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 30th, 2014 at 11:23 AM ^
Why you so mad, bro?
November 30th, 2014 at 5:58 PM ^
November 30th, 2014 at 3:43 AM ^
November 30th, 2014 at 4:57 AM ^
History and Tradition and the Magnitude of the Program, with caps, is precisely the bullshit arrogance that sunk Rich Rod. Meyer doesn't have that problem with OSU because OSU, like most places, doesn't give two shits as long as you bring home the bacon. Of course M too would have overlooked much of RR's failure to kowtow to sacred cows had he won from the get go, but that was doomed by the team he inherited, as exemplified by Threetsheridammit, and the AD's stingyness with coordinator money.
Not that RR could do no wrong, of course, but I think he would have been quite successful at just about any other "Great Ship" school, and given his renewed success it's probably only a matter a time before he prooves that right.
November 30th, 2014 at 8:46 AM ^
Did you volunteer to tell RR about all traditions and voo doo signs required by the inbred Michigan Men. You are the exact reason why people and myself (a former 50 year fan and season ticket holder) hate UM. You honestly in your peanut brain think you and your school are better and above everyone else. Now let's compare coaching knowledge between your man butterball Hoke and RR. Who designed a new offense that most schools in the country are running in one way or another. Hoke? Are you kidding me. All that slug thinks about is his next meal. I wish you clowns could play Arizona next week. What OSU did to you would be nothing compared to what the Wildcats would do.
November 30th, 2014 at 10:01 AM ^
November 30th, 2014 at 1:22 PM ^
November 30th, 2014 at 7:45 AM ^
Didn't watch 'the game'. First time since 1973. when I was 13. I just don't care. I'm much more concerned with D Walt's ankle than any football speculating. Wake me up when we've hired a new coach.
November 30th, 2014 at 8:45 AM ^
Should recruit Braxton Miller as a grad transfer next year. I don't know why, as much as I hate ohio I have always kind of liked and really respected Troy Smith and Braxton Miller. I think it would be hilarious to see him and Maize and Blue next year, and pretty sweet too.
November 30th, 2014 at 5:45 PM ^
Ain't happening, but an intriguing What If?
November 30th, 2014 at 9:28 AM ^
No doubt that Meyer is a lying prick - a good fit for Ohio. He does, however, seem to know that choosing to punt when you are in the opp's territory is a losing strategy. That eerily summed up the Hoke/Joke era - Hoke punts from their 39, Meyer goes for it from our 45...look what happened. Yes, I realize we had much further to go than Ohio did, but that factor doesn't change the odds there very much. Perhaps one of the stats whizzes around here could demonstrate that fact?
A simpler summation - DG's fumble in the 4th quarter that sealed the game.
You know - I won't miss Brady at all.
There MUST be a Beilien-ish HC candidate out there.
December 1st, 2014 at 1:23 AM ^
December 1st, 2014 at 4:10 PM ^
that I ever even implied "same?"
Try this rather simplistic exercise:
Q. What is the most likely outcome of punting from their 39?
A. A touchback is by far the likeliest. Ofc, other quite positive things (like them fumbling the punt) COULD happen. Or we could down it inside their 5. Although those things sometimes do happen, they're not very likely.
Q. How long will it take an opp whose offense is "running on all eight" to make up the 19 yards of field position that you just gained?
A. We hadn't gotten a 3 + out for quite awhile, so 4-5 plays AT THE MOST. We might make them punt without giving up a 1st down, though. Making them punt from even their own 20 almost certainly results in losing ground in the field position battle.
Q. What have we gained by punting?
A. Nothing, except maybe running a little time off the clock - which may or may not be a good thing.
Q. So, what do we actually have to lose by going for it?
A. A chance to clap at yet another losing event... HAH!
November 30th, 2014 at 9:45 AM ^
Effing brilliant:
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.
November 30th, 2014 at 10:36 AM ^
In watching this game, I really think the momentum shift began off a poor offensive play call. With a 14-7 lead and Michigan controlling the ball and the clock we approach midfield and then get called for holding. The next play, Michigan lines up in a spread formation with nobody in the backfield except Gardner and he gets sacked. I really think Michigan should have continued to line up with Drake in the backfield because he had been gashing them and it would have at least created some doubt as to what we would do on that play.
Obviously, there's no way to know what could have happened, but I don't see any reason we couldn't have gotten 8-9 yards back and then made a 3rd down conversion more possible. In any event, it was then 3rd and long and we punted it away only to watch them drive the field before halftime and again first thing in the 3rd quarter. Even though UM tied it again, I still think that was where the game changed. We had them on their heels dammit!!!
November 30th, 2014 at 12:49 PM ^
Just for the sake of talking, Jim Harbaugh will develop Wilton Speight into a QB, probably not Shane Morris. If you want to see something scary, go to Speight's page on Michigan's site. He looks like a young Jim Harbaugh. Or maybe I am seeing Jim Harbaugh everywhere I look.
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/wilton_speight_888316.html
November 30th, 2014 at 12:57 PM ^
He is a good recruiter but a poor game coach.
Let Miles go. He has used this misplaced confidence to get one raise after another.
We are doomed unless we let go of the past and embrace the future.
December 1st, 2014 at 11:56 AM ^
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November 30th, 2014 at 2:24 PM ^
I dont care if the coach is a Michigan Man or not. We just need a coach that can win.
November 30th, 2014 at 4:44 PM ^
Why are you even posting this shit. This guy is a complete asshole.
November 30th, 2014 at 4:50 PM ^
His transgressions were minimal and he probably wouldn't do it again.
Meanwhile, we currently employ the guy who helped cover up a player's concussion.
I don't even want Tressel here, but if that's your reasoning, its folly.
December 1st, 2014 at 7:38 AM ^
November 30th, 2014 at 4:06 PM ^
November 30th, 2014 at 4:26 PM ^
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November 30th, 2014 at 4:42 PM ^
Hoke never had a QB of his own, which hurt him. Both QBs he had were from Rich Rod era and neither one could adapt to a pro-style. But Gardner did not work out at all, hard to believe a 5th year Sr. could not do better than what he did. A great guy, but not a very good quarterback. Not sure if he could adapt to become a NFL receiver at this point, probably not..
November 30th, 2014 at 7:01 PM ^
November 30th, 2014 at 9:59 PM ^
I don't think Michigan is a dumpster fire as some say, but the Raiders are for sure and a strange operation. The Jets, that is a dumpster fire with 2 crummy QBs.
Everything I have read is Harbaugh is in the driver seat. He does not have to accept a trade, in fact he can walk away if the 49ers don't want him. You have to wonder if this is just bluster so nobody in the press thinks that he actually might go to Michigan.
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