httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS0sTxihgeE
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Generations of Ohio State and Michigan fans will debate the latest episode of one of college football’s most impassioned rivalries, a 30-27 Ohio State victory in two overtimes on Saturday, the Buckeyes’ fifth straight win over the Wolverines.
What if Michigan quarterback Wilton Speight – who generally played well, completing 23 of 36 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns – had not fumbled the ball away at the Ohio State 1-yard line early in the second half? What if Ohio State kicker Tyler Durbin, a senior who entered the game 16 of 16 on field-goal attempts this season, had not missed two attempts, one from 37 yards and one from 21?And of course: What if, with Ohio State on a do-or-die fourth-and-1 play in the second overtime, the officials had not ruled that quarterback J. T. Barrett had made a first down?
No. 8 Penn State also won on Saturday, beating Michigan State, 45-12, in State College, Pa., a result that denied Ohio State a spot in next Saturday’s Big Ten championship game versus No. 5 Wisconsin.
Michigan committed seven penalties that cost it 59 yards; Ohio State committed two that cost it 6.Ohio State Coach Urban Meyer is 2-0 versus Harbaugh, a former Wolverines quarterback whose move back to Michigan before last season put many in mind of the so-called Ten-Year War between Ohio State’s Woody Hayes and Michigan’s Bo Schembechler from 1969 to 1978.On Saturday, it became apparent early on that Ohio State’s high-flying offense, which entered the game averaging a conference-best 43.8 points per game, would be stymied by Michigan’s defense, which entered the game as the best in the Football Bowl Subdivision in yards and points per game.
Another interception, by Buckeyes linebacker Jerome Baker, put Ohio State at the Michigan 13-yard line near the end of the third quarter and led to a 1-yard touchdown run by Mike Weber, Ohio State’s second and final touchdown in regulation.
Ohio State’s seven interceptions returned for touchdowns are by far the best total in the F.B.S.Ohio State also forced Michigan into three-and-outs in its last two full possessions, giving the offense enough time to march down the field twice.