MY THOUGHTS.....Michigan

 

The Ohio State Buckeyes earned their first win over their bitter rival since 2019 with a dominating performance on both sides of the ball. 

                Settling down after throwing a pick on Ohio State’s first series, quarterback Julian Sayin threw for 233 yards and three touchdowns.  Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate returned to the lineup, and each got loose for a long TD pass.  Tate led the way with five catches for 82 yards and a 50-yard TD reception, while Smith got loose for three receptions for 40 yards and Ohio State’s first touchdown, a 35-yarder from Sayin on a fourth-and-five play.  Not enough can be said about the Ohio State offensive line who put a serious beat down on Michigan’s defensive front.  Sayin never came close to getting sacked and the line was able to pound Michigan into submission on a 20-play, 81-yard drive that took nearly 12 minutes off the clock between the third and fourth quarters, resulting in a Jayden Fielding field goal for the final margin.  The Ohio State ground game, a source of concern in previous weeks, at times was able to gash Michigan’s defense, with Bo Jackson leading the way with 117 yards, averaging over five yards per carry, and ripping off a 36-yarder, leading to Fielding’s first field goal.  C.J. Donaldson and Isaiah West also contributed with 44 and 20 yards respectively. 

                The defense regrouped after allowing the Wolverines to dash down the field to begin the game, holding them out of the end zone for the entire game.  Sonny Styles led the way with six tackles.  Kenyatta Jackson had two tackles for loss and a sack as his three tackles for the game and Davidson Igbinosun played perhaps his best game of the season, getting five tackles and an interception that sealed the game. 

                The Buckeyes advanced to the B1G Championship game Saturday where they will take on the Indiana Hoosiers.  It will be a 1 verses 2 matchup, the second such matchup for the Buckeyes this season.  Back on August 30, Ohio State was #2 against #1 Texas.  This time, it is reversed.  It should make for a great game.