Ohio State 30, Michigan 27 (2 OT) Comment Count

Ace



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.

Comments

kevin holt

November 26th, 2016 at 5:48 PM ^

Except no. Peppers turned him back into our team where two or three players overran him and let him come back. If Pep goes aggressive for the tackle he could get juked. He funnelled back to his help and his teammates missed. I agree that play was really bad. That's a 40+ yard fg and the game.

Z_Wolverista

November 26th, 2016 at 10:27 PM ^

of everything taken together.

We weren't infallible -- our qb was injured, for fuck's sake, and still played heroically -- and neither were they, from their first fumble to open the game. The difference is, shitty officiating finished us off, not them.

Damn. If even some of *their* fans are saying the refs screwed us over -- let's not be shittier to our team than our opponents, K?

MJ14

November 26th, 2016 at 8:19 PM ^

I am looking forward to the coming years, but if you think Michigan is going to dominate OSU next year you are going to be very surprised. OSU is very young and one of the players they lose is Barrett. I honestly believe whoever the QB is next year will actually be much better than Barrett. The game favors OSU next year. 2018 may be a different story.

BVB

November 26th, 2016 at 4:49 PM ^

Ummm. The bitching is legit and understandable.

The number and timing of penalties actually called is laughable.

M played well enough to win, but in the end didn't.

Your blabbering double post is a joke. Go take a walk or something, but get out of here with your useless take.

mistersuits

November 26th, 2016 at 4:50 PM ^

Not a single hold, not a single defensive pass interference, no late hits, no unsportsmanlike shoving, nothing. Not a single goddamn call across 4 quarters and 2 OTs. Every bounce and every call went against Michigan. The world is a cruel, unforgiving place and as such I'll never let go of the resentment and hatred I feel today nor the anguish I feel for these Michigan players.

Sopwith

November 26th, 2016 at 4:52 PM ^

was a much easier call to make than the spot. Spots are hard. That one was obvious and exactly like the PI called on Hill with the arm draped around. I knew when they didn't call OSU for tackling Darboh coming off the line that we weren't going to get a call the whole day.

Then there was the stuff that we did to ourselves...

Fumble at the goal line. When does that ever happen?

Face mask on an OL 15 yards downfield. When does that ever happen?

God this team feels cursed. 

 

DHughes5218

November 26th, 2016 at 5:21 PM ^

The ball doesn't have to cross the line, it only has to touch it and it's a first down. Their QB has the ball in his right arm which hit his own teammate who was at the 15. I don't have a problem with that call but there were several calls or no calls that were obvious. It was a game we should've won and this is probably the best team we will have for a couple of years and the weakest OSU will have. We really needed this one. I don't think the refs alone cost us the game, but they didn't help.

WNY in Savannah

November 26th, 2016 at 4:57 PM ^

Anyone saying Michigan fans shouldn't "whine" about the officiating is just wrong.  Michigan DID win that game.  The record books will say they lost.  It's just wrong.  The non call on OSU's PI in the 2nd overtime is one thing.  It was horrible but you don't know what would have happened next.  The ridiculous spot is something else.  That was game over--Michigan wins.  Anyone who says the officials didn't cost Michigan the game are wrong. Yes, Michigan "could" have won the game other ways.  But they DID win the game this way.

There is too much money at stake now.  It has ruined everything.  If you can't trust the integrity of the game, then what's the point of watching?  I just feel sick over it all.

Blue Durham

November 26th, 2016 at 4:58 PM ^

spot was that Barrett fell into the back of his own man, who was laying on the 15. How could Barrett, holding the ball, also have gotten to the 15? 2 bodies of mass, same space, same time, all of that?

But also, my understanding of the forward progress rules apply to a defensive player. But when a ball carrier bounces of his own player? I'm not sure forward progress applies.

Also, the interference non-call was bad, as were the bazillion non-call holding penalties that should have been called by OSU.

Finally, Michigan did give this game away:

* 3 turnovers including a pick six

* a running into the kicker penalty that gave the ball back to OSU

* The Hill interference penalty that was totally unneeded

* Losing contain on 3rd down in 2nd OT when Samuel should have lost 10 yards rather than gaining all but a foot for the 1st down.

lhglrkwg

November 26th, 2016 at 5:32 PM ^

We were up 10, deep in the 3rd, and had just go out to the 50 on a crucial 1st down. Probably in a position to finish the 3rd quarter with the ball, in OSU territory

The Cole facemask brought us all the way back, then the pick, and the very questionable stupid unsportmanslike conduct penalty lead directly to OSU punching it in to make it 17-14

That Cole penalty - rightly called - was brutal and the whole game changed from that point. It went from comfortable lead to a frantic race to the finish

CompleteLunacy

November 26th, 2016 at 5:38 PM ^

OSU proceeded to return their gift back to us by an ill-advised punt fake. We scored the TD we should have gotten earlier.

I think Speight's 2nd interception was when the game was lost. Michigan had them on their heels, up ten in the game with the ball. Instead Speight throws it right at their linebacker and turns it into a near-pick-6. And then Harbaugh has his meltdown moment. THAT was the turning point in the game.

The FannMan

November 26th, 2016 at 4:58 PM ^

At what point can the Michigan Athletic Department do something about how badly we got screwed here and in Iowa? In the aftermath, I suggested leaving the conference. I know that ain't gonna happen. However, my serious question for Seth, Brian and the Board is this: Is there nothing we can do short of waiting for our Bozo Commissioner to retire?




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The FannMan

November 26th, 2016 at 4:58 PM ^

At what point can the Michigan Athletic Department do something about how badly we got screwed here and in Iowa? In the aftermath, I suggested leaving the conference. I know that ain't gonna happen. However, my serious question for Seth, Brian and the Board is this: Is there nothing we can do short of waiting for our Bozo Commissioner to retire?




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Erik_in_Dayton

November 26th, 2016 at 4:59 PM ^

The defense and special teams were tremendous until the very end. But the offense faltered too many times. The team didn't deserve to lose, but they didn't deserve to win either. You can't let a game at Columbus come down to a 50-50 call.

UofM Die Hard …

November 26th, 2016 at 5:00 PM ^

While we had every opportunity to put this game out of reach. That officiating was putrid. How many missed PI/holding calls. And of course the spot. Short on all the angels. They were too chicken shit to overturn it because of the fans. Embarrassing

We have been royally screwed

Another year gone

JBLPSYCHED

November 26th, 2016 at 5:04 PM ^

You captured the gist. That spot was highly questionable as a 1st down but probably too close to overturn. I don't know what to say about the refs calling only 2 penalties on OSU all day. We played solid football for one half and the D held up through regulation. Clutch 4th down throw by Speight and catch by Darboh to tie it in OT. But in the end we didn't take advantage of golden opportunities and made crucial mistakes too. In a game of inches we couldn't afford that many mistakes, bad refs or not.