The implications of Michigan Football win over Ohio State
By Dante Pryor
#3 Michigan football dominated #2 Ohio State this afternoon on the road.
Michigan football used a 28-3 second half to pull away from the Ohio State Buckeyes 45-23 this afternoon in Columbus. The Wolverines won The Game for the second year in a row. Michigan has not defeated Ohio State in consecutive seasons since 1999-2000. Ohio State had won eight in a row before Michigan’s two-game win streak.
Many thought that Ohio State had the edge because Michigan football running back Blake Corum was doubtful for today’s game. However, Wolverine’s quarterback J.J. McCarthy played the game many fans of the maize and blue had been waiting for him to play. The former five-star recruit threw for 263 yards and three touchdowns, rushing for another.
Though McCarthy was not efficient on a down to down basis (he completed just 50 percent of his passes), he did not turn the football over and seemed to make key plays all game long. Every time Ohio State scored, McCarthy had an answer.
Here is more insight into today’s game.
3. Michigan outplayed and outcoached Ohio State.
There are no two ways about it, the Wolverines outclassed the Buckeyes today. Michigan’s win was no fluke either. The Wolverines outplayed and outcoached Ohio State today. J.J. McCarthy stepped up big time in this game as well. Ohio State took a 20-17 lead into halftime, and Michigan made the key adjustments; the Buckeyes had no counter.
Michigan football did a better job of not allowing Ohio State to beat them deep in coverage while tackling well in space. Ohio State did the opposite missing tackles on two long Donovan Edwards touchdown runs. Head coach Ryan Day had no counter for Michigan’s coverage either. Buckeyes’ quarterback CJ Stroud took what the defense gave him, but receivers could not break tackles.
What made defensive coordinator Jesse Minter’s adjustments work so well was the open-field tackling. The Wolverines did a fantastic job of getting Ohio State receivers and running backs on the ground without giving up the extra yards. In addition, they covered well. The Wolverines broke up so many passes in key situations.