The Michigan Loss to Ohio State just shows that things in this rivalry are the same as they ever were. This is the eighth straight time that Michigan has lost to Ohio State The fifth time in a row that a Jim Harbaugh Michigan team lost to Ohio State. A few of those loses have been close but like the one this year. Most of them have been blow outs. Harbaugh was brought into Michigan to be the re builder of the Michigan program. This is the fifth season for Harbaugh in that time he has amassed a 47 – 17 record. That is actually better then the 40 – 21 record that Dabo Swinney had in his first five years in Clemson. The problem is that with as much success that the Michigan program has had under Harbaugh. The Success has been in the wrong places. The 0 – 5 record against Ohio State hangs over everything. Even if Michigan had won at least one of those games then the feeling would be completely different.
Last year Michigan came in to the Ohio State game with hope. They were the favorite. It was time to take down Ohio State. The result was the worst beat down that Michigan has ever suffered against Ohio State. This year there was no such hope. Even with the game in the Big House there were not a lot of people that thought Michigan had a chance to win this game. They were right to think that as Michigan started strong and then faded down the stretch. Final score Ohio State 56 Michigan 27. Don’t let the score fool you. If you take the game as a whole they were not in this at all. This really is not a surprise this year. Ohio State really is that good and has been doing this to teams all year. The 27 points that Michigan scored in this game are the most points that Ohio State has given up all year.
Michigan made too many mistakes. Ohio State is the type of team that if you make a mistake they will take advantage of it. Toward the end of the first half. Michigan was driving. They got into the red zone and Patterson fumbles the ball away. Ohio State of course recovers. They start a little drive. The drive stalls Michigan stops them only to go off sides when Ohio State was about to punt on 4th and 4. Ohio state first down because of a Michigan mistake. Two plays later they are in the end zone to make it 28 – 13.
In the second half it looked like Ohio State might have a problem when Justin Fields went down with a knee injury. Fields whet into the injury tent and in came back up Chris Chugunov. Chuganov was only in for a few plays went 1 – 2 for 11 yards. Basically just making sure not to make a mistake. Fields emerged from the injury tent with a knee brace on ran out on to the field and threw a 30 yard touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson. It was like nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Like it was part of the script for the game. It was planned that at this point Fields would go out with a knee injury Chuganov would come in to build some suspense. Then Fields the starter would jog back on to the field with a knee brace on and throw a touchdown pass.
A Michigan Loss was not a forgone conclusion in this game. While there is a talent gap between these two teams. That is not why Michigan lost this game. Michigan lost this game because of the mistakes they made in the second quarter. When Shea Patterson fumbles as Michigan is driving down the field to try to make it a 21 – 20 game that is a killer. On that turn over the Michigan defense makes a stop close to mid field. They take Ohio State to a 4th and 4. Ohio State is about to punt then Michigan gets penalized for being off sides. Five yard penalty giving Ohio State a first down. The Buckeyes go down and score to make it 28 – 13. That is a huge swing. When you are playing a team like Ohio State you just can’t make those kinds of mistakes and expect to be in the game.
The Michigan Loss seems like a back breaker. I am sure it does not feel good for the team or any of their fans. But they have to keep in mind that all three of the losses for Michigan came against teams that are currently in the top 12. That goes to not being able to win the big game but there is progress and if they can get over the hump they will be competitive. Right now Ohio State is making the rivalry fade into the past. If Michigan can eliminate the big mistakes they could have been right in this.
Follow us on Facebook Here
Loading ...
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Recent Comments