The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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AUGUST 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 29 2024-25 YEAR IN REVIEW BIGGEST UPSETS OF THE YEAR MALE SPORT UPSET OF THE YEAR FOOTBALL VS. OHIO STATE Tailgates were fired up early in the morning on a frigid day in Colum- bus Nov. 30, and Buckeye fans were in the mood to celebrate. It ate at them every day for three years that Michigan had taken control of the rivalry, but that was about to end … or so they thought. After all, they were only following the lead of the Ohio State captains, including defen- sive end Jack Sawyer, who was chirping at Michigan players as the Wol- verines went back into the locker room for the last time before kickoff. "They just kinda sat right there, staring at us, talking trash," Michigan edge Derrick Moore said on the 'Blue By Ninety' podcast. "And it was just like, 'Who do y'all think y'all are? We're not scared of y'all, anything like that.' When we got back into the locker room, you could just feel the energy." The photos and videos of Michigan running down the tunnel of Ohio Stadium in front of a sea of red — confident as ever, despite coming in with a 6-5 record — are stuff of legends. The Wolverines didn't back down even though they entered the game as 19.5-point underdogs, and won 13-10 to mark one of the biggest upsets in the history of the storied rivalry. By the end of the afternoon, Michigan was planting its 'M' flag on the 'O' in the middle of the field (again), and Sawyer was escorted by staffers back to a sad locker room as he shed tears while realizing he has never — and will never — beat big, bad Michigan. "They're not f—ing planting the flag on our field again, bro," Sawyer was caught on video saying. "F— that s—, man. F— these guys." Michigan has now beaten Ohio State four straight times for the first time since 1988-91, and this one was the most improbable of all, add- ing another legendary chapter to the series. FEMALE SPORT BEST WIN OF THE YEAR FIELD HOCKEY VS. NORTHWESTERN The Wildcats were the No. 1 team in the nation when they beat Michigan in Ann Arbor Oct. 25 (2-1 in overtime), and they held that same top ranking when the two squads faced off in the Big Ten Tour- nament championship game Nov. 10. The ninth-ranked Wolverines put together a stellar defensive perfor- mance, highlighted by goalkeeper Hala Silverstein notching her fourth complete-game shutout, even stopping a first-quarter penalty stroke. Forward Alana Richardson netted the game-winning goal at 32:45, early in the second half, after corralling the ball following a free hit from forward/midfielder Abby Tamer. The victory gave Michigan the Big Ten's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, marking the Wolverines' 20th appearance in the tourney and ninth over the last 10 seasons. U-M ranks tied for fourth (with Northwestern) among Big Ten schools with 20 appearances, all of them coming over the last 26 years (from 1999-2024). FEMALE SPORT UPSET OF THE YEAR FIELD HOCKEY VS. NORTHWESTERN The Wildcats were 19-0 and ranked No. 1 in the nation com- ing into the Big Ten Tournament championship game against ninth-ranked Michigan. The Wolverines pulled off a surprising victory, winning 1-0 behind incredible defense and goalkeeping. Northwestern wasn't just undefeated and leading the Big Ten at the time — the Wildcats carried a 21-game win streak against conference opponents before running into the Maize and Blue. That was their first loss against a Big Ten foe since losing to U-M in the 2022 Big Ten Tournament championship game. The win was impressive at the time, there's no doubt about it, but became even more so with the way the Wildcats ended the season. Northwestern ran through the NCAA Tournament and won the national championship. Their final record: 23-1, with the lone loss coming to the Wolverines. After falling 2-1 in overtime to top-ranked Northwestern Oct. 25 in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines were ready for the rematch that came just over two weeks later. Michigan took down the No. 1 Wildcats, 1-0, and captured the Big Ten Tournament championship. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY