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Bottom line: How did Ohio State football grade out vs Michigan?
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- Bottom line: How did Ohio State football grade out vs Michigan?
Technically, an Ohio State football season did not again die at the hands of Michigan . But Saturday sure felt like it, as the heavily favored and No. 2-ranked Buckeyes lost 13-10 to the 7-5 Wolverines .
Also, a proud rivalry was marred by a postgame brawl on the field .
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How did the Buckeyes grade on Saturday? Leaves are awarded on a zero-to-five basis.
Ohio State's Will Howard finished Saturday with 175 yards on 19-for-33 passing with two interceptions and a touchdown.
Ohio State offense (0 leaves)
A team with a $20 million payroll and three receivers savored by the NFL naturally was favored by 20 points over an average team, yet managed to score only 10 points. The Buckeyes entered the game with a big advantage in the passing game that was accentuated when it was announced Saturday morning that Michigan star cornerback Will Johnson couldn't play, yet the Buckeyes insisted on ramming the ball into the strength of the Wolverines ' run defense.
The result was a loss that came with 77 rushing yards on 26 carries, for 3 yards per try.
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More: Does Ohio State have best college sports tradition? Vote now!
Every time it looked like the Buckeyes were opening things up by spreading the field, they went back to the run game. It was almost as if the coaches' headset wires had been crossed and Sherrone Moore was telling Ohio State quarterback Will Howard where to go with the ball. "Hey, let's run it right at that big No. 55 again!"
As for Howard, he picked a bad day to have his worst game as a Buckeye. He finished 19 for 33 for 175 yards, a touchdown and two really bad interceptions. His legs were not a factor, as he ran for 10 yards on four carries.
Jeremiah Smith was held to five receptions for 35 yards and a touchdown on seven targets.
Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams stops Michigan running back Kalel Mullings on fourth down.
Ohio State defense (4 leaves)
The fact that Michigan's first two scoring "drives" covered 2 and 3 yards and didn't involve a first down tells you the predicament the Ohio State defense was in all day. Michigan threw for only 62 yards and was 7 for 14 on third downs and 0 for 1 on fourth down. The Wolverines also possessed the ball for seven minutes more than the Buckeyes did.
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After yet another goal-line stand by the Buckeyes' defense, it sure looked like the game would be won by the Ohio State offense. But that offense never showed up.
More: Is Ohio State the best college for sports fans? Vote now!
When the defense eventually missed a tackle, Kalel Mullings ran 27 yards to pretty much seal the game.
Ohio State kicker Jayden Fielding missed field goal attempts from 38 and 34 yards Saturday.
Ohio State special teams (0 leaves)
Jayden Fielding missed field goal attempts from 38 and 34 yards, and Joe McGuire had a weak 31-yard punt that put Michigan in position to kick a field goal.
McGuire did land one punt inside the 5, fielded by Jayden Ballard, but he averaged only 36 yards on three punts.
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More: Does Ohio State have best college sports tradition? Vote now!
Ohio State coach Ryan Day is 1-4 against Michigan.
Ohio State coaching (2 leaves)
Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and his staff get all the leaves here. As for the offensive coaches, they looked like they got together and collectively vowed to prove once and for all they can play tough-man ball even though that's not how this team is built or wired.
Ryan Day, of course, is 1-4 against Michigan and had pointed his team's entire season to this game.
Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer rips a Michigan flag away from Wolverines players who were attempting to plant it at midfield following a 13-10 win over the Buckeyes.
Fun quotient (2 leaves)
It was a great game if you like bad offense and childish postgame behavior that results in police pepper-spraying players on the field.
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The rest of us will appreciate only the intensity of the rivalry, the sunshine, the bands and defenses playing with great effort.
As Michigan running back Kalel Mullings said, "We had 60 minutes to fight on the field, and now people want to fight? I don't like it."
Michigan Wolverines (4 leaves)
Michigan is not a good team but played well and stopped the Ohio State offense all day. The Wolverines pounded the ball when they were on offense and pulled out a trick or two when needed.
More: Is Ohio State the best college for sports fans? Vote now!
Officials (4 leaves)
Officials had no bearing on the result of the game, and that's the way it is supposed to be. A good no-call came on Jeremiah Smith's touchdown catch in the second quarter, on which he bulled over Michigan's Zeke Berry on his way to the ball. It was similar to a key play against Oregon when Smith was called for offensive pass interference.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football vs Michigan: How OSU grades after rivalry game
