Reacts. Rich Eisen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w91s6-n9BgQ

Joel Klatt on the aftermath of the Zinter injury:

https://youtu.be/kYKnvx1quLc?t=1785

Here's a brief Journey segment about what Klatt is referencing:

' , ! ' , ! ' , ! @BTNJourney spotlights the emotional scene at the Big House after star OL Zak Zinter's injury.

@AutoOwnersIns pic.twitter.com/T3eOGb6wqs

— Michigan On BTN (@MichiganOnBTN) November 28, 2023

Some guy in Cleveland:

It took a while, but @KenCarman & @KeithBritton86 worked @SportsBoyTony into a shoot, and he unleashed a rant about his Buckeyes. pic.twitter.com/NQ1DZwTSnA

— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) November 27, 2023

This guy:

FIRE RYAN DAY pic.twitter.com/pyOjgMp4IK

— clg. (@UncGerm) November 26, 2023

Big Sean catching strays.

[After THE JUMP: JJ items]

Mysterious JJ injury rumors confirmed. The hit he took against Penn State that saw him get up limping was indeed the culprit:

JJ McCarthy says his lower-leg injury is "almost perfectly healed." Said it was "a rough couple weeks there" since he endured the injury at Penn State.

— Zach Shaw (@_ZachShaw) November 27, 2023

This goes some way towards explaining why Michigan didn't call any runs for him against Ohio State, but does not explain why he got a live read against Maryland. Also, if McCarthy was able to move well enough to pick up those scramble yards it seems like they could have had him keep it a couple times, if only to keep OSU honest.

The wild explanation for the wild throw. OSU freshman safety Malik Hartford was on the field for exactly one snap. It was this one:

McCarthy on this throw: "I was just doing film study all week on No. 25, and whenever he turns his head, he doesn't look at the quarterback, so once I saw him put eyes on Roman, I knew he was only covering the width of his shoulders and I just let it rip." https://t.co/Qt073NUHCH

— Brock Heilig (@brockheilig) November 27, 2023

I guess he must be referring to the quick glance Hartford took towards Wilson at the beginning of the play, because Hartford doesn't actually turn and run until McCarthy is in the middle of his throwing motion. FWIW, Hartford had about 100 snaps in OSU's previous three games so he was on the field enough to get a read on his play.

Partridge releases a statement. He waited until after OSU to do so  so as to not provide the proverbial distraction. Upshot: he denies any knowledge of Stalions's activities and denies destroying evidence. He says he was terminated "because of a failure 'to abide by the University directive not to discuss an ongoing NCAA investigation with anyone associated with the Michigan Football Program.'" IE, he likely discussed with a player how he should approach an interview with the NCAA.

If that's true it should mean Partridge's dismissal won't add onto the notice of allegations that's coming down the pike at some point.

Iowa: not projected to score a zilly. Vegas and SP+ both expect Iowa to score about six points, and here's a doozy of a prop:

Iowa’s first half team total, over .5, is currently listed at even money. That might be the wildest betting line I’ve ever seen in my life. pic.twitter.com/Q3OD3ihBzr

— Jared Leeper (@jared_leeper) November 28, 2023

Marcus Hall on the epic double birds. Adam Rittenberg catches up with Hall and asks about one of the more, uh, colorful recent moments in the rivalry:

"I didn't hear anybody in the crowd, I didn't hear anything," Hall said. "All I was thinking was, 'It's my senior year. I've looked forward to my senior year playing Michigan for so long.' The energy and preparation that goes into that game, you're so invested in that game. For it to end before halftime, I just blew up."

As ABC cameras followed him, Hall threw his helmet down on the Ohio State sideline, kicked a bench and then pumped his fist in anger. Then, as he turned into the stadium tunnel, he raised both of his middle fingers toward the Big House crowd.

"I compare it to, when you're fed up on the job and it's time to go, just let 'em fly," Hall said.

They're going to put you in the sports gulag, Jim. Harbaugh made another argument for paying the players at his press conference after being there while Zak Zinter had surgery. Apologies to Alejandro Zuniga for not directly embedding this but it'll get cut off:

After watching Zak Zinter's injury on TV, Jim Harbaugh made another push for paying the players:

"Who could be against the players being compensated for what they do? At least even minimum wage. I mean, who could argue against that — when there’s injury or not. I mean, the emotional buildup watching it on TV: There wasn't a commercial that went by, a sporting event that was played all week that you didn't see those two teams and the buildup and the hype and the talk about players’ legacies and everything that could possibly be rolled into one game on the line. And then you see the amount of people that are benefiting financially from those players’ efforts out there. I wonder who could be against that? I ask other coaches to get on board, to use their platform and their voice for the student-athletes — not just football players, all student-athletes — to be sharing in this ever-increasing revenue. That was another thought that I had, and I just don't know who could be against that."

He said he'd be happy to take a paycut to get this done. The NCAA is going to send him to Bolivia now.

The football Gods continue to tell Nebraska to run triple option. Ye gods:

Here are the "unluckiest" teams. Apparently, you can take the Scott Frost out of Nebraska but you can't take the Nebraska out of the Scott Frost. Or something.

They are once again at the top of this metric, coming in at 3.1 wins under their expected total of 8.1 wins. pic.twitter.com/XJ7o0uZQ2p

— Bill Radjewski | CollegeFootballData.com (@CFB_Data) November 28, 2023

They have not forgiven Nebraska for hiring Bill Callahan, and will not until the Cornhusker QB runs for 1000 yards.

Interesting guys in the portal. A couple of names to keep an eye on:

• THOR GRIFFITH, an all-Ivy DT at Harvard who told Bruce Feldman he'd like to transfer to M or OSU. Griffith was #8 on Feldman's freaks list this year. PFF also loved him, issuing him an 89. I would hop on this ASAP; Michigan will lose Jenkins and Goode after this season and Griffith would slot right in as Yet Another Co-Starter At DT.
• Donaven McCulley, who led Indiana in receiving yards this year. 75 PFF grade, 6'5". I'm intrigued.

Etc.: Minter talks evolving third down strategy. Ross Dellenger on the possibility of a "great split" with football powers breaking away from the NCAA. Rittenger on five reasons Michigan can win the national championship. Most of the money bet on M-OSU was on OSU. Nice shirt.