, which they weren't supposed to do. In the process, Hill cut off Bolden, I think. Touchdown.
November 29th, 2014 at 5:49 PM ^
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November 29th, 2014 at 6:32 PM ^
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December 1st, 2014 at 2:51 AM ^
Even if Ryan had made the tackle they would have had the first - the entire defense was out of position on that play. That was a major RPS win for them.
November 29th, 2014 at 4:36 PM ^
half ended. How in the world do you back off a struggling freshman QB that had not been throwing well...literally rushing 3 over and over and begging him to run in the open field (something he was likely starving to do vs. our LBs). After that drive, Barrett looked like a new man. The guy has run an ultra soft D for two years and really needs to go ASAP.
November 29th, 2014 at 4:37 PM ^
November 30th, 2014 at 1:35 AM ^
I love it when people find creative ways to say "Jim Harbaugh."
November 29th, 2014 at 4:41 PM ^
and now I'm glad it's over. The whole thing has just been sad, start to finish.
So long, Brady. You are a good man but a mediocre coach. I hope you find the right situation for you.
November 30th, 2014 at 9:37 AM ^
It's frightening when our only good game of the year was the dreaded App State Horror II game.
I have never had a Michigan season end so early, not even during the Rich Rod years or when Harbaugh got hurt early in '84.
November 29th, 2014 at 4:42 PM ^
Can someone explain why we burned Canteen's redshirt this year?
November 29th, 2014 at 5:25 PM ^
November 29th, 2014 at 5:47 PM ^
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November 29th, 2014 at 4:42 PM ^
November 29th, 2014 at 4:45 PM ^
With the talent Michigan had this year, there's no way they should have finished 5-7. Horrible. See ya Hoke.
November 29th, 2014 at 4:46 PM ^
November 29th, 2014 at 4:51 PM ^
Well, that says everything. OSU lost two Heisman-level QBs and still won this game by 14. We lose the RB who was 3rd-string in the opener and our offense stalls.
November 29th, 2014 at 5:18 PM ^
these teams are worlds apart, and that sums it up pretty well.
November 29th, 2014 at 4:49 PM ^
I regret his hiring and I'm not sorry to see him go.
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