After 3Q: Ohio State 24, Michigan 9
While a 24-9 Ohio State lead is not optimal, it is not out of reach for Michigan.
But the Wolverines will have to stop the Buckeyes on their current drive and then find the end zone themselves.
Right now the Buckeyes have 341 total yards to the Wolverines’ 164.
7:35 3Q: Ohio State takes 24-9 lead over Michigan
The last thing the Buckeyes need is help.
But that’s what the Wolverines gave them when Hudson Hollenbeck shanked the punt, which went just 11 yards.
That gave the Buckeyes the ball at their own 43-yard line.
Julian Sayin found Carnell Tate for a 7-yard gain before sending him deep for a 50-yard touchdown.
10:07 3Q: Michigan holds; OSU still leads, 17-9
Michigan’s defenders knew that they had to stop Ohio State on the opening drive of the third quarter.
That’s exactly what they did, preventing Max Klare from getting the first down on 3rd and 8, forcing the Buckeyes to punt.
Halftime: Ohio State 17, Michigan 9
It could have been worse, it could have been a lot better.
But the fact remains that Ohio State has scored two touchdowns while Michigan has just three field goals and leads, 17-9.
Bryce Underwood, who is just 3-15 for 16 yards, is going to have to throw the ball in the second half.
Jordan Marshall, who has not played since aggravating his shoulder injury, has 4 carries for 61 yards. Bryson Kuzdzal has 10 for 38 yards.
Julian Sayin is 13-17 for 145 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Bo Jackson has 12 carries for 77 yards, something the Wolverines have to correct if they want to win this one. Jackson also has 3 receptions for 37 yards.
The chippiness has started as both teams were called for unsportsmanlike conduct at the end of the second quarter.
:16 2Q: OSU gets another TD, takes 17-9 lead over Michigan
The Wolverines could have done without that drive.
The Buckeyes went on an 11-play, 87-yard drive that ended with Julian Sayin finding Brandon Inniss for a 4-yard touchdown.
5:24 2Q: Zvada gets 3rd FG; Michigan cuts OSU lead to 10-9
Michigan went back to its bread and butter that last series.
Jordan Marshall still hasn’t returned so Bryson Kuzdzal is in and has been effective.
Kuzdzal rushed 9 times for 33 yards.
But it wasn’t enough so Dominic Zvada came in and kicked a 49-yard field goal.
11:44 2Q: Smith scores; Ohio State takes 10-6 lead over Michigan
You had to know that at some point Jeremiah Smith was going to be involved.
On 4th and 5, Ohio State went for it and Julian Sayin threw the ball 35 yards to Smith for a touchdown.
Although there was a review and it appeared as though Smith might not have had full control of the ball and might have stepped out of bounds, the officials upheld the touchdown ruling.
End 1Q: Michigan 6, Ohio State 3
So far, both defenses look pretty good.
Bryce Underwood, playing in The Game for the first time, is just 1-3 for 10 yards and has rushed 5 times for 9 yards.
Julian Sayin, also playing in The Game for the first time, is 4-7 for 37 yards.
Each team has 85 total yards.
4:33 1Q: Ohio State on the board; Michigan leads, 6-3
Although the Buckeyes got on the board with a field goal, the Wolverines should consider themselves lucky.
Jaishawn Barham appeared to butt heads with an official and was called for unsportsmanlike conduct, giving Ohio State a first down at Michigan’s 2-yard line.
Barham and the rest of the defense held, although it took an official review and changing a touchdown call for that to happen.
Ohio State also was hurt with a false start penalty on 4th and 1, forcing them to kick the field goal.
9:42 1Q: Another Zvada FG; Michigan leads Ohio State, 6-0
After Jyaire Hill intercepted Julian Sayin’s pass, the Wolverines had to capitalize.
Jordan Marshall had another nice run, this one for 21 yards, but ended up coming out of the game after a 2-yard run on 2nd and 8.
He appeared to be favoring the shoulder he hurt last week.
Dominic Zvada was good from 25 yards.
12:22 1Q: Hill INT; Michigan has ball, leading 3-0
Julian Sayin never saw Jyaire Hill and Hill picked him off at Ohio State’s 39-yard line.
12:37 1Q: Michigan FG, leads Ohio State, 3-0
It is never a bad thing to score on your opening drive.
Ohio State won the toss and deferred to the second half so Michigan got the ball first.
The first play was a fantastic one as Jordan Marshall rushed 36 yards into Ohio State territory.
Dominic Zvada ended up kicking a 45-yard field goal.
Big names in The Big House
You knew for The Game that Michigan would have some big names present, none bigger than Tom Brady and Derek Jeter.
Availability report
Michigan beat writer Angelique Chengelis has today’s availability report for both teams:
Notably, Max Bredeson is listed as questionable. Semaj Morgan, Ernest Hausmann, Rod Moore and Justice Haynes remain out.
It’s time for The Game
Even people located outside the Midwest refer to it as “The Game.”
Michigan has beaten rival Ohio State four straight times but is not favored to make it five in a row.
Whoever wins the battle on the ground is likely to win The Game.
The Wolverines have had at least one player rush for 100 yards or more in 10 of 11 games while the Buckeyes have not allowed a 100-yard rusher this season.
Meanwhile, the Buckeyes have rushed for 254 and 222 yards in their last two games, against Rutgers and UCLA. But the Wolverines have held their last five opponents to just 2.8 yards per rushing attempt.
Follow along here for live updates from Detroit News contributor Dana Wakiji.
Ohio State at Michigan
▶ Kickoff: Noon, Saturday, Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor
▶ TV/radio: FOX/94.7 FM
▶ Line: Ohio State by 11½
▶ Records: No. 1 Ohio State 11-0 (8-0 Big Ten); No. 15 Michigan 9-2 (7-1 Big Ten).
▶ Series: Michigan leads 62-56-6 (Last meeting: Nov. 30, 2024 — Michigan 13, (at) Ohio State 10)
