Michigan vs. Ohio State score, takeaways: Wolverines win third straight in thriller to keep playoff bid alive

Michigan has won three straight games over Ohio State for the first time since 1997, its last national championship season

Michigan has defeated Ohio State for the third straight season. The No. 3 Wolverines on Saturday afternoon took down the No. 2 Buckeyes 30-24 in Michigan Stadium to clinch the Big Ten East, advance to the 2023 Big Ten Championship Game and keep themselves alive in the College Football Playoff conversation.

It was another classic meeting between the two long-time rivals that brought The Game down to a couple critical moments late in the contest. Ultimately, Michigan prevailed in what might be the most consequential edition of the rivalry showdown we will see for quite some time given the Big Ten will no longer operate in a divisional format beginning in 2024.

After Michigan kicked a field goal to extend its lead to 30-24 with 1:05 remaining, Ohio State began a drive with no timeouts left needing a touchdown to win. Buckeyes quarterback Kyle McCord completed two deep passes to wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Julian Fleming to get within striking distance only for the Wolverines defense to step up.

Michigan pressured McCord into a bad throw over the middle that was picked off by Rod Moore. It was a fitting end to the game since it was a McCord interception in the first quarter that broke the scoreless deadlock. That first interception, nabbed by Will Johnson, gave the Wolverines a first-and-goal that ultimately resulted in a 7-0 lead. Michigan never trailed after that, though the Buckeyes did tie the game 17-17 in the third quarter.

Michigan will face No. 17 Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game next week.

• McCord's two back-breaking picks -- in the biggest game of his career -- were ultimately the difference. He finished 18 of 30 with 71 yards and two touchdowns otherwise.
• The Wolverines offense did plenty on its own to win the game. Running back Blake Corum finished with 88 yards rushing and two touchdowns to become Michigan's single-season record holder with 22 TDs on the ground on the season. He stands two short of tying Anthony Thomas' career mark of 55 rushing TDs for the Wolverines, but with two games to play, there's a good chance he can set the record.
• Harrison caught five passes for 118 yards and a touchdown to lead the Buckeyes offense. it was his eighth game with 100+ yards this season and 10th with at least one score. His 15 games with 100+ yards receiving is an Ohio State career record.
• Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy finished with 148 yards passing and a 22-yard touchdown pass to Roman Wilson in the second quarter, McCarthy's first since Oct. 21. He had not thrown a touchdown in the Wolverines' last three games.
  
• There were only two sacks and three tackles for loss in this game. That's a bit of a surprise considering how great both defenses have been this season.
• Fourth downs were crucial. Michigan was 3 of 3, while Ohio State never attempted a conversion despite facing a couple chances where it would have made sense to try.
  
• The last time Michigan won three straight games against Ohio State was from 1995-97. The Wolverines went on to win the national championship after that 1997 season. Will history repeat itself?
• Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh served out the end of his three-game Big Ten suspension Saturday. Acting head coach Sherrone Moore improved to 4-0 in the big chair this season leading UM to its two biggest wins over Penn State and Ohio State. Ohio State coach Ryan Day fell to 1-3 against Michigan, 1-2 to Harbaugh and 0-1 to Moore.

Keep on reading for a full set of takeaways from The Game.

[Nov 25, 2023 at 4:30 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Blake Corum was the difference maker

Corum's two rushing touchdowns -- to set Michigan's single-season record -- are obviously a big deal, both for the history and the impact on the game, but it was more than just his scoring that factored into the Wolverines' win. Last season, Corum suffered an injury against Illinois a week before the Ohio State game. He attempted to play against the Buckeyes, but it was quickly apparent he wasn't healthy enough to continue.

Michigan won last year without him, but that might not have been possible Saturday. Ohio State's defense mostly shut down the Michigan rushing attack in the first half, but Corum began to find cracks in the second half. It was Corum soaring over the line of scrimmage on a fourth-and-1 in the third quarter, and it was Corum squeezing through the A-gap for a 22-yard touchdown run one play after the Wolverines lost their All-American right guard Zak Zinter to a gruesome leg injury.

Then there was Michigan's final offensive possession of the day in which it fed Corum repeatedly to melt the clock away. When he broke loose for a 14-yard gain around the left edge to get the ball down to the Ohio State 25-yard line, you could almost sense the belief being sucked out of the Buckeyes sideline.

[Nov 25, 2023 at 4:25 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Sherrone Moore deserves legitimate consideration

It's somewhat ironic that Michigan State officially announced the hiring of new coach Jonathan Smith during the game because I couldn't help but think while watching the game that Michigan's Sherrone Moore is somebody the Spartans should have considered. That's not a knock on Smith, whom I believe is a great coach and a wonderful hire out of Oregon State by MSU. It's a comment about how great Moore has been in his role as acting head coach in place of Jim Harbaugh.

Moore had his day in the big chair earlier this season when Harbaugh was serving his original three-game suspension, and the job's been his the entire time during the latest suspension, an assignment he's aced it with flying colors. Moore was in charge of the Wolverines for their two biggest games of the season against Penn State and Ohio State, and Michigan never trailed in either game.

Moore has shown the ability to put together a strong offensive game plan, successfully make important decisions in critical junctures and win big games as a head coach. I can think of a lot of programs who can use that right now.

Saturday alone, he made key decisions to attempt fourth-down conversions -- both of which were successful for the Wolverines -- and he called a halfback pass for Blake Corum that took plenty of life out of Ohio State, which believed it was about to get a crucial stop in a major situation. Moore was not just standing in for Harbaugh, he was actively a reason why Michigan won Saturday's game and completed consecutive 12-0 regular seasons for the first time in program history. 

[Nov 25, 2023 at 4:22 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Ryan Day is on the hot seat

College football is a popular sport. If you don't believe me, just look at conference realignment and how television networks have had a direct impact on it. None of this happens if people don't care passionately about the game, and it's that passion that sometimes leads to scenarios that seem absolutely ludicrous on the surface but are true all the same.

All of which is my fancy way of saying that, stupid or not, Ryan Day is on the hot seat at Ohio State.

Yes, a coach who has a 56-7 record at Ohio State (39-3 in Big Ten play) and two College Football Playoff appearances -- that guy could be in trouble. Why? Because those three Big Ten losses have all come to Michigan, and they've all come in the last three seasons.

Make no mistake about it, both Michigan and Ohio State want to compete for Big Ten and national championships, but sometimes those aren't as important as making sure you don't lose to Ohio State or Michigan.

Let's be clear: Day is not in any immediate trouble, nor should he be -- again, the man is 56-7 over five seasons -- but the pressure is undoubtedly rising.

You simply cannot lose three straight to Michigan as the head coach at Ohio State. The last guy who did, John Cooper (1995-97), is also the last Buckeyes coach to be fired for his on-field performance (though it happened three years later).

Perhaps Day's saving grace will be the division-less Big Ten and expanded CFP? Lose this same game next year, and Ohio State rematches with Michigan the following week for the Big Ten title. The Buckeyes would get an opportunity for immediate redemption, and perhaps even if losing consecutive games to the Wolverines, they could remain one of the top 12 teams in the CFP Rankings, meaning they would still have a shot to win the national championship.

[Nov 25, 2023 at 4:15 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

History did not repeat itself for Kyle McCord

McCord didn't begin the season as Ohio State's starting quarterback as he remained in a battle for the job with Devin Brown. He quickly won the gig but had large shoes to fill from the start being asked to replace C.J. Stroud (who replaced Justin Fields, who replaced Dwayne Haskins and so on). McCord does not possess the same talent as his predecessors, but while he never put up the eye-popping numbers we've grown accustomed to seeing from Ohio State, he had a knack for coming through when it mattered.

McCord leading the Buckeyes to a game-winning touchdown on the road in the final minutes against Notre Dame is one of the highlights of Ohio State's 2023 season, but he couldn't pull off an encore Saturday. For a moment, it seemed he might. He hit Marvin Harrison Jr. for a big gain to get the ball to midfield and followed it up with another nice throw to Julian Fleming to get into Michigan territory and make 100,000 people in the Big House nervous.

Unfortunately for McCord, this game didn't end with a touchdown to Emeka Egbuka but rather an interception, a turnover that stands as a reminder of the difference between McCord and his predecessors. Stroud and Fields were able to survive pressure in the pocket and either use their legs or arms to keep plays alive. McCord doesn't have that same level of ability -- at least we have not seen it yet. That's why he hurried a throw over the middle that led to the game-sealing interception.

McCord's accuracy fails him from time to time, too. While Michigan's Will Johnson deserves plenty of credit for jumping a route to pick off McCord in the first quarter, if McCord's throw had been in front of Harrison instead of slightly behind him, odds are we're looking at an incompletion at worst. Instead, it resulted in a first-and-goal and eventual touchdown for Michigan.

The good news is McCord has time to improve and will get the opportunity. That doesn't do anything to make him or the Buckeyes feel better about Saturday's result, but let's not forget what happened last year. The Buckeyes lost this game and still made the College Football Playoff where C.J. Stroud played what might've been the best game of his college career.

McCord may not have to wait long for his chance at redemption.

[Nov 25, 2023 at 3:43 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Final: No. 3 Michigan 30, No. 2 Ohio State 24

For the third straight season, Michigan has defeated Ohio State to win the Big Ten East and earn a trip to the Big Ten Championship Game. It was another classic meeting between the two long-time rivals that came down to the game's final moments. After Michigan kicked a field goal to extend its lead to 30-24 with 1:05 remaining, Ohio State began a drive with no timeouts needing a touchdown. Buckeyes quarterback Kyle McCord completed two deep passes to wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Julian Fleming to get within striking distance, but then, the Wolverines defense stepped up.

Michigan pressured McCord into a bad throw over the middle that was picked off by Rod Moore. It was a fitting end to the game since it was a McCord interception in the first quarter that broke the scoring deadlock. That first interception, nabbed by Will Johnson, gave the Wolverines a first-and-goal that ultimately resulted in a 7-0 lead. Michigan would never trail after that, though the Buckeyes did tie the game at 17-17 in the third quarter.

McCord's two back-breaking picks -- in the biggest game of his career -- were ultimately the difference, though the Wolverines offense did plenty on its own to win the game. Running back Blake Corum finished with 88 yards rushing and two touchdowns to become Michigan's single-season record holder with 22 TDs on the ground on the season.

[Nov 25, 2023 at 3:38 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Interception: Game over

Kyle McCord was hit as he released the ball, and his pass fluttered over the middle of the field where it was picked off by Michigan's Rod Moore. It's over. Michigan has beaten Ohio State for the third straight season.

[Nov 25, 2023 at 3:36 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Ohio State is on the move

No timeouts remaining, the Buckeyes can't afford short passes.

[Nov 25, 2023 at 3:31 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Michigan extends lead to 30-24

The Wolverines finished a 12-play, 56-yard drive that took over 7 minutes off the clock with a 37-yard field goal to make it a 30-24 game. There is only 1:05 left on the clock at the end of the drive, and the Buckeyes have no timeouts. They'll need to drive the length of the field and score a touchdown to win this game.

A Big East and possible Big Ten title is all on the line on this final possession. Perhaps a College Football Playoff berth as well.

[Nov 25, 2023 at 3:21 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Michigan expertly melting clock

The Wolverines have marched into Ohio State territory behind their run game with a 14-yard gain from Blake Corum taking Michigan just outside the red zone. The drive has already lasted nine plays and gone 50 yards, but most important for Michigan, it has taken 5:58 off the clock. There's only 2:07 remaining in the game, and Ohio State is being forced to use its timeouts. Barring a turnover, Michigan should have at least a six-point lead by the time this drive ends, and who knows how much time -- if any -- will be left for the Buckeyes?

[Nov 25, 2023 at 3:11 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Buckeyes back on the board; there goes that man ...

Kyle McCord hit Marvin Harrison Jr. on a crossing route, and it was a race to the pylon from there -- a race Harrison won with a 14-yard touchdown to cut the Michigan lead to 27-24. That ended an impressive eight-play, 65-yard touchdown drive by the Buckeyes that included a nice conversion on third-and-8 with a handoff to Xavier Johnson.

The presnap motion by the Buckeyes confused Michigan's linebackers and got everybody out of their gap, opening a huge hole for Johnson between the tackles. It's a play I don't recall Ohio State running at any point this season. It's possible they had it in the bag and saved it specifically for a moment like that in this game.

[Nov 25, 2023 at 3:02 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Trick play helps Michigan tack on a field goal

The Wolverines pulled out a trick play as J.J. McCarthy tossed to Donovan Edwards, who surprised the Buckeyes by throwing the ball over the top of the defense to Colton Loveland for a 34-yard gain to get the ball into the red zone. However, Michigan didn't have anything else up its sleeve after that. The Buckeyes held strong inside the 20 and forced a field goal attempt. The 38-yard kick made it 27-17 with 11:57 to play.

Holding the Wolverines to a field goal after the big play is a win for Ohio State, but a 10-point deficit in this game is a lot to overcome in only 12 minutes. The Buckeyes will need to find a few big plays of their own.

[Nov 25, 2023 at 2:55 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

End 3Q: Michigan 24, Ohio State 17

We are set up for an exciting finish at Michigan Stadium where No. 3 Michigan leads No. 2 Ohio State 24-17 after three quarters. It has been a physical affair that has seen the game swing back-and-forth between a defensive rock fight and an offensive slugfest.

After trailing 17-10 at halftime, Ohio State put together a 75-yard touchdown drive that ended with eight straight run plays to tie the game 17-17. Michigan responded right away, going 75 yards in return, as Blake Corum finished the drive with a 22-yard touchdown run to take the lead back.

However, the Wolverines suffered a big loss in the process. Right guard Zak Zinter was carted off the field with his left leg in an air cast one play before Corum's touchdown run. He's one of the best interior offensive linemen in the country, and now, the Wolverines have to rely on an inexperienced backup against one of the nastiest defensive lines in the nation.

Michigan does have the ball near midfield to begin the final frame. If it can extend the lead to two scores her,e it'll be difficult for the Buckeyes to erase the deficit.

[Nov 25, 2023 at 2:51 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Michigan is fired up

The Wolverines forced a three-and-out and brought the wood in the process. Kyle McCord went deep up the seam to Emeka Egbuka on second down, and Michigan's Quinten Johnson delivered a big hit to separate Egbuka from the ball. McCord's third-down pass to Cade Stover fell incomplete, too, and Michigan has the ball back near midfield following a punt.

[Nov 25, 2023 at 2:47 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Blake Corum breaks loose for six

One play after having to watch their All-American caliber guard go off the field in a cart with an air cast on his left leg, Michigan breathed a sigh of in-game relief as Blake Corum took a handoff through the A-gap to the left of the center and beat the safety in the open field to race toward the end zone.

The Wolverines are back up 24-17 following a seven-play, 75-yard drive. That was Corum's second TD of the day, and he's now sits two behind Anthony Thomas' Michigan record of 55 career rushing touchdowns

[Nov 25, 2023 at 2:43 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Michigan star Zak Zinter carted off

Fox is not showing the replay of what happened, but Gus Johnson described it as "ugly." It seems Michigan's tremendous right guard Zinter was rolled up getting his legs trapped underneath him. Zinter's absence is no small matter for the Wolverines. He's an All-American player at a key position and one of the leaders of the team. It's not just a talent loss but an emotional loss for this Wolverines team.

[Nov 25, 2023 at 2:31 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Ohio State flexes, tying game with long, physical drive

This was a statement drive for the Buckeyes. Ohio State struggled to find success on the ground in the first half, but its opening possession of the second half went 75 yards in 12 plays with the final eight plays all being runs. TreVeyon Henderson finished it off with a 3-yard touchdown run to tie the game 17-17. Henderson is now up to 45 yards on 14 carries, while Chip Trayanum is at 37 yards on six carries.

While the score is tied, we should not ignore that the Buckeyes now have 268 yards of offense compared to just 165 for the Wolverines. On the whole, while Michigan has had moments, Ohio State's been more consistently effective on offense. We'll see how the Wolverines respond to the gauntlet the Buckeyes just threw down.

[Nov 25, 2023 at 2:18 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Michigan changes it up offensively

Both of these teams save stuff for this game. Plays or packages they haven't used against any other opponent suddenly emerge when they get together. For Michigan, that means bringing in backup quarterback Alex Orji for a few plays on the opening possession of the second half.

Orji picked up 20 yards with his legs on his first snap and rushed twice for 22 yards before the Wolverines went back to McCarthy. Then on third down, McCarthy rolled to his right and got pressured by Jack Sawyer. His pass hit Roman Wilson along the sideline, but Wilson's rear end was out of bounds as he pulled the pass in.

The Wolverines managed to get a 50-yard field goal from James Turner to extend their lead to 17-10.

[Nov 25, 2023 at 2:11 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Interesting stat as we start the second half.

Michigan has won 44 straight home games when leading at halftime. The last time it lost was against Michigan State during the 2015 season. So there's a lot of history the Buckeyes need to overcome here.

[Nov 25, 2023 at 1:54 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Half: Michigan 14, Ohio State 10

No. 3 Michigan leads No. 2 Ohio State 14-10 at halftime in Michigan Stadium. The Game picked up quite a bit of steam in the second quarter after the first was spent with two dominant defenses battling. In fact, it was the Michigan defense that set up the first scoring opportunity when Will Johnson jumped a slant route to intercept a pass intended for Marvin Harrison Jr.

The interception set up a first-and-goal for Michigan, which led to the game's first touchdown, and the contest has opened up from there. Ohio State followed Michigan's touchdown with a field goal drive, and Michigan responded with a 14-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to go ahead 14-3. For a moment, it felt like the game could get away from the Buckeyes, but after a terrible start to the day, quarterback Kyle McCord found his groove and started throwing darts all over the field leading to a 73-yard touchdown drive from the Buckeyes.

Ohio State had a chance to close the gap further before halftime but missed a 52-yard field goal as time expired. Ryan Day chose to let time run off the clock and attempt the field goal rather than try to convert fourth-and-2.

Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy has completed eight of his 11 passes for 85 yards so far, including a beautiful 31-yard touchdown to Roman Wilson. McCord shook off the slow start and is now up to 156 yards passing, and he has two deep connections with Harrison (68 yards).

Neither team has been able to establish a rushing attack, which will be a key area of focus in the locker room at halftime.

[Nov 25, 2023 at 1:45 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Marvin Harrison is very good at playing football

No big deal, just catching passes while being dragged to the ground by a defender. Normal, everyday receiver kind of stuff.

[Nov 25, 2023 at 1:37 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Ohio State finally gets to J.J. McCarthy

J.J. McCarthy made a couple nice throws to get the Wolverines to midfield, but Michael Hall disposed of Zak Zinter on third down to bring McCarthy to the ground for Ohio State's first sack of the day. It forced a Michigan punt, and it was a beauty. Tommy Doman pinned the Buckeyes at the 2-yard line with a 49-yard boot as Ohio State starts its next drive in the shadow of its goal posts. It'll be interesting to see how aggressive the Buckeyes are here with only 3:23 left in the first half.

[Nov 25, 2023 at 1:26 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Ohio State with a perfect response

Ryan Day and the Buckeyes were not happy with the call that resulted in Michigan's second touchdown, as they clearly believed it should've been a turnover. Whether they were correct is of no matter because that anger seemed to be great motivation as the Buckeyes followed the score with their best drive of the day.

Ohio State went 73 yards in seven plays with Kyle McCord hitting Emeka Egbuka for a 3-yard touchdown pass to finish the drive. The Buckeyes are still struggling to move the ball on the ground, but they found some success with Chip Trayanum on the drive, and McCord hit a 32-yard pass to Cade Stover down the seam to get into Michigan territory.

What looked like a rock fight early suddenly looks like a game that could have a few more touchdowns in it. Michigan leads 14-10 with 6:27 left in the first half.

[Nov 25, 2023 at 1:17 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

J.J. McCarthy's laser increases Michigan's lead

This might've been the best throw I've ever seen J.J. McCarthy make. On third-and-long, McCarthy threaded a rope between two Ohio State defenders to Roman Wilson for a 22-yard touchdown that has given the Wolverines a 14-3 lead. The play was reviewed because it looked like Wilson may have lost possession of the ball before crossing the goal line as Denzel Burke ripped the ball away from him. However, the call on the field stood following review.

It capped a 14-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that saw the Wolverines convert twice on fourth-and-1. It's a 14-3 game early in the second quarter, and The Big House is Big Loud right now.

[Nov 25, 2023 at 1:10 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Blake Corum can fly!

This looks like a fun way to convert a fourth down.

[Nov 25, 2023 at 1:02 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

End 1Q: Michigan 7, Ohio State 3

No. 3 Michigan leads No. 2 Ohio State 7-3 after a quarter of play at Michigan Stadium in a game that has featured a lot more defense than offense. Michigan's lone touchdown was set up by its defense when Will Johnson jumped a slant route to intercept a Kyle McCord pass to set the Wolverines offense up with a first-and-goal. Even then, it was difficult for the Wolverines to convert as they needed all four downs before Blake Corum plowed through the line to pay dirt, scoring a Michigan single-season record 21st rushing touchdown.

Ohio State has been able to move the ball more effectively on offense overall, which is something to keep an eye on going forward, but one must be wary of McCord, who already has a pick and nearly threw a second later in the quarter. He's completed only 4 of 10 pass attempts for 47 yards and has been off with a lot of his throws.

That's important because neither team is finding room to move the ball on the ground. Ohio State has 17 yards rushing on seven carries, while Michigan has 24 on 10 runs. This game may come down to who makes fewer mistakes.

[Nov 25, 2023 at 12:56 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Ohio State gets on the board

The Buckeyes hit a big pass play to Marvin Harrison Jr., advancing them to midfield, with a personal foul on Michigan moved them deeper into Wolverines territory. Unfortunately for Ohio State, that's as far as it got. Of course, considering Kyle McCord nearly threw his second interception (and it probably should've been picked), the Buckeyes are happy to get 3 points.

Jayden Fielding's 43-yard FG caps off a nine-play, 51-yard drive to make it a 7-3 game late in the first quarter.

[Nov 25, 2023 at 12:42 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Wolverines capitalize with a TD

Well, here's an interesting sentence: Michigan has only 20 yards of offense on nine plays and has not yet picked up a first down ... but it leads 7-0.

A Will Johnson interception set the Wolverines up with a first-and-goal from the Ohio State 7, and after Blake Corum was stuffed at the goall ine on third-and-1, Michigan punched it in on fourth down with Corum scoring easily and Michigan taking a 7-0 lead with 5:36 left in the first.

The touchdown is Corum's 21st of the season, a new Michigan single-season record that breaks the mark Hassan Haskins previously set. Corum needs three more to match Anthony Thomas' career mark of 55 rushing touchdowns with the Wolverines. 

[Nov 25, 2023 at 12:38 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Kyle McCord gets picked off near OSU end zone

Our first big moment of the game. Kyle McCord goes to Marvin Harrison on a slant off an RPO and Will Johnson jumps the route to pick off the pass. Johnson beat Harrison to the ball plain and simple. Michigan has a first-and-goal at the 7.

[Nov 25, 2023 at 12:29 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Defense dominating early

Shocking, I know, but these two teams who have been dominant defensively all season have been dominant defensively to start today. The good news is we've seen some offensive progress. After both Ohio State and Michigan went three-and-out to start, Ohio State managed to pick up a first down on this latest possession before being forced to punt again.

Kyle McCord had an open Marvin Harrison Jr. on first down, but it was either a miscommunication or a terrible throw that left the Buckeyes in second-and-10, and it was too much to overcome from there. 

[Nov 25, 2023 at 12:19 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Key drop as Ohio State starts on offense

The Buckeyes got the first crack on offense after the Wolverines won the opening coin toss but opted to kick off. Ohio State scored a touchdown on the first drive last season, but it ended up being one of only two touchdowns on the day, and the Buckeyes need to find points today against a tough Michigan defense.

Unfortunately for Ohio State, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka had a first down on the third play of the game only to drop a wide-open pass that forced the Buckeyes to go three-and-out. OSU can't afford to waste opportunities, and Egbuka will be thinking about that catch all game.