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Michigan football fans celebrate 3rd straight win over OSU, this time without Jim Harbaugh

jared ramsey, detroit free press
·4 min read
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Michigan football completed an undefeated regular season with a 30-24 win over rival Ohio State for a third straight trip to the Big Ten championship game. It was the third straight win over the Buckeyes, a streak that hasn't happened in over 25 years, and came with Jim Harbaugh absent from the sidelines.

The Michigan head coach had to watch from home as he served the final game of his three-game ban handed down by the Big Ten in response to the sign-stealing scandal. The Wolverines didn't miss a beat, though, under the direction of offensive coordinator and acting head coach Sherrone Moore and came up with big plays in every crucial moment to edge out the Buckeyes.

Michigan was plus-two in the turnover margin thanks to an interception from Will Johnson that set up the opening score and a Rod Moore interception on the final possession to ice the game away. The Wolverines also outrushed Ohio State, 156-107, extending the streak of the winning team gaining more on the ground to 22 years.

RAINER SABIN: J.J. McCarthy's big step up elevates Michigan to one of the program's biggest victories

The defining series of the game was Michigan's 13-play drive after Ohio State cut the lead to 27-24 with eight minutes left. Michigan burned seven minutes off the clock with a physically dominant drive where they ran straight through the Buckeyes. Ohio State had no answers for Blake Corum and his damaging runs up the gut until it was too late. Michigan added a field goal to make it 30-24 with a minute left, setting up the defense to shut the door with Moore's big play.

The first interception led directly to a Corum touchdown, giving Michigan an early 7-0 lead. The Wolverines held onto the lead for the last 50 minutes of the game and continued to answer each time Ohio State scored. Corum powered the offense with 22 carries for 88 yards and two touchdowns. J.J. McCarthy was solid under center, completing 16 of 20 passes for 148 yards and one touchdown to Roman Wilson.

Michigan fans online were obviously ecstatic about the monumental win and celebrated the team's ability to get over the hump without Harbaugh in the biggest game of the year.

SHAWN WINDSOR: Every time Ohio State found something, Michigan found more. It owns this rivalry now.

JEFF SEIDEL: Michigan already had motivation vs. Ohio State. Zak Zinter pushed it over the top.

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, who fell to 1-3 all-time against Michigan, faced a lot of criticism online for his struggles to win the biggest game on the schedule.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football fans celebrate third straight win over Ohio State