Michigan vs. Ohio State: Score and Twitter Reaction from 2014 Rivalry Game | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Ohio State (11-1) survived an upset bid by rival Michigan (5-7), 42-28, on Saturday. The score isn't indicative of how close the game was throughout. The bigger concern for the Buckeyes, however, is the status of quarterback J.T. Barrett, who left with a leg injury in the fourth quarter.
Although the clash didn't feature as much pregame hype as years past due to the Wolverines' down season, it was still important for the Buckeyes. The No. 6 team in the nation is running out of chances to convince the College Football Playoff committee it deserves a spot in the Top Four.
Here's how the latest edition of the marquee rivalry played out:
| Week 14: Michigan at Ohio State | |||||
| Wolverines | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| Buckeyes | 7 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 42 |
| NCAA.com | |||||
Coming into the game, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer was vocal about its importance.
His team has the Big Ten Championship Game coming up next weekend against either Wisconsin or Minnesota. But comments passed along by Ari Wasserman of the Northeast Ohio Media Group showed he wasn't going to let his players look past Michigan.
"We just make a huge deal out of rivalry games," Meyer said. "I want the players to take ownership in the program, part ownership in the game. This is not another game. This is the game."
The Buckeyes seemed to receive the message loud and clear.
On the second play from scrimmage they forced an interception. The pass rush got pressure up the middle, and Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner made the poor decision to throw off his back foot. The ball sailed high and wide, landing right in the arms of Vonn Bell.
Tim May of the Columbus Dispatch noted the ease of the turnover:
Tim May @TIM_MAYsportsChristmas comes 2 days after Thanksgiving for Ohio State safety Vonn Bell on that interception. Gardner threw it straight to him.
Ohio State took over in Michigan territory. Six plays later, it was in the end zone. Ezekiel Elliott accounted for 23 yards on the ground, and Barrett took care of the rest. That included a six-yard connection with Nick Vannett for the touchdown.
ESPN Stats and Info pointed out the score allowed Barrett to set the new Big Ten record for total TDs in a single season:
ESPN Stats & Info @ESPNStatsInfoJ.T. Barrett is now responsible for 43 touchdowns this season, which is the new Big Ten single-season record #MICHvsOSU
After another quick stop, the Buckeyes started the next drive in opponent territory again. The Michigan defense rose to the occasion this time, however, and got a key stop. A poor punt from Cameron Johnston allowed the visitors to start from the 20 on a touchback for a net of just 17 yards.
That was important because it gave the Wolverines some breathing room, and they came out throwing. Gardner made two quick throws to Devin Funchess to move the chains. Then, following a couple runs, he found his favorite target again for a huge 45-yard gain.
Michigan tied it up one play later as Gardner found Jake Butt from 12 yards out to level the score at seven. ESPN College Football provided video of the drive's key play to Funchess:
ESPN CollegeFootball @ESPNCFBEnd of 1Q: 7-7 in Columbus after Devin Gardner orchestrates 80 yd drive that results in 12-yd Pass TD #MICHvsOSU
The score seemed to cause a shock to the system for the Ohio State. After dominating the early portion of the game, it was suddenly tied, and Michigan started showcasing more energy.
It got another stop, then proceeded to go on a 15-play, 95-yard drive that ate up more than seven minutes of the clock and gave the underdogs the lead. Drake Johnson plunged in from two yards out for the touchdown.
Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports summed up the situation:
Pat Forde @YahooFordeMichigan drives 95 yards to take the lead? Holy Bo Schembechler. Gotta be some puckeration in the 'Shoe now.
Ohio State got back level before halftime, though.
A 10-play drive, of which every play was either a run or pass by Barrett, covered 83 yards. It concluded with an outstanding individual effort by the dynamic freshman, who dodged multiple defenders in open space en route to a 25-yard dash to pay dirt.
Eleven Warriors passed along the Buckeyes fans' take on the highlight-reel score:
Eleven Warriors @11WJ.T. Barrett for governor of Ohio.
It was a perfectly timed score for the home squad. It came with seven seconds left, leaving Michigan no time to mount a response. And Ohio State was set to receive the second-half kickoff.
The opening possession after the break also resulted in a touchdown. Barrett linked up with Jeff Heuerman and Devin Smith on back-to-back plays for a combined 65 yards. He handled the rest himself, scampering in from two yards to get the Buckeyes back on top.
Todd Jones of the Columbus Dispatch laid out the quick turnaround:
Todd Jones @Todd_Jones#Michigan lead #OhioState 14-7 with less than 10 seconds left in the first half. Now the Buckeyes lead 21-14 after 2:02 of second half.
Once again the Ohio State defense failed to get the stop it needed to take control. Michigan went on another long, time-consuming drive that used up more than five minutes by pounding the ball on the ground with Johnson.
The sophomore running back got rewarded as he found the end zone from four yards out to level the score at 21. The touchdown came one play after a trick play that saw him find Gardner, who had gone out in a pass route after the pitch, for 18 yards.
Lori Schmidt of 97.1 The Fan noted Johnson needed attention from the trainers after the drive, though:
Lori Schmidt @LoriSchmidtDrake Johnson tried walking up and down the Michigan sideline. Eventually, he goes back to see the trainers again. Still being tended to.
The trend continued when Ohio State got the ball back. Lots of running, some key third-down conversions and eventually a touchdown.
It opened the drive with seven straight runs before going with five consecutive passes that covered 46 yards to get the Buckeyes inside the Michigan 10. They went back to their bread and butter from there, with Elliott running it in two rushes later.
John Buccigross of ESPN likened it to battles of years past:
Bucci Mane @BuccigrossThis is an old school, slobber knocking Michigan-Ohio State. Physical, clutch plays, close. #MichiganvsOSU
Ohio State finally got the defensive three-and-out it was seeking, but it was followed by a scary moment. Barrett was trying to push for some extra yardage and got caught in a massive pile with his leg caught awkwardly underneath the fray.
Michael Shamburger of The Big Lead passed along a picture of the injury:
Michael Shamburger @mshamburger1
Barrett had to get carted off and was replaced by Cardale Jones.
Ohio State's defense rose to the occasion with a critical stop just as Michigan moved the ball across the 50. Then Meyer took a chance that paid off in a major way.
The Buckeyes faced a 4th-and-1 from the Michigan 44 and decided to go for it. Elliott took the handoff, received tremendous blocking up front and ran all the way to the end zone untouched to give his team a two-score lead.
Bleacher Report's Ben Axelrod keyed in on the celebration:
Ben Axelrod @BenAxelrodEzekiel Elliott pays homage to Troy Smith with the bull slide after his TD run.
Ohio State proceeded to put any upset thoughts to rest on the next drive. Joey Bosa sacked Gardner and forced a fumble, which was picked up and returned to the end zone by Darron Lee.
The Wolverines added a late score on a pass from Gardner to Freddy Canteen. It was too little, too late, however, as they failed to recover the onside kick.
CBS Sports College Football noted the final score:
CBS Sports CFB @CBSSportsCFBFINAL: Ohio State 42 Michigan 28. Buckeyes to Indianapolis, Wolverines going home.
Michigan finishes the season at 5-7. Even for a campaign that didn't begin with sky-high expectations, that represents a disappointment. Of course, the main focus will be the job status of head coach Brady Hoke with results trending in the wrong direction for the third straight season.
As for Ohio State, it completes the Big Ten regular season with a perfect record. As mentioned, the Buckeyes will face the winner of meeting between Wisconsin and Minnesota next week. They likely need some help to get into the College Football Playoff, though.
The severity of J.T. Barrett's injury—it didn't look good—will be watched closely, as it will have a major impact on the team's outlook.
