Buckeyes work extra to top Wolverines
Storied rivals give record crowd a classic thriller in Big Ten showdown
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The play was 29 Lead, and it will go down in history as how Ohio State beat Michigan in one of the greatest games played by the Big Ten’s most storied rivals.
That’s pretty much all Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer wanted to talk about. Everything else about the secondranked Buckeyes’ 30-27 victory over the third-ranked Wolverines on Saturday was almost too overwhelming for Meyer to sort out so soon after it was over.
Curtis Samuel swept in for a 15-yard touchdown on 29 Lead left after Ohio State barely converted a fourthand-1 in the second overtime, and the biggest crowd to watch a game in the Horseshoe began spilling onto the field in a scarlet-covered celebration that included a stirring sing-a-long to “Sweet Caroline.”
“I remember that Neil Diamond song,” Meyer said about the crazy scene, but he couldn’t recall much else. “Weird life, man.”
Very much so because it was not quite clear what else Ohio State (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten) has won.
Still, they added to impressive credentials that already impressed the College Football Playoff selection committee.
Of course, beating “The team up North,” as Michigan is called around here, is enough reason to party — and can be hard to put into perspective.
“I didn’t do a lot of thinking, honestly,” Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett said after the Buckeyes beat Michigan for a fifth consecutive time. “I just looked around and, man, that just happened.”
The 113th meeting of Ohio State and Michigan became the first in the series to go to overtime.
It was filled with drama, thrills and controversy. Michigan went away feeling dejected and cheated.
Facing fourth-and-1 from the 16-yard line in the second overtime and trailing by three, Meyer decided not to try a potential game-tying field goal with Tyler Durbin, Durbin had missed two short attempts in regulation.
Barrett kept it on fourth down and slammed into the back of his blocker, A.J. Alexander, right at the line to gain. The first-down call stood up to video review.
“That was not a first down,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said. “I’m bitterly disappointed with the offici- ating today.”
On the next play, Samuel, who had made a swerving, change-of-direction run to set up the fourth-and-1, skipped through a lane and raced into the end zone for the wild victory.
“Been a part of some crazy football games here,” Barrett said. “That one was No. 1.”
Harbaugh drew an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty earlier in the game after an offside call on Michigan (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten).
He also was angry about a call of pass interference on Michigan during Ohio State’s tying drive late and a non-call on a would-be pass interfer-
ence against the Buckeyes in OT.
“Multiple holding penalties let go,” Harbaugh said. “Multiple false starts.
“The official on my side who is supposed to be watching that is concerned about whether our coaches are in the white or not in the white,” referring to the restricted area on the sideline. “(Ohio State) coaches were on the field, practically in the huddle at times.”
Harbaugh said the pass-interference call against safety Delano Hill that extended an Buckeyes drive in the fourth quarter was a “gift.”
The loss likely eliminated Michigan from the playoff race. The Buckeyes’ destination remains undecided.
Michigan could end up in the Rose Bowl, but the biggest prizes are still eluding the Wolverines in their second year under Harbaugh, who dropped to 0-2 against Meyer and the Buckeyes.
Michigan has not won the Big Ten since 2004. Harbaugh is 0-2 against the Buckeyes.
“Along with Alabama, we are arguably one of the best teams in the country,” said Michigan quarterback Wilton Speight, who started the game after being sidelined for an injury to his non-throwing shoulder.
“I think the chance at the playoff is slim to none now. It stinks that that will be our last shot to play these guys.”
Asked to make a case for the inclusion of his team, Harbaugh said:
“We make our case on the field. I’m not here to make any arguments or cases.
“Our team has done everything it can possibly do and done it well.”
But if this is just the start of a new Ten Year War for Michigan and Ohio State, with Meyer and Harbaugh playing the roles of Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler, there is much to look forward to for college football fans.