OSU ‘ravaged’ after losing to Michigan again

• Tom VanHaaren, ESPN Personnel WriterNov 25, 2023, 06:01 PM ET Close ESPN

• personnel writer Signed up with ESPN in 2011
• Graduated from Central Michigan

ANN ARBOR, Michigan– For Michigan and Ohio State, the whole season frequently boils down to what takes place in The Game.The bitter competition puts the Buckeyes and the Wolverines against each other in what is developed the whole season as the one that matters. It matters when you win and it matters when you lose, and after Michigan’s 30-24 win, coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes have now lost three in a row to the Wolverines.It’s the very first time Michigan has won 3 games in a row versus the Buckeyes considering that 1995-97.”We know what this game indicates to many people, therefore to come up brief is certainly squashing, “Day stated after the game.”Not only since you invest your entire year in it, at Ohio State, what this game suggests and so, there’s a locker space in there that’s ravaged. It wasn’t an absence of effort, but again, we didn’t win the hurrying lawns, we didn’t win the turnover fight, so you’re not going to win this game.” Day is now 1-3 versus Michigan, and this time it was a loss with coach Jim Harbaugh enjoying in your home as he serves a three-game suspension. Offending coordinator Sherrone Moore was the interim head coach for the fourth time this season and was able to remove Day and the Buckeyes at home in Michigan Stadium.Coming into this game, Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles wished to restrict the dynamite plays that hurt

them in the 2022 game against the Wolverines and stressed enhancing the defense as a whole in preparation for this game. The defense held Michigan to simply one play over 30 yards, compared to five plays over 40 lawns in 2022, however the Wolverines kept chipping away and never let up.Editor’s Picks” Not enough. Ultimately, you got to win this game,” Knowles stated. “I certainly seem like we were a play short. So, that’s something that I got to keep working on.”

Ohio State’s defense had enabled just 3 hurrying goals all season entering the game, but quit 2 on the ground to running back Blake Corum. That consisted of a 22-yard run that put Michigan up 24-17 in the 3rd quarter. After being held to under 40 rush backyards in the very first half, Michigan ended up with 156 lawns on the ground for the game.The dagger for

Ohio State began Michigan’s last drive in the fourth quarter. The Buckeyes quit 42 rushing backyards during a seven-minute drive that burned sufficient time off the clock to nearly put the game away.

“I do not understand eventually what the last numbers were, however I seem like when you go into this game, you got to win with hurrying backyards and it didn’t happen,” Day said. “They had more than we did and that’s a huge part of managing the game. Definitely involves the last couple of drives. And then likewise the turnover fight, I want to say it’s more than that, but I’m not sure it is.”

Offensively, quarterback Kyle McCord threw two expensive interceptions. The Wolverines scored after the very first, while the second ended the game.

“It injures, that’s truly the only word for it,” McCord said. “To work that tough for that chance and simply to come up a couple of plays brief harms. There’s no other way around that, so it’s a difficult one.”

In the short term, the opportunity in front of the Buckeyes was a possibility to play in the Big 10 championship game and a prospective berth in the College Football Playoff. Their conference championship hopes are rushed, as Michigan will now play Iowa. However there is still a slim chance at the playoff. Ohio State lost to Michigan last season and was still able to make it into the leading 4. While there is still a possibility to make it in, the loss means it is out of Ohio State’s control.When inquired about the playoff, Day said he hasn’t been able to think that far ahead with his focus on preparing for this game to end the regular season.”We have a great team.

We lost today and it’s devastating but I think in our players,”Day said.” I believe we have a veteran group, I believe we have a team that is solid in all three phases. I ‘d have to see what else is out there. Honestly, I’ve just been so focused on this game, I appreciate the concern, I simply do not have a terrific answer for you right now.”

Looking long-lasting, however, Day will now have to address concerns about the program and what it can do to beat Michigan. Regardless of going 11-1 on the season, the loss will resound because of this competition. Day has actually gone 55-4 against all challengers not named Michigan, but 1-3 versus the Wolverines. Those 4 games will be the focus going forward as Ohio State seeks to get the pieces from its third loss to the Wolverines in as many years.

“The biggest thing is that games like this come down to one or two plays,” McCord stated. “And you prepare all offseason and prepare all year long and your season actually boils down to a handful of plays, whether you make them or you don’t. And I believe that simply goes to show the margin of mistake, specifically in games like this, are so slim.”