Ohio State 56, Michigan 27
Michigan had the pieces in place. The offensive gameplan produced passing yardage in chunks, led by a healthy senior quarterback throwing the ball as well as he had all season. They scored on the first drive. When Ohio State hit the defense with consecutive scores, the offense hit back. The deep corps of receivers were up to the task of beating a Buckeye secondary missing their slot cornerback.
But the Wolverines could not overcome their mistakes, and there were many. Quinn Nordin missed the initial extra point because the team's swinging gate frippery caused them to get set late in the play clock. Carlo Kemp and Aiden Hutchinson meticulously untied and removed OSU running back J.K. Dobbins's shoe in full view of an official who had no choice but to call a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct. A crossing route from Justin Fields to Garrett Wilson went for 41 yards because senior Khaleke Hudson got picked in man coverage. Three plays later, Dobbins juked inside Hudson for a six-yard touchdown and 21-13 lead.
the beginning of the end [Patrick Barron]
Shea Patterson led the offense back down the field, only to drop a good snap, and OSU's Robert Landers dove on the ball to kill a precious scoring opportunity. When it appeared Michigan had stopped the following Buckeye drive to stay within a possession, Hudson jumped offsides on a fourth-and-four punt. Wilson beat Vincent Gray on the very next play for a 47-yard gain and Dobbins ran in his third touchdown of the half from five yards out.
Again, the Wolverines shot themselves in the foot. Patterson quickly got the offense into a goal-to-go situation and appeared to have his second touchdown pass to Donovan Peoples-Jones, but an official correctly ruled the ball came loose as Peoples-Jones went to the ground. Down 15 points, Jim Harbaugh decided to send out Quinn Nordin for a 23-yard field goal. Ohio State would get the ball back to start the second half with a 28-16 lead.
Yet again, mental errors doomed the underdogs. Hudson lost contain on a 41-yard Dobbins run, then Cam McGrone hit Fields late out of bounds, which combined with a Lavert Hill holding call to give OSU a first-and-goal. On third down, Fields hit KJ Hill on a quick hook, and the decision to kick the field goal before the half became, fairly or unfairly, more difficult to defend.
The next few drives functionally ended the game. Ronnie Bell dropped a Patterson dart between two defenders on third-and-16 near midfield, giving Harbaugh little choice but to give it up, and Will Hart's punt barely made it into the end zone. After a serious knee injury scare, Fields reentered the following series with a knee brace and found Wilson alone in the back of the end zone; for the second time, senior safety Josh Metellus had let a receiver behind his zone for a touchdown.
suboptimal [Fuller]
Michigan got a little life when Wilson muffed a punt after a three-and-out, only for the offense to go three-and-out again, then see Harbaugh choose a 45-yard Nordin field goal to cut the OSU lead to 23 points. I began writing this post shortly thereafter.
The fourth quarter was academic. The Wolverines managed to get within 15 on a short Hassan Haskins touchdown run, but after the defense gave them a potentially critical stop, the offense fell short when Haskins was stuffed on a fourth-and-one wildcat keeper—on which he missed a huge hole. Four plays later, Fields connected with Austin Mack for a 15-yard touchdown. Dobbins added a fourth touchdown on a 33-yard stroll to break the 200-yard barrier. You probably stopped watching well before this.
The only drama left was whether the Buckeyes would exceed last year's 62-39 beatdown. By margin, they accomplished that. A great Ohio State team left little room for error. Michigan made many errors. The Buckeye win streak is at an OSU-record eight games, passing the seven-game run from 2004-2010. Now it's time for a familiar, exhausting song and dance.
[Hit THE JUMP for the box score.]
November 30th, 2019 at 7:10 PM ^
Those who want Harbaugh fired are welcome to suggest what head coach would do a better job that would actually come here given the 800-lb gorilla down US 23.
Firing Harbaugh almost certainly requires Michigan to hire a worse coach at this point. That coach won’t out-recruit OSU, either. It’s almost certainly a Bo Pellini move.
I don’t like this, either, but it is what it is. Michigan got the best possible coach in Harbaugh, and it’s not enough.
November 30th, 2019 at 7:15 PM ^
You're right with the Bo Pellini comment. But then you're just being okay with him forever losing because I don't see Michigan ever beating OSU in my lifetime again.
December 1st, 2019 at 12:58 AM ^
They’re not going to and if they do it will be a generational upset of epic proportions—kind of like when Minnesota beats U-M on occasion—not some sort of sea change tipping the balance of power. MICH vs MINN was once a back and forth rivalry until Michigan took it to the next level with the hiring of Bo and left Minnesota forever in the dust. That’s what has happened to this rivalry with the successive hirings of Tressell and Meyer.
December 1st, 2019 at 10:18 PM ^
It wasn’t simply hiring Bo but he drove the changes in coaching, recruitment, conditioning, etc. which distinguished our program. It’s difficult to accept that we’ve entered the Kirk Ferentz era at M; reliable 8-4, 9-3, and every few years we may go 10 or 11 wins but M is not competing at a top 10 program nationally. We will not renew the rivalry unless we can manage the transformation necessary to put us on their footing.
November 30th, 2019 at 7:19 PM ^
Matt Rhule. What he has done with Baylor post-sanctions is miracle status. Dude’s first recruiting class was ranked in the 80s
December 1st, 2019 at 12:46 AM ^
You rattle the posts on Lincoln Riley, Venables, Whittingham. Personally I'd seriously consider Larry Johnson.
Its really not hard to come up with a list of excellent coaches who'd have interest in an open HC position at Michigan.
You're also naive if you think Manuel isn't putting the file together on this in the coming days as well.
November 30th, 2019 at 4:24 PM ^
This loss wasn't about conservative tactical decisions such as the choice to kick field goals. It was about another all-out, embarrassing defensive collapse from a group that was ranked among the top defenses in the country. Ohio State is a great team, but our defensive effort—both gameplan and execution—was embarrassing once again. We just couldn't get stops, and we gave up big play after big play.
So what now? Which defensive coaches need to be shown the door to help the defense take the next step? What do we do with Don Brown, who is a great coach but had all year to prepare to avert this exact disaster—and utterly failed to do so?
November 30th, 2019 at 4:29 PM ^
Obviously this loss falls on Brown, but it also falls on Harbaugh because he empowers Don Brown. Only way I could support another year of Harbaugh is if he fires the entire defensive coaching staff.
I feel like I've seen this exact game before. It was pretty close to a note-for-note repeat of 2018. But also in 2015 Michigan had the best run defense in the nation and Zeke and Barrett ran for something like 350 yards combined. Yet again, throw the defensive numbers out for Michigan in this game. I don't see the national media talk about it much, but when they hype up this game they will treat Michigan's defense like they're respectable. They're good and they have talent, but in this game it doesn't matter. Ohio State will get their 500 yards no matter what Michigan's season average is. That's the coordinator's fault.
November 30th, 2019 at 7:00 PM ^
Michigan was missing Glasgow and Ojemudia in '15 two key parts of that defense. I don't know how you leave that out.
November 30th, 2019 at 4:26 PM ^
We're ass, my dude.
November 30th, 2019 at 4:30 PM ^
The only bright spot is this is the last meaningful football game I have to watch Josh Metellus play.
November 30th, 2019 at 4:33 PM ^
Did I find my dad's mgoblog account?
November 30th, 2019 at 4:48 PM ^
Most overrated safety ever to play at Michigan. Dude gets burned like toast against OSU and PSU and fans still worship him. Dax will be such an upgrade.
November 30th, 2019 at 5:44 PM ^
Shea Patterson as well, I know guys dropped some passes in the 2nd half but man he threw horribly in the 2nd half, behind guys, over guys, too short and on the INT in the 4th QT he threw it to where there were 4 defenders on one WR, just fucking pathetic....it made the drops more glaring. He just doesn't seem to have presence of mind when you need it the most.
I was really pissed off that Jim didn't let McCaffrey play on a drive or 2 in the second half of the 4th QT just to get him some action against OSU for future sake, it's like he doesn't think about the big picture, the stubborn mofo that he is.
Brown needs to go, I'm sick of this shit on defense against great offenses. Special Teams idiocy as well, you made them punt and then give them a freebie where they scored 2 plays later after MR. Turnover Shea flubbed a snap....that was the game right there, it was 2 critical mistakes.
November 30th, 2019 at 6:01 PM ^
Not going to dog on Josh, but if he had just made a simple catch in 2017 Michigan wins that game.
November 30th, 2019 at 4:30 PM ^
So, no UFR then?
November 30th, 2019 at 4:31 PM ^
HUEL shitting the bed like Michigan did on the field, but maybe that's by design to limit hot takes.
November 30th, 2019 at 4:32 PM ^
Hi Brian - Big fan of MGoBlog. Just a heads up, it’s not a great look to have one of your employees publicly applauding the systemic genocide of black people on Twitter. People are becoming woke to Margaret Sanger’s racism nowadays.
Anyway, looking forward to a great basketball season. Go Blue!
November 30th, 2019 at 5:20 PM ^
Delete this faux-woke post. Don't pretend that's UofM intellect.
November 30th, 2019 at 5:27 PM ^
Ok. I’ll mark you down for pro genocide. Even though they beat us I like that JK Dobbins is alive.
November 30th, 2019 at 5:41 PM ^
You just don't understand how your-faux woke victimization only hurts your own cause. I bet you think Buttigieg is a racist too, right? You're as shallow as you are transparent.
November 30th, 2019 at 5:45 PM ^
It’s fascinating that my anti-murder opinion is the one that’s controversial. ?
November 30th, 2019 at 5:51 PM ^
No, you're right. MGoBlog supports genocide and murder. Brilliant.
November 30th, 2019 at 5:50 PM ^
I'm pro-genocide. Those fucking fire ants in my backyard are going to get it again in the spring. I feel like Saddam gassing the Kurds.
I bet that comment got your panties in a bunch!
November 30th, 2019 at 6:28 PM ^
I'm supremely interested in what hand wringing dipshittery you're referring to.
November 30th, 2019 at 10:22 PM ^
He’s talking about abortion. The comments that the announcer made about Dobbins mom almost aborting him were weird af and someone (Ace I think) tweeted about it.
November 30th, 2019 at 4:32 PM ^
Hi Brian - Big fan of MGoBlog. Just a heads up, it’s not a great look to have one of your employees publicly applauding the systemic genocide of black people on Twitter. People are becoming woke to Margaret Sanger’s racism nowadays.
Anyway, looking forward to a great basketball season. Go Blue!
November 30th, 2019 at 6:04 PM ^
You are an anti-Semitic bigot.
November 30th, 2019 at 4:32 PM ^
Hard to admit They were the better team. Poop.
November 30th, 2019 at 4:46 PM ^
Hard to admit, but easy to see.
November 30th, 2019 at 5:26 PM ^
True. Best OSU team I have seen. Would not be surprised if they win the NC. Tough 15 years. Hard to play a perfect game. But that is what was necessary for a win.
November 30th, 2019 at 6:07 PM ^
Nah, we showed how easily it was to pick apart their defense by going vertical. Imagine having an o-line which can open holes and throw down field and they'll humiliate ohio easily.
November 30th, 2019 at 4:35 PM ^
No way this game can be reduced to anything other than OSU is better at every position including coaches. If it makes you feel superior and helps you sleep keep by saying things like bagmen and cash for recruits go ahead and say it. This only shows your ignorance. It is as simple as OSU is just better.
December 1st, 2019 at 9:24 AM ^
Yep... and once you can admit it, UM football is quite enjoyable. A good season, with wins over MSU and ND.
November 30th, 2019 at 4:37 PM ^
On to basketball season
November 30th, 2019 at 4:41 PM ^
Haskins missed the hole...he's missed nearly every time they've ran it. He either doesn't follow Mason or the puller. So, sure they've repped it, but he's danced in the backfield, unsure of where the hole is supposed to be. If it keeps happening, there seems little value in running it, particularly when you have, you know, a friggin QB who has run ZR's (albeit, quite badly).
I'm numb, these coaches may care, do things right, etc. Just quit pretending Michigan is playing for championships. They're not, as long as
November 30th, 2019 at 4:55 PM ^
Haskins played perfectly today.... didn't miss the hole... the hole either collapses on him or isn't where it was supposed to be, or was designed for Mason to draw the LB away....
November 30th, 2019 at 5:02 PM ^
Haskins is a terrific young back but you are out of your gourd if you don't think Haskins missed the biggest hole our backs saw all day long on the 4th-and-1 in our end. All he has to do is follow Bredeson through the hole like it's clearly designed and he's off to the races.
November 30th, 2019 at 4:42 PM ^
Thank God I got to see Michigan football during the glory years of the '80s and '90s . . . a National Championship, two Heisman's, several Rose Bowl wins, a bunch of New Year's Day bowl wins, more than a dozen Big Ten Championships, more than a dozen wins over Ohio State, including blowouts and shutouts.
My hat is off to you guys that starting watching Michigan football in the 2000's and stuck with it. It has given you nothing back.
Quite frankly, you deserve better.
November 30th, 2019 at 4:49 PM ^
That's me! I started as a fan in 2014. I don't live in AA anymore. So I never developed a true love for this program. I like them and all, but I don't really expect anything from them.
November 30th, 2019 at 5:02 PM ^
I expect Michigan Football to let me down every year but some of my greatest memories are from the tailgates and games, so I got emotional attachment.
Basketball is my true love from the university tho. The team has always been worth the investment.
November 30th, 2019 at 7:19 PM ^
Became a fan as a freshman in 2006. On days like today I wonder why I keep putting myself through this
November 30th, 2019 at 7:47 PM ^
You deserve a medal for THAT time frame.
November 30th, 2019 at 10:24 PM ^
I became a Michigan fan in 2008 right before starting as a freshman in 2009. Let me tell you it has not been fun. (Except for Notre Dame, that part has been very fun)
November 30th, 2019 at 4:44 PM ^
Choke job and terrible defense.
also, Put up a few more ads and invest in better servers. There has to be a little room between the top banner, bottom banner, side pop up, article sponsor and the 8 ads between messages.
November 30th, 2019 at 4:45 PM ^
16 and 17 were close and UM had DT talent. That matters.
Brown may have been too nice with Hudson and Mettelus. Hudson has had issue also season and could’ve been sat for someone else getting them ready for when he needed to be sat today. Mettelus I get today since it looks like Hawkins was still out and the safety recruiting hasn’t been great. But they’ve recruited Viper well enough that there should be ppl to bring in for Hudson.
November 30th, 2019 at 4:49 PM ^
Great game by Michigan! Never expected them to actually pull out a miraculous win but seeing them be able to move the ball so well on offense was a pleasant surprise. Hope the players and coaches stop taking these losses hard and are able to focus on getting a bowl win.
November 30th, 2019 at 4:57 PM ^
Boneheaded mistakes and boneheaded play calls seem to happen with alarming regularity, under harbaugh's tenure. If he were let go today I'd be surprised, but I wouldn't be upset or disappointed. Im already pretty much as upset and disappointed as I can be, as a Michigan fan. We fired Brady Hoke for this? We can win 9 games and lose the last 2 of the season every year for a lot less than we're paying this guy.
November 30th, 2019 at 5:38 PM ^
Let's not forget: To this day, Hoke has a better record against Ohio.
Comments