In most seasons, it’s the Big Ten game of the year. But in 2024, defending champion Michigan State came off a disappointing season and was still finding its identity. The 120th meeting between the Wolverines (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) and Ohio State (10-1, 7-1) is the most critical for the Buckeyes looking to snap a three-game conference losing streak.
Ohio State plays with one of the best defenses in the country, allowing just 241.7 yards per carry. per game, and if Michigan wants to try to run the ball, they could have trouble too, as the stodgy Buckeye defense is allowing 2.7 yards per carry. per attempt, just 90 yards per game. Wolverines quarterback Davis Warren threw an interception that was intercepted by Buckeyes’ Caleb Downs, giving Ohio State solid field position.
Michigan trailed Ohio State 10-10 with 4:01 left in the third quarter. This is a legendary moment, and if the Buckeyes win, Howard will definitely win it. But all the feelings are useless if you can’t turn them into something tangible. That’s what’s missing at OSU today.
Ohio State has hit a wall trying to build a running game against opponents who haven’t been there in four years.
The result was a 14-yard gain that turned into a 36-yard gain (2.6 yards per carry). The defense continues to give the Buckeyes chances, but they can’t rely on it forever, as evidenced by last season’s 14-3 Cotton Bowl loss to Missouri. Maybe part of the addiction is not being sure where their quarterback’s head is — literally or figuratively — so the ability to hit open receivers may not be where it needs to be. But even then, they weren’t too far off base, going 12-for-18 for 119 yards and a touchdown, leaving the score tied at 10 at halftime. Howard’s only real mistake came long before the injury, allowing Michigan to score a touchdown to give the Wolverines the lead.
It wouldn't be The Game without things getting chippy between Ohio State and Michigan pic.twitter.com/zNjWM5ik5G
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 30, 2024
Whatever the reason, the Buckeyes need to fix this problem, because there’s a lot at stake if they don’t. They spent 11 months discussing the meaning of today and how everything that happened was a direct result of stepping into the field in that moment.
They don’t want to ruin everything by being stubborn and think that emotion is all they need to win. Emotions need to be translated into execution in the second half. Unless Ohio State hopes to create a different kind of emotion from it. The Buckeyes signed the veteran quarterback and spent 11 months developing him into an NFL quarterback. Now he’s working to end their football injury woes. Let him do it. Rather than trying to prove something to the ghost through play, because they can’t come back.