Michigan football loses a 30-27 OT thriller to rival Ohio State
The Buckeyes remain in control of the rivalry, capitalizing on grave Wolverines mistakes today at Ohio Stadium
This season was all about Michigan’s opportunity.
But on the biggest stage, the Wolverines gave it away.
Despite controlling most of “The Game” on Saturday, Michigan’s mistakes were papercuts, leading to a full-body bloodletting.
They allowed No. 2 Ohio State enough chances at life in regulation and the Buckeyes thanked them for it in double overtime, handing U-M a heartbreaking loss, 30-27, Saturday at Ohio Stadium.
The case can be made for bitter disappointment over poor officiating — and U-M coach Jim Harbaugh made it loudly after the game — but the result was the same.
No. 4 Michigan (No. 3 College Football Playoff Rankings) lost the most important game of its season because it dissolved in the fourth quarter.
The loss likely dooms the Wolverines (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) to a New Year’s Six bowl game, the Orange or the Rose, leaving them short of all their goals: a Big Ten East Division title, a Big Ten title game appearance and likely a College Football Playoff spot and a chance at a national title.
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This was the first overtime in the history of the Michigan-Ohio State game but one the Wolverines will never forget, losing
12 in the past 13 games against the Buckeyes and still haven’t won in Columbus since 2000.
“It sucks,” U-M co-captain Chris Wormley said. “You’re a fifth-year guy, you’ve never beaten Ohio State and you want this win as bad as possible. You don’t get this win and it sucks.”
It would take a significant series of implosions in other places for U-M to still get a CFP berth.
But they know they’re in this spot because of their own implosions earlier in the game.
Returning from his injury (which he declined to discuss, leaning on Harbaugh’s team policy), quarterback Wilton Speight was sharp in the first half, moving the ball for 172 yards of offense and converting 5-of-10 third downs.
But his two interceptions also handed Ohio State its only two regulation touchdowns, one directly on a pick-six and the other on an ill-advised throw deep in U-M’s end.
“It’s a bummer,” Speight said. “I feel like I let the defense down for the game that they played. It stings.”
The defense was strong for much of the game, but not infallible either.
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After shutting down the Buckeyes (11-1, 8-1) for three quarters, the nation’s No. 1 defense faded, allowing 177 yards and 10 first downs in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett got loose with his feet and playmaker Curtis Samuel found some life.
In the game’s final moments, after going to overtime tied at 17, and both teams scoring touchdowns in the first OT to extend the game, the biggest Buckeyes made their biggest plays.
Facing a fourth-and-1 in the second overtime, Barrett ran over left guard for the necessary yard. Television replays appeared that he didn’t get it but the conversion was upheld.
Because Michigan had kicked a field goal to open the second overtime, the stop would have ended and won U-M the game. Instead it allowed Ohio State another play.
Samuel took it 15 yards to the end zone, ending the game the other way.
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The blame will go to the officiating and in some places the credit will go to the Buckeyes, who now will likely go to the CFP.
But this game had countless Michigan moments of failure on all sides, including Harbaugh, who eased one of OSU’s touchdowns with his unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
There will be a high-level bowl game in a month. But for the near future, at least until those bowl bids are announced in a week, it’ll sting.
“Just like Chris said, it sucks,” said McCray, from Trotwood, Ohio, just outside Dayton. “I probably won’t go home for awhile, until it calms down a little bit.”
Because in this game, against this team, losing this way, with these stakes, awhile may last a lifetime.
Contact Mark Snyder at msnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at @mark__snyder. Download our Wolverines Xtra app on iTunes and Android!
Wilton Speight gives Michigan a boost, but makes costly miscues