The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1488967
66 THE WOLVERINE JANUARY 2023 I magine a Michigan fan not wanting OSU in [the playoff]. Wonder why? They know it was a fluke." — Bucknuts.com's Dave Biddle First things first — if you're go- ing to get a hot take like this, it's probably going to be from a guy who writes for "Bucknuts.com." And make no mistake … this was one of the most scorching of the Dec. 3 weekend after it was announced the Buckeyes would join Michigan, Georgia and TCU in the College Football Playoff. The Wolverines not only beat Ohio State on its home field for a second dismantling in two years, but they left no doubt. They outscored the Bucks 28-3 in the second half despite miss- ing Heisman Trophy-contend- ing running back Blake Corum and having the Big Ten defensive lineman of the year Mike Morris on the sideline most of the game — and they did it in the face of one of the nation's most hostile (some would call it vile) crowds. For much of the 45-23 Michigan win, it was more nervous energy in the stands than craziness. It started when senior wide receiver Cornelius Johnson turned an 8-yard route into a 69-yard score by breaking a couple tackles, ty- ing the game at 10 and bringing it back to even. To that point, OSU had dominated statistically, though Jesse Minter's Michigan defense did an incredible job keeping the Wolverines in it. But with 7:23 remaining in the game, the Buckeyes climbed back within 31-23, bringing the crowd to a frenzy. Twelve seconds later, Donovan Edwards had raced through a gaping hole for a 75-yard touchdown, sending many of the fans to the exits in stunned silence. Minutes following, OSU head coach Ryan Day would be left to explain what happened. "It got out of control down the stretch," Day said. "It wasn't like we were outmatched in terms of overall play." This, folks, is what you call "denial." Yes, five of the Wolverines' six touch- downs (69, 75, 45, 75 and 85 yards) ac- counted for a huge chunk (349) of U-M's 530 total yards. But they all count, just as OSU's plethora of big plays did in the nearly two decades prior when they dominated the rivalry. In fact, it took a referee's "pity whis- tle" on a late fumble from quarterback C.J. Stroud — one that Michigan end Taylor Upshaw was in position to scoop and score — to keep U-M from hanging half a hundred on these Buckeyes. Remember when, three or so years ago, Day was reportedly so upset with Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh he said he was "going to hang 100 on him" the next time they met? Well … he's go- ing to need to pick it up. They're only halfway there after two games. Several weeks ago, we said here one of the next steps in bringing the program to previous heights was to beat OSU a second straight time and at their place for the first time since 2000. Edwards and Co. did that and added an emphatic ex- clamation point. Now, it's Michigan fans who "can't wait until next year." That was all the Buckeyes' coaches and players talked about in the few days leading up to the game — how much mileage U-M got from one victory. And now, it's two. And yes, that's important. Neither was a fluke — on the contrary — and the Buckeyes have to come back to Ann Arbor next year know- ing they've been emasculated in consecutive years by their rival for the first time since 1999- 2000. They'll do it with a first- year quarterback, several new faces on both sides and against a Michigan team that will prob- ably be favored to win its third straight in the series. Head coach Jim Harbaugh was asked if that meant the gap between the pro- grams had finally closed. "That seems like a lot of layers to the onion," Harbaugh said with a grin. "I'm just happy with our team." We'll say it for him — it's closed, all right. But only if the Buckeyes make next year's game a bit tighter. As former Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara said last year when asked if anything about The Game (a 42-27 Michigan win in 2021) surprised him … "I thought it would be a little closer." For those of us among the many who picked a close Michigan loss in Colum- bus (ahem), we'd say the same about this year's game, no matter how much solace Day and Co. take in competing hard on most plays. The object, Ryan, is to win. Rivalry … on. ❏ Chris Balas has been with The Wolver- ine since 1997. Contact him at cbalas@ thewolverine.com and follow him on Twitter @Balas_Wolverine. INSIDE MICHIGAN CHRIS BALAS Rivalry ON Quarterback J.J. McCarthy waved goodbye to all the Buckeye fans leaving Ohio Stadium in the fourth quarter after Michigan used a series of big plays to post an emphatic 45-23 win. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL "