Ohio State 30, Michigan 27 (2 OT)
Short. [Patrick Barron/MGoBlog]
I'm staring at my laptop and the sea of exultant Ohio State fans on the field below dancing to "Sweet Caroline" and I feel sick.
Sick that Michigan threw away multiple chances to win this game in regulation. Sick that a dozen little plays one way or the other change the outcome. Sick at that spot. That fucking spot.
Michigan should be playing for the Big Ten championship and a spot in the playoff next weekend. Instead, they will sit at home as either Ohio State or Penn State represents the East. That spot, that fucking spot, will stick in the collective Wolverine memory for much, much longer.
The Wolverines controlled most of this game. Wilton Speight battled back from his still-undisclosed injury to throw for 219 yards and two scores, an effort that would take its place in the pantheon of heroic rivalry performances had the outcome gone the other way. Speight's two interceptions, however, were turned into two Ohio State touchdowns, and that allowed the Buckeyes to keep it close enough to force overtime on a 23-yard Tyler Durbin field goal with one second left in regulation.
The defense, which had played a spectacular game, looked worn out in the first overtime period, ceding a JT Barrett touchdown run on the second play. Speight responded with a fourth-down touchdown to Amara Darboh. Michigan's ensuing possession ended with a field goal after a questionable non-call on a third-down pass to Perry, leaving the door open for Ohio State to win it.
Seemingly given new life, the defense forced an all-or-nothing fourth-and-one. Barrett kept it. The officials gave him a generous spot, and even though it appeared on replay that Barrett's right arm—the one holding the football—never reached the line to gain, that spot, that fucking spot, stood upon review.
In a not-so-alternate universe in which the men in charge of the game are competent, there are Muppets and joy and appreciation of one of the most dramatic football games in recent memory or perhaps ever and scrambling to finalize plans for next weekend. Alas, that fucking spot. Alas.
November 26th, 2016 at 5:15 PM ^
in every top end sporting event the players and coaches have to play above the officials.This team (and coaches) didn't. So sad!
November 26th, 2016 at 5:32 PM ^
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November 26th, 2016 at 5:17 PM ^
is getting old. Once a again, the combination of Helen Keller, Ray Charles and the three blind mice make a terrible call. The defense made the play they had to make and they got nothing for it.
I also think Gedeon got held on the next play.
November 26th, 2016 at 5:18 PM ^
November 26th, 2016 at 5:19 PM ^
Michigan: 7 flags for 59 yards.
Ohio: 2 flags for 6 yards
Didn't call holding on Ohio State OL once.
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November 26th, 2016 at 5:44 PM ^
Fucking hell man. Our DL was absolutely DOMINATING their OL. Practically living in the backfield, gobbling up Samuel and Barrett. It's a crime against humanity that somehow OSU magically could block them as the 2nd half wore on. Yes they were getting tired...there was also A TON of uncalled holding.
But OSU never holds. Ever.
November 26th, 2016 at 5:21 PM ^
November 26th, 2016 at 5:21 PM ^
November 26th, 2016 at 11:08 PM ^
Danny Kennel is a fucking chode. I hate that smug mother fucker.
November 27th, 2016 at 5:57 AM ^
I'm glad you said it twice since once just doesn't do it justice. Galloway is what we all know so I don't even need to bother to mention what a dingleberry he is. Kanell was just being a little unobjective bitch. I'm certain after his bitch-ass comments that he wasn't really watching the game as closely as he should have been. Now he will be spreadhing his bullshit and osu love/michigan hate all week long. He tries real hard to look cool too but he is the worst dressed dude on tv. Go away Kanell - you really don't bring anything to the table.
November 26th, 2016 at 5:22 PM ^
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November 26th, 2016 at 5:22 PM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 12:40 AM ^
and a lot of them say the same crap over and over.... Please get lost.
November 26th, 2016 at 5:26 PM ^
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November 27th, 2016 at 6:00 AM ^
Bullshit - he gently acknowledged some questionable calls in a way that assume every game has questionable calls. These were not questionable calls - this was outright thievery.
November 26th, 2016 at 5:26 PM ^
The Big Ten wanted two teams into the playoffs...refs don't just pick a team to hose, they are told what to do and do it to keep their jobs.
UM wins no chance of two teams in, period...Only chance for more Money (it's always the motive) was just what we saw, ref's clearly forcing the issue in OSU favor all game and most obvious in the overtime calls (spot of ball and lack of PI against OSU)...This was another vote instance of Big Ten screwing UM...In my opinion even worse than putting OSU in Rose Bowl over UM
November 26th, 2016 at 5:50 PM ^
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November 26th, 2016 at 8:10 PM ^
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November 26th, 2016 at 9:15 PM ^
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November 26th, 2016 at 9:21 PM ^
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November 27th, 2016 at 12:00 AM ^
November 27th, 2016 at 2:37 AM ^
November 26th, 2016 at 5:26 PM ^
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November 26th, 2016 at 5:27 PM ^
November 26th, 2016 at 9:28 PM ^
Did the fumble on the goal line really matter? Urban's idiotic fake punt and Michigan's ensuing TD produced the same result.
The two picks + Cole's penalty were the game.
November 27th, 2016 at 12:41 AM ^
as we ended up scoring after that anyway.
November 26th, 2016 at 5:31 PM ^
November 26th, 2016 at 11:29 PM ^
i was hollering for harbaugh to call TO when osu had 3rd and goal from the 8 with 53 sec left. if only just to give the team some time if osu scored a TD on the next play. but also, it would have given some time for the offense after that kick return.
November 26th, 2016 at 5:32 PM ^
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November 26th, 2016 at 5:33 PM ^
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November 26th, 2016 at 5:43 PM ^
It was GAME OVER...
November 26th, 2016 at 11:54 PM ^
have been over LONG before that. OSU was all but dead and buried down 17-7. They hadn't moved the ball since an early drive in the game and didn't look like they would be able to do so the remainder of it. They could have literally 3 and outed their way out of that game on offense. Instead, Speight throws an awful ball giving them life. OSU was gifted 14 points on I believe 13 yards of offense. That's where the game was lost.
The game had some bad calls that went OSU's way. That shouldn't distract from the bigger issue that Michigan had this game all but won until the offense miscued their way to a loss
November 27th, 2016 at 10:08 AM ^
One more time. That shot was taken from behind the action, so, from that angle, a ball above the ground will line up with a point on the ground further downfield than the point directly below it.
November 27th, 2016 at 10:50 AM ^
November 26th, 2016 at 5:34 PM ^
"That was not a first down," Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said. "I'm bitterly disappointed with the officiating today."
But in the end, we could have won this game a number of times -- the running into the kicker, the pick six, the PI on Hill. Lots of mistakes on our end.
I wish Harbaugh had gone for 2 in the first OT. It was clear that our D was tired, and that our O was not as effective as theirs.
November 26th, 2016 at 5:38 PM ^
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November 26th, 2016 at 5:46 PM ^
The defense in the 4th & the 1st OT was not the same defense as in the 1st-3rd quarters. They were clearly gassed. OSU marched all the way down field on both of their last drives in regulation and then waltzed in the endzone in OT. Given that, I think the right call is to try to get the win. One play from the 3 yard line and it's over. I'll always think we should've done that
November 26th, 2016 at 8:17 PM ^
November 26th, 2016 at 5:46 PM ^
Michigan was the better team TODAY.. Devin Gardner went for 2, we know how that turned out.
November 26th, 2016 at 6:39 PM ^
November 26th, 2016 at 8:30 PM ^
they mentioned hoke going for 2 in 2013- it was the right call as well then.
November 26th, 2016 at 10:38 PM ^
... because we were serious underdogs and Gardner was playing on a broken foot.
Today we outplayed OSU most of the game, were every bit as talented, and their kicker had already missed two field goals. Moreover, our defense had rarely given up consecutive first downs.
I think Harbaugh made right call. Had we stopped Samuel 8-10 yards in the backfield on third down so that they were facing a 40+ yard field goal in the second OT, it wouldn't have felt like the wrong call.
November 26th, 2016 at 5:42 PM ^
Ace: thanks sincerely for not mailing this one in. I really appreciate reading a reasonable (if impassioned) summary after tough games. You're a pro.
November 26th, 2016 at 5:54 PM ^
November 26th, 2016 at 5:43 PM ^
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November 26th, 2016 at 5:45 PM ^
Nothing but fucking respect for Michigan. Great fucking game. I don't know how we pulled it out, but it was a great gosh damn game. Kudos to Michigan and the effort they put forth.
November 26th, 2016 at 6:06 PM ^
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November 26th, 2016 at 6:06 PM ^
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November 26th, 2016 at 8:15 PM ^
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