The Michigan Wolverines shocked the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday, upsetting their rival 13-10 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.
Although Michigan entered the game just 6-5 on the season, head coach Sherrone Moore shut down the high-powered OSU offense, thus handing the Buckeyes their second loss of the campaign.
Michigan authored an 11-play, 57-yard scoring drive that took 5:28 off the clock and put the Wolverines on top with a 21-yard field goal by Dominic Zvada with 45 seconds remaining.
A 27-yard run by Michigan running back Kalel Mullings was the play of the game, as it helped put the Wolverines in field goal range:
The Michigan defense stiffened once again on the ensuing drive, forcing a turnover on downs to preserve the massive upset.
With the win, the Wolverines have now been victorious in the historic rivalry known as "The Game" in four straight seasons, marking their longest winning streak since taking four in a row over Ohio State from 1988 to 1991.
Given the struggles of the OSU offense on Saturday, head coach Ryan Day and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly were widely criticized on social media:
Ohio State attempted to establish the run throughout the game to no avail, as the team rushed for just 77 yards. Quarterback Will Howard struggled in his own right, going 19-of-33 for 175 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Overall, the Wolverines held Ohio State to 252 total yards, and they managed to win the game despite quarterback Davis Warren going just 9-of-16 for 62 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.
With Saturday's loss, the Buckeyes are likely out of the Big Ten Championship Game. Undefeated Oregon has already clinched a spot in the game, meaning a win by either Penn State or Indiana on Saturday will knock OSU out.
While Ohio State is not guaranteed a spot in the College Football Playoff after its second loss of the season, it is somewhat difficult to envision the Buckeyes going from No. 2 in the CFP standings to outside the top 12.
However, even if the Buckeyes are part of the 12-team CFP field, many expressed their belief on social media that they are a fraud incapable of challenging for a national championship:
After perhaps the most embarrassing loss of the Ryan Day era, Ohio State must now sit, wait and hope that it is granted a spot in the College Football Playoff and a chance to play for the national title.
Even if that does happen, the Buckeyes will face a tough road since their chance at a first-round bye is now gone.
As for the Wolverines, they have struggled through a tough season after going undefeated and winning it all last season, but they got head coach Sherrone Moore his signature win on Saturday.
Although Michigan won't play in a significant bowl due to a 7-5 record, beating Ohio State still made it a worthwhile season for the program, and it provides the Wolverines with a huge building block for next season.
Read 113 Comments
Download the app for comments Get the B/R app to join the conversation