The Michigan Wolverines were a team on a mission.
Mission outcome: Failure, but not before putting a scare into the Buckeyes.
The Wolverines came out with guns blazing and totally dominated the first period of play to take a shocking 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Michigan was clearly focused on snapping a five-game losing streak to OSU, and for a quarter it looked like they would do just that. They dominated offensively and defensively in the period. The Wolverine domination was so complete that they not only shut out the Buckeyes in that quarter, but held them to -6 yards of offense and no first downs.
It looked for all the world like the five-year streak without a win over the Buckeyes was ending, and that Jim Harbaugh would get that coveted first win over OSU.
Then a funny thing happened, something that must by now be sickeningly familiar to U of M fans.
J. T. Barrett refused to lose and led the Buckeyes to two second-quarter touchdowns to tie the game at 14 all. What looked like a sure thing for Michigan for a full quarter was now anybody’s ball game, and to the chagrin of most in attendance, they were dealing with Wolverine killer J. T. Barrett.
That meant the Wolverines were going down, but not without a fight. Michigan actually regained the lead with a third quarter touchdown to make the score 20-14, but the point after was blocked.
Those were the last points the Wolverines would score. The Buckeye defense shut them out the rest of the way, and the offense did the rest, but not without some help from the OSU bench.
Barrett left the game with a knee injury. That left the outcome of the game in the hands of backup quarterback Dwayne Haskins, and Haskins delivered. Haskins managed the OSU offense, but also made some enormous plays, including a spectacular conversion on third-and-13 when he delivered the ball to Austin Mack for a 27-yard gain. It was a great pass and a greater catch and probably the key play in the entire game. Haskins also had a 21-yard scramble down to the 1-yard line to set up an OSU touchdown.
In the end it was the same old, same old. The Buckeyes had more talent and made more plays than the Wolverines and won the game going away. Michigan had its moment of glory in the first quarter, but it was just that — a moment.
Now they have a winter of gloom to look forward to while the Buckeyes are on to bigger and better things.
Just like the previous five years.