Ohio State vs Michigan.

The Buckeyes vs the Wolverines.

It is the biggest rivalry in American Sports.

You go anywhere in the world and ask just about anybody, and they know exactly what it means.

The Game on Saturday, November 25th, 2023 will go down in the annals of history.

The addition of USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington to the Big Ten Conference next season, effectively ended divisions in the conference.

It would switch to a system where the top two teams play for the conference championship at the end of the season.

Meaning that Ohio State and Michigan COULD end up playing each other on back-to-back weeks.

A decision that very well could end all meaning of this game being played on Thanksgiving Weekend.

How could it mean and feel the same?Especially when the score at the end of the game doesn’t matter, because they’ll play each again the very next Saturday.

With the black cloud of the Sign Stealing Scandal (which they have never denied), hanging over the heads of the coaching staff and the players, the Wolverines came in with something to prove. In their own minds at least.

The Buckeyes came in having lost two straight games in this rivalry. Head Coach Ryan Day with serious questions, regarding not only his ability to win “big games”, but whether or not he should be fired.

The stakes could not be any higher either. The Buckeyes were ranked #2 in the College Football Playoff rankings and the Wolverines were ranked #3.

It was basically an “unofficial playoff game.”

The game started off slow. Ohio State got the opening kickoff and immediately had a quick three-and-out. It was the same on Michigan’s first possession as well. Three-and-out.

Both teams ended up punting on their first two drives. They couldn’t get things going and sustain anything on offense.

The first big play of the game came when Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, broke and undercut a Kyle McCord pass intended for Marvin Harrison Jr and returned it inside the 10-yard line, to the 7.

The Buckeyes defense forced them to a 4th and goal from the 1-yard line. Running back Blake Corum took it for the first points of the football game.

The Buckeyes answered on the next drive when kicker Jayden Fielding hit a 42-yard field goal to make it a 7-3 game.

Michigan answered the Buckeyes response, by going 75 yards in 14 plays, capping it off with 22-yard touchdown pass from J.J. McCarthy to Roman Wilson, making it a 14-3 game. The touchdown was “reviewed in the booth”, and they upheld the call on the field.

Ohio State responded back, going 73 yards in 7 plays, highlighted by McCord hitting tight end Cade Stover for 32 yards. Emeka Egbuka caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from McCord to make it 14-10.

The Buckeyes defense held the Wolverines on the following drive, and had a chance to score again at the end of the half. Kicker Jayden Fielding missed a 52-yard field goal to the left, as time expired. Letting Michigan take a 14-10 lead into the locker room.

The Wolverines got the ball first in the second half and hit back-to-back 20+ yard plays to Loveland. The Buckeyes defense then held firm and held them to a 50-yard field goal, making it 17-10.

Ohio State then relied on running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Chip Trayanum, and ran the ball heavily on the ensuing drive. They marched down the field and punched it in for a 3-yard Henderson touchdown, to tie the game at 17-17.

The following drive was marred by a horrific injury to OL Zak Zinter, who was carted off the field with an air cast on his leg. The very next play, Blake Corum took it 22 yards to the endzone, giving him his second touchdown of the day. Retaking the lead and giving the Wolverines a 24-17 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Ohio State went three-and-out on their next possession. Michigan hit a 32-yard trick play, on a pass from running back Donovan Edwards to tight end Colston Loveland. Once again, the Buckeyes defense stepped up and held the Wolverines to another field goal, making it a 27-17, ten point led early in the fourth.

The Buckeyes went 65 yards on eight plays to finally get some momentum back. Heisman Trophy candidate, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr capped it off with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Kyle McCord. Getting it back to a three-point game at 27-24 with 8:05 left in the game.

Needing a big stop by the defense, Ohio State just couldn’t stop Michigan from taking time off the clock. The Wolverines bled seven minutes, and ended with kicker James Turner hitting his third field goal of the game. The 37-yarder gave them a six-point led with only 1:05 left of the clock.

Once again, Kyle McCord had a chance to lead his team on a last-minute drive, to victory. Shades of Notre Dame on September 23rd, flashed before fans eyes.

Could he do it again??

McCord got pressure up the middle, and his pass was intercepted by Rod Moore with :25 seconds remaining in the game, to end all hopes of a comeback.

The 30-24 win makes it three straight victories by Michigan over Ohio State.

Michigan will now take on the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Championship Game, in Indianapolis, Indiana: December 2nd at 8:00 PM (EST) on FOX.

– by Sean McKenzie

Photos courtesy of…..ESPN, MSN, sportingnews.

Stats courtesy of…..ESPN.