ANN ARBOR, Mich. — After Ohio State’s 50-yard touchdown, the Buckeyes’ defense quickly forced a three-and-out, setting the stage for the drive that would ultimately seal the game. It was a 20-play, 11:56 masterpiece, with 16 rushes accounting for 72 of the 81 total yards on the drive, capped by a 23-yard field goal. The drive was a perfect example of relentless effort—Ohio State faced a tough Michigan defense, the elements, and game pressure, and still methodically imposed its will.
When Ohio State needed to run the ball, it did—and it did it well. Sure, the team only averaged four yards per carry on the drive, but it consistently gained chunks, grinding down the nation’s No. 10 rush defense as the second half wore on.
Freshman running back Bo Jackson was the primary rusher, finishing with 22 carries for 117 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per attempt. Jackson also added 49 receiving yards, for 166 total yards from scrimmage—outgaining Michigan’s entire team, which managed just 163 yards of offense. Jackson’s 117 yards on the ground were a career high, and he showed why the offensive line’s dominance created opportunities few backs could match.
The offensive line didn’t just open holes for the run game; it kept redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Sayin upright all game. Sayin was never sacked, had plenty of time to survey the field, and looked confident and poised in the pocket. That kind of protection took the wind out of Michigan’s sails, draining the Wolverines’ momentum with each sustained drive.
Ohio State finished with 419 total yards—233 on the ground and 186 through the air—while Michigan managed only 163 yards of total offense, with 63 passing and 100 rushing.
As expected in The Game, nothing came easy for the Buckeyes on the snowy afternoon in Ann Arbor. Michigan made chunk plays, forced mistakes, and applied pressure early. Sayin threw an interception that led to a Wolverine field goal, and on the very next drive, a Buckeye touchdown was wiped out by a penalty, forcing Ohio State to settle for a field goal. Even with those early setbacks and trailing on the scoreboard, the Buckeyes didn’t panic. They leaned on their strengths, running the ball consistently, controlling the clock, being explosive in the pass game, and wearing down a Wolverine defense that had held strong for much of the first half.
That 20-play, 81-yard drive, chewing up nearly 12 minutes, was the turning point—a display of patience, precision, and dominance that left no doubt who was in control.
Defensively, Ohio State was just as relentless. The Wolverines managed only -8 yards in the second half and failed to find the end zone, scoring their nine points exclusively on field goals.
“We talked about it before the game, we got to win in the second half,” senior linebacker Sonny Styles said. “We had a few games in the past few years where we lost the second half. That was a big thing. We came out in the second half and whooped ‘em.”
After taking advantage of Sayin’s early interception, Michigan could never build momentum. The Buckeye defense allowed only short gains, forcing the Wolverines to settle for three field goals despite reaching the OSU 30-yard line on three separate drives. Third down was a disaster for Michigan, converting just 1-of-9 attempts. In the final three quarters, Michigan gained a mere 78 yards, with running back Bryce Underwood held to one yard on the ground after Jordan Marshall exited with a shoulder injury. In the air, the Wolverines were hesitant to challenge Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia’s secondary. Donovan McCulley was the only Wolverine receiver to surpass 10 yards, and even those attempts proved costly, including a fourth-quarter interception by Davison Igbinosun that put the exclamation mark on Ohio State’s complete control.
Special teams were solid for the Buckeyes. Kicker Jayden Fielding, who had been haunted by missed field goals against Michigan last year, nailed both attempts on Saturday. The Buckeyes made no mistakes, and Michigan’s punting miscue—a short 11-yard punt—further highlighted Ohio State’s dominance in every phase of the game.
Ohio State faced adversity, responded, and imposed its will in every phase of the game—offense, defense, and special teams. That 20-play, clock-eating drive in the second half wasn’t just a score; it was a statement, showing the Buckeyes’ relentlessness and what they were made of.
Ohio State handled the passing attack and established the run through powerful offensive line play. Their defense didn’t allow the Wolverines to show any sign of life, especially in the second half.
And through it all, Ohio State showed its ability to overcome early setbacks, methodically dismantle a top-10 rushing defense, and leave no doubt as to who was the better team in this rivalry game.
Photo via Ohio State Dept. of Athletics.
