The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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NOVEMBER 2026 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 15 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS FIVE YEARS AGO, 2021: Michigan got red hot amid the snow flurries, melting down Ohio State in a breakthrough 42-27 victory at The Big House on Nov. 27, 2021. The Wolverines faced many lean, frustrat- ing years against the Buckeyes before man- handling them at Michigan Stadium, in a win that sent the Wolverines to the Big Ten championship contest for the first time. They got there by pummeling OSU with 297 rush- ing yards, more than enough to make up for the desperate Buckeyes' 394 yards through the air. Running back Hassan Haskins and a brutal- izing Michigan offensive line did the heavy lifting, Haskins rushing for 169 yards on 28 carries, while tying a school record with 5 rushing touchdowns. U-M quarterback Cade McNamara threw for 159 yards, but at- tempted just 3 second-half passes, so domi- nant were the Wolverines on the ground. Defensively, Aidan Hutchinson posted 3 sacks, his 13 on the season setting a Michi- gan record. The Wolverines battled to a nerve-wracking 14-13 advantage at the half but methodically began taking over the game after intermission. Haskins scored on touchdown runs of 13 yards and 1 yard in the third quarter, U-M opening a 28-13 margin. OSU twice made it a one-score game in the fourth quarter, but each time Michigan responded with pound- ing drives, Haskins cashing in two more TDs on the ground. When it was over, fans stormed the field and the Wolverines cel- ebrated a massive win, Jim Harbaugh's first against the Buckeyes. "I'm so happy to be a part of his first win, and to have a top-five game at home," Hutchinson said. "[Harbaugh] was just so happy." 10 YEARS AGO, 2016: Michigan served up 17 third-quarter points, wiping out a slim Indiana halftime lead and delivering a 20-10 Wolverines win at Michigan Stadium. The vic- tory boosted U-M to 10-1 on Nov. 19, 2016. The Hoosiers led at the half, 7-3, but run- ning back De'Veon Smith's record-setting day took care of that. The big back rushed for a career-best 158 yards and 2 touchdowns, leading the second-half charge. After the Wolverines and Hoosiers traded third-quar- ter field goals to make it 10-6, Smith broke free for touchdown bolts of 34 and 39 yards, putting U-M in control. Michigan's defense did the rest, shutting the Hoosiers out in the fourth quarter and holding them to 255 total yards, well below their season average of 467.3 in a snowy Big House. "It's a great feeling when you win a football game," Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said. "Two opposing wills against each other — you have to beat that other team and also the elements. Our team did both of those things today." 25 YEARS AGO, 2001: Hayden Epstein's 31-yard field goal with 10 seconds remain- ing allowed Michigan to escape with a 20-17 victory at Wisconsin's Camp Randall Stadium on Nov. 17, 2001. The Wolverines moved to 8-2 on the season with the thriller of a win. The Wolverines managed just 163 total yards on the day, compared to Wisconsin's 292. But Lloyd Carr's crew did just enough to pull out the victory. Michigan led 14-7 at the half, getting the go-ahead score on Marlin Jackson's 43-yard punt-return touchdown. Epstein then made it 17-7 with a 25-yard field goal in the third quarter. But an Anthony Davis 10-yard TD burst and a subsequent third-quarter 46-yard field goal by Mark Neuser tied it 17-17. That sent the teams into the fourth quarter all knotted up, with neither squad managing much offense late. Neuser missed a 36-yard field goal with 1:26 remaining. Michigan couldn't move the ball, and Epstein punted with less than 30 seconds to play. But the ball bounced sideways, striking Wisconsin's Brett Bell in the back. Michigan pounced on it at the 13-yard line, setting up Epstein's game-winner, a field goal that just avoided going wide left. "It was a little too close for comfort, but the ref's arms went up and gave us 3," Epstein said. — John Borton THIS MONTH IN MICHIGAN ATHLETICS HISTORY Running back De'Veon Smith rumbled for a career-high 158 yards, including this helmetless run, and 2 touchdowns against Indiana on Nov. 19, 2016. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL