The best football rivalry of all-time, between Michigan and Ohio State, continued Saturday, November 30 in Columbus. After an expected victory in 2023, the unranked Michigan Wolverines traveled to Ohio State as 20.5-point underdogs to play the second ranked team in the country, the Buckeyes.
After an unsuccessful opening drive for the Wolverines, the Buckeyes opened the scoring with a 29-yard field goal from kicker Jayden Fielding. Michigan struck back by intercepting Ohio State quarterback Will Howard on the next drive, followed by a one-yard Kalel Mullings rushing touchdown.
Kalel Mullings’ one-yard score gave Michigan a 7-3 lead. (Source: AP Photo)
Fielding spoiled the next Ohio State drive with a missed 38-yard field goal, and after three-and-outs from both sides, Dominic Zvada hit a 54-yard field goal. Ohio State went into halftime on a high note, as freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith found the end zone on a ten-yard completion. The teams stood at 10 apiece going to halftime.
In the third quarter, both teams squandered opportunities. Michigan quarterback Davis Warren was intercepted twice, once in the end zone. Michigan did intercept Howard again, though, and Fielding missed another field goal, this one a 34-yard try.
Jayden Fielding missed two field goals against Michigan. (Source: AP)
After another three-and-out from the Buckeyes, Michigan received the ball on its own forty yard-line with six minutes remaining. Needing just a field goal to break the 10-10 tie, coach Sherrone Moore opted to run the ball, hoping to keep the clock running and prevent Ohio State from getting the ball back with time to score. Mullings received the ball on all but one play, rushing nine times for 50 yards, including a 27-yard-run on a third-and-six.
Zvada connected on a 21-yard field goal to give Michigan a 13-10 lead with just 45 seconds on the clock. After coach Ryan Day used all three of his timeouts when Michigan had the ball, Ohio State got the ball on its own 25-yard-line with no way to stop the clock. Howard threw the ball three times with just a one-yard completion to running back Treveyon Henderson. On fourth-and-nine, Michigan put immediate pressure on Howard, forcing him to throw incomplete and turn the ball over to Michigan.
Michigan’s defense stopped Will Howard to ice the game. (Source: AP)
The turnover allowed Michigan to kneel once and run out the clock, defeating Ohio State 13-10. Despite Warren finishing 9-16 with just 62 yards and two interceptions, Michigan’s defense did enough against Howard and the Ohio State offense to hold them to 252 yards from scrimmage. Mullings led the Wolverines to the victory, for the third year in a row, rushing 32 times for 116 yards and a touchdown.
