National roundup: Ohio State tops Michigan in double OT slugfest.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The play called in double overtime was 29 Lead, and it will go down in history as how Ohio State beat Michigan in one of the greatest games ever 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 second-ranked 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 4th-and-1 in the second overtime, and the biggest crowd ever to watch a game in the Horseshoe — 110,045 — 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, No. 2 CFP) has won. Penn State’s win over Michigan State on Saturday means both the Buckeyes and the Wolverines will miss out on playing in the Big Ten title game (that will be Penn State and Wisconsin).
Still, Ohio State added to a resume that already impressed the College Football Playoff selection committee.
The loss likely eliminated Michigan (10-2, 7-2, No. 3 CFP) from the playoff race. Michigan could end up in the Rose Bowl, but the biggest prizes are still eluding the Wolverines in their second year under head coach Jim Harbaugh, who dropped to 0-2 against Meyer and the Buckeyes. Michigan has not won the Big Ten since 2004.
Of course, beating “The team up North,” as Michigan is called around Columbus, is enough reason to party — and can be hard to put into perspective. 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.
“I didn’t do a lot of thinking, honestly,” Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett said. “I just looked around and, man, that just happened.”
The 113th meeting of Ohio State and Michigan became the first to go to overtime. It was filled with drama, thrills and controversy. Michigan was left feeling dejected and cheated.
Facing 4th-and-1 from the 16 in the second overtime and trailing by three, Meyer decided not to try a potential gametying field goal with Tyler Durbin, who missed two short ones in regulation.
Barrett kept it 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,” Harbaugh said. “I’m bitterly disappointed with the officiating today.”
On the next play, Samuel, who had made a swerving, change-of-direction run to set up the 4th-and-1, skipped through a lane and raced into the end zone for the win.
“Been a part of some crazy football games here,” Barrett said. “That one was No. 1.”