Michigan dominated by Ohio State at home, snapping 4-game series win streak

ANN ARBOR – The Michigan Wolverines fell to 9-3 on the season with a XX loss to the undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday, snapping the Maize and Blue’s four-game win streak in the rivalry.

After a quick start to The Game for the Wolverines, OSU completely dominated down the stretch despite U-M holding a 6-3 lead after the first quarter. By the end of it, Brutus had written the script Ohio on the snow-filled turf at Michigan Stadium, then crossed out the M in the south endzone.

Here is the blow-by-blow recap from the regular season finale at the Big House.

First quarter

Ohio State won the opening coin toss and deferred, putting Michigan on the field first on offense. Sophomore running back Jordan Marshall got the start and ripped off a 36-yard run on the first play from scrimmage, setting the Wolverines up at the OSU 39-yard line after its first snap. U-M went 48 yards in 6 plays, but settled for a 45-yard field goal from senior Dominic Zvada. After the opening drive, Michigan took a 3-0 lead over the Buckeyes with 12:37 to go. OSU would take over at the 25-yard line to start its first offensive series.

Two snaps later, Michigan had the ball back after an interception from junior cornerback Jyaire Hill, setting U-M up at the OSU 39-yard line. The Wolverines would get the ball down to the 7-yard line, but settle for another field goal, this time from 25 yards out. The lead would extend to 6-0 with 9:42 left in the first quarter. The Buckeyes drove the ball down the field and were facing a 3rd and goal from the 4 before U-M linebacker Jaishawn Barham was flagged for headbutting an official. That made it first and goal from the 2-yard line. OSU had a shot at a 4th and 1 on the goalline, but a false start forced a field goal attempt and gave the Buckeyes their first points of the game at 4:33. The Wolverines led 6-3.

U-M’s following drive went nowhere, going 3 and out after gaining five yards and giving it back to OSU with 2:33 remaining in the quarter. Time would expire on the first chapter of play with the Wolverines leading 6-3.

Michigan 6, Ohio State 3

Second quarter

OSU closed out its touchdown that spanned quarters on a 4th-down strike from quarterback Julian Sayin to Jeremiah Smith from 35 yards out, which was reviewed to see whether he fumbled and stepped out of the end zone. The call stood, and the Buckeyes took their first lead of the game at 10-6 with 11:44 to go in the first half. U-M responded with an 11-play, 54-yard drive that stalled out, settling for a 49-yard Zvada field goal, his third make of the day, which moved the score to 10-9 with 5:24 left in the half.

OSU kept its foot on the accelerator on a statement drive to close out the half, going 87 yards on 11 plays and chewing up over 5 minutes of clock to score on a 4-yard touchdown from Sayin to Brandon Innis. The Buckeyes led 17-9 after the extra point with 16 seconds remaining. U-M elected to sit on the ball and go into the locker room down a score.

Ohio State 17, Michigan 9

Third quarter

Ohio State started the second half with the ball and went 34 yards in 8 plays, but stalled out at midfield and punted on 4th and 2 from the U-M 45-yard line. The punt bounced into the endzone, giving the Wolverine offense the ball at its 20 with 10:08 to play in the quarter. It got to its 46-yard line on the first play on a completion from Bryce Udnerwood to graduate wideout Donaven McCulley, then ran the ball twice to no avail and followed it up with an 11-yard punt from Hudson Hollenbeck, giving the Buckeyes the ball on their 43-yard line with 8:20 to go.

Two plays and 57 yards later, the Buckeyes were back in the endzone, this time on a 50-yard strike from Sayin to Carnell Tate, jumping ahead 24-9 after the extra point with 7:35 remaining. Michigan went 29 yards in 7 plays before punting it back to the Buckeyes, who took over at their 14-yard line with 5:06 left in the quarter.

The Buckeyes started their put-away drive before the quarter expired, up 24-9.

Ohio State 24, Michigan 9

Fourth quarter

Ohio State scored a field goal on a drive that went 81 yards in 20 plays that took up 11:56, essentially icing the game and pushing the lead out to 27-9 with 8:10 to go. Michigan went 3-and-out on its next possession and yielded the game, punting with 6:36 remaining. The Buckeyes took over at their 29-yard and, and ran 7 plays for 17 yards before punting it back to the Wolverines with 3:03 to go. After 4 plays run for 5 yards, Underwood threw an interception at the 37-yard line to Davison Igninosin, who was flagged for taking his helmet off after the play. OSU took over on its 48-yard line with 2:33 to go and ran out the clock

FINAL: Ohio State 27, Michigan 9

Final Michigan vs. Ohio State box score