UM Regular Season Football Play of the Year
What is our Play of the Year, to this point?
1) Erick All’s game winning 47 yard touchdown catch at Happy Valley.
2) Brad Hawkins forced fumble/fumble recovery at Nebraska, leading to our game winning FG.
3) Aiden Hutchinson’s sack of Stroud, that forced a 2nd consecutive punt from Ohio to start the 2nd half.
November 30th, 2021 at 11:32 AM ^
How about all three. without them the outcome of those three games is different.
November 30th, 2021 at 11:41 AM ^
Michigan was leading by 8 when Hutchinson recorded that sack. It was a great play, but we can’t really say it decided the game by itself.
In the Nebraska game, the Huskers were at their own 34 when Hawkins forced the fumble. It was a huge play, but without it they still need to gain significant yardage to be in position for a potential game-winning FG.
Of the three, All's catch is the closest to “without it, they lose.”
November 30th, 2021 at 11:57 AM ^
Not that it matters, just burning time until UFR and FFFF come out, but All's TD is kind of like Hawkins' strip. It wasn't 4th down or the final play, there was still time and downs to continue down the field, plus the defense had to come out and stop PSU on the next drive.
That fumble play would have given Nebraska a 1st down and they had scored TDs of 4 of the previous 5 drives in that half. Michigan had to make plays after it like they did against PSU after All's TD and without the strip, odds were probably that Nebraska was getting into FG territory.
November 30th, 2021 at 12:35 PM ^
I’d put Josh Ross’s stuff of Henderson near the top of the list (on 3rd/short on the first buckeye drive of the 2nd half).
The game is radically different if that drive results in *any* points. A major part of the good Michigan created in this game relates to the bad choices OSU was stuck with while playing from behind. I’m not confident, e.g., that OSU couldn’t effectively run on Michigan. I only know that they couldn’t effectively do that under the circumstances of needing quick strikes to preserve clock when repetitively facing 2-score deficits.
November 30th, 2021 at 1:39 PM ^
To me that was the biggest moment. At that point I thought, “We’re going to win this game.” OSU needed one yard and its 5-star tailback got stuffed.
Not only did we then take the lead for good, but Day seemed spooked by that series and almost entirely abandoned the run the rest of the way.
November 30th, 2021 at 11:33 AM ^
Gotta go with either #1 or #2. #3 was nice, but probably not game deciding given the way our offense performed in the second half.
November 30th, 2021 at 11:37 AM ^
The reason I had #3 was that we scored on the next drive giving us a 15 point lead, which ended up being the final margin.
November 30th, 2021 at 11:35 AM ^
I have to go with #1, because Michigan was trailing: if they don't score, they lose.
November 30th, 2021 at 11:35 AM ^
If we’re going based on which play caused the most delirium and euphoria, it’s easily the long Haskins run punctuated by a hurdle to get to the OSU 5 yard line and effectively ice the game.
November 30th, 2021 at 11:35 AM ^
Haskins hurdle+run at Nebraska to get the tying field goal
November 30th, 2021 at 1:15 PM ^
I was going to comment this as well. This was a key turning point to where this team started to feel “different”. A big run in a tough game at night and on the road. This was the first of a few times this season where I was waiting for them to choke, but they rose to the occasion instead.
November 30th, 2021 at 1:26 PM ^
That was mine. They needed that badly at that point
November 30th, 2021 at 11:35 AM ^
This is so hard to answer. I'm going to just say that one of my personal favorites was Ross' emphatic tackle of Henderson on 3rd and 2 to start the second half.
November 30th, 2021 at 11:38 AM ^
Damn... you beat me to it... it was my favorite play as well
November 30th, 2021 at 12:29 PM ^
The 3rd quarter had a bunch of high-leverage plays, but Ross's stuff marked the point where UM took control of the game.
November 30th, 2021 at 11:37 AM ^
Whaaa??? You couldn't give us an easy choice? Dick...
I'll go with All's TD catch against PSU. At that point, we pretty much knew we had a special team. And that play surprised everybody wearing a PSU uni and everyone else just watching. It was set up so beautifully by a game long trend to send off Haskins following his TE into some gap that there's still a PSU LB looking for his shoes. That All put everything into that pylon dive on a still-healing ankle and got there is a testament to how much the team wanted, nay - NEEDED - that win.
Without that play there is no Ohio hope. Without the Hawkins recovery, there is no thought of any Ohio hope. Without Aidan's sack, we were still going to win that game.
November 30th, 2021 at 11:39 AM ^
Note to Gattis….MOAR MESH!!
November 30th, 2021 at 11:37 AM ^
Hard to narrow down the OSU game to one play. There are so many vital ones; the opening TD. The first Aidan sack to hold OSU to a FG. The Ross stop on Henderson to force a three-and-out to begin the second half. The incredible Vastardis reach block to open the way for Corum's big run that set up the TD that put us up by 8.
Each one of those is vital, but it's hard to narrow any single one of them down.
The All TD pass was a much more singular moment that changed the outcome of game and season. I've got to go with that.
November 30th, 2021 at 12:20 PM ^
Eric All TD against PSU is the correct answer IMO. Without that.....well......that one play changed everything. In that game. For this season.
Everything.
November 30th, 2021 at 12:43 PM ^
Maybe/probably not #1, but Cornelius Johnson's catch at the 2 with OSU up 10-7 in the 2nd quarter was the definite turning point in my emotional outlook on that game. After Michigan came out on fire with a chance to go up 14-0, they instead fell behind. It was 2nd-and-8 in accumulating snow. If he doesn't make that diving catch and secure a slippery football, it's 3rd-and-8 at the 40 yard line with the risk of giving OSU the ball with the lead.
Given the paving that took place in the second half, it's hard to know if it was a true turning point, but I think the complexion of that half hinges very much on that play.
November 30th, 2021 at 1:03 PM ^
It's a real toss-up for me between All and Hawkins, but I'll suggest that Hawkins made a play out of nothing that helped assure a victory . Erick All executed a designed play and it went to the house because PSU's secondary got tangled up. I'm splitting hairs here, but I think Hawkins' play was bigger.
November 30th, 2021 at 11:38 AM ^
I'll go with the last kneel down by McNamara at the end of the OSU game.
November 30th, 2021 at 11:41 AM ^
You have chosen… wisely.
November 30th, 2021 at 5:57 PM ^
It *was* the most beautiful kneel down I can remember.
November 30th, 2021 at 11:43 AM ^
Ronnie Bell’s catch. Before he lefthanded the DB, and interfered with himself! Best catch, non-catch of the year! We miss you Ronnie!!!
November 30th, 2021 at 11:46 AM ^
Hope his recovery is going well and he’s ready for Fall Camp!!
November 30th, 2021 at 11:53 AM ^
Holy crap I forgot this even happened this season.
WMU seems like so long ago.
November 30th, 2021 at 11:44 AM ^
This is why college football is so fun, the 1st two could have gone either way and change the entire season. Jim has finally gotten most of the season changing plays to go his way this year. Can't wait to see them play Iowa!
November 30th, 2021 at 11:45 AM ^
Oof, tough one.
Hawkins probably wins it for me if you ignore opponent. That run went for a first down and Nebraska had been moving the ball well in the 2nd half. Without the turnover, Michigan doesn't have as much control over the outcome (since defense is more reactive than proactive).
All's TD was awesome, but it wasn't the final play or on 4th down. Not scoring on that play doesn't mean Michigan loses. Had more downs to continue the drive and the defense still had to make a stop following it.
Hutchinson's sack helped in the effort and gets elevated because of the opponent, but I don't think it changes the outcome necessarily. Tighter game? Probably. But, Michigan was paving OSU all second half and not getting that sack doesn't mean OSU finds the stones to push back against Haskins and the OL.
November 30th, 2021 at 11:45 AM ^
god damn it's great to be a Michigan Wolverine!!!
I agree with a few above, the Ross 3 and 2 stuff at beginning of 2nd half is my favorite
November 30th, 2021 at 11:47 AM ^
Like all of them. Season wouldn't have ended the way it did without any of them.
But the definitive play that really said it all about the regular season was OSU's kneel down on Haskins last TD, orchestrated (and admitted) by Day who should be fired for directing it. Their linemen actually stood up on the play and didn't block. What an indictment of their defense after going 10-1 before this game. What a salute to Haskins! The team certainly wouldn't have been anywhere without him.
November 30th, 2021 at 11:57 AM ^
The Michigan kneel down at the end on Saturday
November 30th, 2021 at 11:58 AM ^
Erick All vs PSU. Saved our season.
November 30th, 2021 at 12:00 PM ^
A few plays that didn’t have huge implications for their games, but were very nice plays nonetheless: Corum’s 67-yard TD run against Washington (his first big Michigan moment), Johnson’s 87-yard TD reception right before the end of the first half against Northern Illinois, the flea-flicker TD against Wisconsin, Dax Hill destroying Wisconsin’s qb to start the 2nd half, Haskins hurdling a Nebraska defender in the middle of a 50-yard run, Sainristil’s insane TD catch against Maryland, the Barrett/Henning trick kick return TD against Maryland, and Edwards’s 77-yard TD reception as part of his coming out party against Maryland.
Funniest play: PSU’s fake field goal.
November 30th, 2021 at 12:13 PM ^
I'd submit Ronnie Bell's one handed catch against WMU that was not only not important but didn´t even count because the refs are blind.
November 30th, 2021 at 12:04 PM ^
The third and 2 stop by Josh Ross on OSU's first drive of the second half. GREAT momentum killer.
November 30th, 2021 at 12:08 PM ^
Hard to pick the most impactful play because there were so many. In terms of design and execution, I’d go with the Statue of Liberty play for our first TD on Saturday. By throwing 10 times to Edwards the week before, we forced OSU to take note of him when he got put into the game. So what do we do on his first play in the backfield? We fake a swing pass to him that the defense is forced to honor, then reverse it to (arguably) our best running WR to the opposite side with our top blocking TEs matched up against 2 lone defenders. Chef’s kiss.
November 30th, 2021 at 12:11 PM ^
Oh MAN this is a great thread. In addition to the aformentioned by the OP, I'd nominate off the otp of my head:
1) HH Hurdling a fool to ice the game
2) HH hurdling a fool to help tie the game in Lincoln
3) The AA coming out party for a TD against Sparty
4) The strip sack/fumble/TD against sparty...that wasn't
5) Josh Ross on 3rd Down! in the game
6) Ronnie Bell getting the first TD of the year against Western
7) JJ's first TD pass to Baldwin
8) The Dax Hill pick against wiscy
9) The Dax Hill sack against Wiscy
I think the All TD and the plays from The Game will all stand out a bit more for me. I don't think any of us really believed it was going to happen until that last Haskins hurdle. He went OOB. It was worth it. Amazing
November 30th, 2021 at 12:16 PM ^
I like this one quite a bit. Gained a lot of confidence dominating a team that's had their number the last few years.
November 30th, 2021 at 12:47 PM ^
I love our new blitz scheme because they can’t key in on our blitzers. It could be Dax, Gray, Colson, Ross, both safeties, etc.
November 30th, 2021 at 12:18 PM ^
#2
It prevented the fans from storming the field, as Harbaugh later said "not on our watch". It was great to watch those fans around me who were talking about it have to go home with a L.
November 30th, 2021 at 12:19 PM ^
There's one play missing from that list which, in my mind, is the play of the year because it prevented an undefeated season. And that would be the Ojabo strip sack, Hutchinson end zone fumble recovery at Michigan State.
That was the worst officiated play and game of the year and it cost Michigan that day. Some would argue that we had plenty of time and opportunity to alter the outcome. But the call took points off the board, and a lead that Michigan could have been even larger as the game progressed. And we did hit a field goal not long after. What's more, the league acknowledged the call was wrong.
No wonder, we saw Snodgrass crew work the Minnesota-Wisconsin game instead of The Game last Saturday. We won't see it this Saturday either.
But if I were to pick from the others, it would be All's TD reception against Penn State. It was the win that propelled us to victory over Ohio State and championship Saturday.
November 30th, 2021 at 12:22 PM ^
November 30th, 2021 at 12:26 PM ^
Another interesting one to think about is Dax just crushing Graham Mertz. That pretty much set the tone for the rest of the game. Not that I enjoyed watching Mertz get hurt, but on their previous drive to end the first half, he dropped two straight dimes to get them within I believe three. Those old familiar feelings of "oh god, here we go again," and then Dax just comes up with a huge play to take Mertz out and set Michigan down a path of dominance for the rest of the day.
Not quite as consequential as the three you mentioned, but I think the Wisconsin game was truly the start of where we all thought "this team may actually be different," and in my mind, that hit by Dax was the true beginning of that feeling. It snuffed out whatever momentum that Wisconsin had.
November 30th, 2021 at 12:50 PM ^
Dax was the defender on both of those catches at the end of the half….don’t get Dax angry!?
November 30th, 2021 at 12:40 PM ^
Josh Ross forced the punt to start the 2nd half.
He blew through the hole that Henderson was going to rip off a huge run and blew him up for a loss. Forcing a punt
November 30th, 2021 at 12:42 PM ^
The All TD was amazing, no doubt. The thing is, I was fully confident Michigan would score on that drive anyway. I was actually less confident that Nebraska would fumble away yet another game. And I'd also throw in Cornelius Johnson's catch at the 2 while down 10-7 to OSU in the snow. If he drops that, it's 3rd-&-8 at the 40 and maybe the whole game looks different.
I am assessing these very much at how much they impacted my emotional state, which is maybe all I can do.
November 30th, 2021 at 12:50 PM ^
Gotta be All's TD. Without that there is no division title even with beating OSU and the season feels a hell of a lot different. Even though was a great play call, the offense was not doing well and it was looking like a loss after that sack/strip. That's it for me.
November 30th, 2021 at 12:50 PM ^
Gotta be All's TD. Without that there is no division title even with beating OSU and the season feels a hell of a lot different. Even though was a great play call, the offense was not doing well and it was looking like a loss after that sack/strip. That's it for me.