Ohio State 42, Michigan 41
The lasting image of this game will be Devin Gardner, injured, spent, and devastated, flat on his back after his pass on the potential game-winning two-point conversion found Buckeye instead of Wolverine.
It's a shame, really, as Gardner gave one of great performances in the history of The Game today, leading a Michigan offensive explosion beyond anybody's wildest predictions. Gardner threw for 451 yards and four touchdowns, rushed for 34 yards and another score (above, Upchurch), and did all this despite clearly playing at less than 100%. The trio of running backs combined for 137 yards and another score on 24 carries; Al Borges, the offensive line, and the skill position players all had their best performances in over a month—603 total yards against the 13th-ranked defense in the country.
After Gardner lobbed a two-yard jump ball to Devin Funchess to make the score 42-41, Brady Hoke asked his seniors if they wanted to go for two and the win; Taylor Lewan said after the game that, to a man, the answer was yes. In a game that calls for cliché, they left it all on the field.
Bryan Fuller/MGoBlog
The Buckeyes did too, of course. The Michigan defense simply couldn't find a way to stop Braxton Miller (153 yards and three rushing TDs) and Carlos Hyde (226 yards and a score on 27 carries) on the ground; when OSU went to the air, they didn't hit often—Miller finished just 6/15 on the day—but when they did it went big, as Miller's six completions went for 133 yards and two more touchdowns. Missing safety Jarrod Wilson and weakside LB James Ross, not to mention focusing heavily on stopping the run, the defense repeatedly allowed big plays over the middle. By the time the Buckeyes got the ball with five minutes left and the game knotted at 35, the defense looked gassed and played like it, ceding a one-yard scoring plunge by Hyde to cap a six-play, 65-yard drive that featured exclusively runs.
Gardner was masterful in the two-minute drill, finding Funchess, then Drew Dileo twice, then Joe Reynolds, Justice Hayes, and Toussaint to move the Wolverines 82 yards before netting the final two and six points on the lob to Funchess. Michigan tried to free up a receiver on a rub route on the two-point conversion; the Buckeyes had it covered, though, and Gardner's hopeful throw landed in the arms of Tyvis Powell.
Michigan didn't just give Ohio State a fight—quite literally, in a couple instances (above, Fuller)—they played their part in an instant classic. Devin Gardner might've ended the game on his back; I'll remember all the times he got up before that, and what he did while he was standing, above all else.
November 30th, 2013 at 5:51 PM ^
All I could think of after the game was this:
"Ah come on, Adrian, it's true. I was nobody. But that don't matter either, you know? 'Cause I was thinkin', it really don't matter if I lose this fight. It really don't matter if this guy opens my head, either. 'Cause all I wanna do is go the distance. Nobody's ever gone the distance with Creed, and if I can go that distance, you see, and that bell rings and I'm still standin', I'm gonna know for the first time in my life, see, that I weren't just another bum from the neighborhood."
November 30th, 2013 at 6:07 PM ^
and can't wait for our Rocky II.
November 30th, 2013 at 6:29 PM ^
I've always like to think of Michigan football more as Rocky III Rocky, but it is what it is.
November 30th, 2013 at 5:51 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 5:54 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 8:14 PM ^
It looked like Jim Delany was doing his best to make sure the refs handed him an undefeated OSU, to represent the B10 in the NC game. Hopefully Sparty can stick it right up those Ohio buck nuts....
November 30th, 2013 at 6:00 PM ^
Imagine what the rematch could have been. If...if...iffff!! Good game fellas. *Sigh*
November 30th, 2013 at 6:02 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 6:55 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 6:11 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 6:14 PM ^
Great game. Great atmosphere. Im very glad that all these genius analysts ate their words - especially on mgoblog. On Ohio State week Brian mails in the UFR, we have an adorable puppies liveblog and there are 2 interviews with 11 warriors writers??? I get that this is a tough season, I get that we were 2 td underdogs against OSU, i get that mgoblog writers want to be comedic geniuses...but the game is deserves better. Next year i hope mgoblog doesn't "mail it in" again no matter the spread. My favorite team was fun to watch today as a 2 td underdog against the "great and powerful" ohio. I saw the fear in their eyes. Fuck the haters.
November 30th, 2013 at 6:31 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 12:33 AM ^
I'm glad our players didn't "mail it in"
December 1st, 2013 at 12:23 PM ^
I agree about mgoblog "mailing in" this past week. The post-Iowa podcast was an inane, self-loathing chucklefest where they sounded embarrassed to be associated with U of M. Good thing the team didn't and doesn't have the same mentality. Losing is bad, but far far better than quitting.
December 1st, 2013 at 8:52 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 8:52 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 6:29 PM ^
I'm sure Ohio will go home and say "that was a great game" hell no they'll say the won, again..
Call me a dick, see how much sleep I lose over it.
November 30th, 2013 at 6:34 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 6:38 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 6:42 PM ^
No, you're not being a dick. Your point is well-taken, and there a lot of others on the board tonight who agree. I'm taking more of a long game point of view (we're going to be good!) probably due to having sat through some rough seasons years ago while young guys get experience. But your disappointment is shared by the seniors who were actually on the field today. They don't care about next year. So your reaction fits theirs.
December 1st, 2013 at 12:24 PM ^
What does calling a game "acceptable" or "unacceptable" do for you? What tangible difference does it make outside of your own happiness?
BTW don't have kids if you see sports as simply a sorting device to divide people into winners and losers. AJ McCarron and Nick Saban, for example, are losers, which is unacceptable.
November 30th, 2013 at 6:31 PM ^
I think based on your responses you are an idiot. You havn't hade made one single coherent sentence all night. You too are a pussy that never played sports! You are an embrassment to your entire family I'm sure.
November 30th, 2013 at 6:49 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 6:32 PM ^
Taking a step back, I guess this is good for the program relative to what we expected going in. It might help Hoke reclaim the narrative of progress and return to glory. Still seems like kind of a desperate angle after a season like this, but a bludgeoning today would have pretty much killed that narrative (it might already be dead after the last two and a half months). II think it helps the program to be in a nationally televised, good game like this one.
November 30th, 2013 at 6:40 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 6:40 PM ^
too many people who think they had more emotional investment to this game than the players and coaches did. If you can't be proud of the players you're supposed to cheer for after they played their best game of the year against a very good team that hasn't lost in 2 full seasons now... then shut the fuck up and keep to yourself. Call other people trolls and all that, but there is no reason not to be proud of the team for today's effort. Being angry and spiteful doesn't make you a better fan, it makes you a cliched asshole who puts too much into a football game probably to make up probably other things you lack in life. ffs there are some depressing people here.
November 30th, 2013 at 6:53 PM ^
This feels a lot like the Rose Bowl game against Texas when we lost 38-37. It's a loss, but you feel like the team gave everything it had and it just was one play away. As a fan you can't ask for much more.
November 30th, 2013 at 6:56 PM ^
All you on here babbling about moral victories, fail to recognize you went for it on 4th and 2 from the 14 in the 3rd quarter down only 7. Would have won the game if you kick a FG, instead give OSU a 14 point lead after the ensuing drive. Along with the fact your head coach pawned off the end of game play calling to players hahaha It's impressive though that your all content with it, cause Big Brother down the road would be pissed if we lost by a point not content.
Enjoy the Moral Victory though,
cHOKE
November 30th, 2013 at 7:29 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 7:01 PM ^
You are all embarassing on here talking about how proud you are to be part of a loss, do you think any of the players would be saying how happy they are that they tried hard and lost? Shows how far your program has fallen that the most positive you have been all year is getting beat at home by your biggest rival. Big Brother down the road doesn't get excited about moral victories, but we sure are glad you are content with them. Keep it up and State and OSU will keep owning you b&**^^
November 30th, 2013 at 7:15 PM ^
You forgot to call people like me pussies. You're off your game, man.
November 30th, 2013 at 7:37 PM ^
Your mustache is probably made of alpaca fur.
November 30th, 2013 at 11:32 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 7:03 PM ^
My biggest take away, and the thing that gives me the most hope, is that these kids ARE incredibly talented. No second guessing. In terms of talent, the two best teams they've played are ND and Ohio and they matched 'em both.
November 30th, 2013 at 7:08 PM ^
Pizza Pizza.
November 30th, 2013 at 8:24 PM ^
CR7 do you live in England?
November 30th, 2013 at 9:32 PM ^
No sir.
November 30th, 2013 at 7:05 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 7:09 PM ^
that OSU fans can't even enjoy thier victory with any semblance of class, no, they create trolling accounts istead?
November 30th, 2013 at 7:10 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 7:11 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 7:29 PM ^
How much of today was great game planning versus Ohio's inept road defense? I believe this is the 5th time on the road that they have given up over 30 points this year, some of those teams are in the bottom 50 in terms of national rank.
I think a combination of both existed today. I thought the screen game and passing on first down really allowed us to establish our running game bc ohio could not stack the box. I really liked that Al actually utilized the threat which really opened up the field bc ohio couldn't just key on gallon and funchess. I thought the use of the bubble screen allowed us to threaten the entire field which made ohio have to respect everything.
The offensive line played their best game since Notre Dame and actually did pretty good against the blitz most of the day.
I guess my biggest question is where the hell has this been all year, Al? You expect to get better as the year goes on. I would submit that ohio has better players then most of the teams we have played this year, so was it a one game epiphany? or is this what the offense is going to look like going forward?
Help lol
November 30th, 2013 at 7:32 PM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 7:45 PM ^
Borges, and you fire Funk. Then you hire a new OC and new OL coach, but who else are you going to fire so that you can hire a QB coach? Fred Jackson might be leaving, so I guess you could do without a RB coach. Is that your answer?
November 30th, 2013 at 9:36 PM ^
Hoke 26-11
Rodriguez 15-22
Record vs. Ohio State
Hoke 1-1, with a win over Luke Fickell and the Buckeyes in 2011, and a 26-21 loss to Urban Meyer in 2012.
Rodriguez 0-3, by a combined score of 100-24.
Bowl appearances
Hoke Beat Virginia 23-20 in the Sugar Bowl after the 2011 season; Lost to South Carolina 33-28 in the Outback Bowl after the 2012 season.
Rodriguez Missed bowls his first two seasons, breaking Michigan’s string of 33 consecutive bowl appearances, then lost to Mississippi State 52-14, the worst bowl loss in Michigan history, in his final game.
Recruiting
December 1st, 2013 at 11:34 AM ^
November 30th, 2013 at 7:53 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 10:03 PM ^
Are you implying that this season's MSU game alone is why people want Borges and/or Funk fired?
November 30th, 2013 at 7:50 PM ^
Those guys fought harder than I've ever seen a team fight. It's too bad they couldn't come away with a win.
November 30th, 2013 at 7:55 PM ^
Like most of the other fans here, I'm extremely proud of the way the players went out today. I was at the game, and even in a loss, had one of the most fun and thrilling times I've ever had at a game.
I'm still of course sad for the players. Lewan, Gallon and the like had such a rough senior season, and it would've been nice to let them have the pure joy that would've resulted from winning this game.
Such is sports though. Hopefully in the long run of their life they can look back and be proud of their efforts. For Gardner I simply hope he isn't crushed, I read a quote on ESPN saying that all he'll remember from the game is that he lost the game by throwing an interception at the end. I hope he can keep his head up, stay resilient and come back strong for a great senior season.
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