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Michigan-Ohio State: Wolverines outlast Buckeyes for third win in a row against rivals

Scooby Axson, Casey L. Moore and Jesse Yomtov, USA TODAY
·18 min read
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Michigan running back Blake Corum ran for 88 yards and scored two touchdowns on his 23rd birthday, J.J. McCarthy added a touchdown pass and the Wolverines beat Ohio State for the third consecutive season, holding on for a 30-24 win.

The win moved the Wolverines to the Big Ten Championship, where they will face Iowa next Saturday night.

Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., scored on a 14-yard touchdown pass with 8:05 left, cutting the Buckeyes' deficit to three. Michigan drained the clock on its next possession, taking almost seven minutes to tack on a 37-yard field goal.

Ohio State got the ball back with one minute left and no timeouts left. Harrison had a 22-yard catch and Julian Fleming caught a pass for 21 yards at the Michigan 39. But quarterback Kyle McCord was pressured and intercepted on the next play with 25 seconds left.

McCarthy threw for 148 yards and hit Roman Wilson on a 22-yard score in the second quarter to extend Michigan's lead to 14-3. But Ohio State answered on a 3-yard TD catch by Emeka Egbuka, and tied the score in the third quarter with a TreVeyon Henderson 3-yard scoring plunge.

Henderson finished with 60 yards on 19 carries. Harrison had five catches for 118 yards, while McCord was 18 for 30 for 271 yards, two touchdowns and two picks.

Michigan and Ohio State players got into a shoving match in the 2022 game.
Michigan and Ohio State players got into a shoving match in the 2022 game.

Michigan interception seals victory against Ohio State

After Ohio State moved the ball 43 yards on back-to-back passes to Marvin Harrison Jr., and Julian Fleming, quarterback Kyle McCord threw his second interception of the game, a diving catch by Rod Moore, that clinched Michigan's third consecutive win against its rival. – Casey Moore

Michigan field goal: Michigan 30, Ohio State 24

One minute of game play separates the Wolverines from their third consecutive victory against the Buckeyes.

James Turner's 37-yard field goal gave Michigan a six-point lead with 1:05 on the clock. Ohio State gets the ball back with no timeouts remaining. – Casey Moore

Marvin Harrison Jr. touchdown: Michigan 27, Ohio State 24

This one's not over yet.

Ohio State got back within three points at 27-24 after Kyle McCord found Marvin Harrison, Jr. over the middle and Harrison took it in untouched for a 14-yard touchdown catch. – Scooby Axson

What song do Michigan fans sing?

Michigan has been known to play "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers at the end of the third quarter ever since 2017. The jolt it gives to the Michigan Stadium crowd is well documented.

Kurt Wisenbaugh, the director of game presentation for the Michigan athletic department at the time, told Michigan Live: "The purpose wasn’t necessary to hype them up. We obviously have moments, specifically on defense, when we want to get them hype and get them loud, but we also want to create moments of fun and unity. Most people enjoy sing-along songs so we wanted to try some different ones." – Casey Moore

Michigan field goal: Michigan 27, Ohio State 17

Michigan extended their lead to 27-17 after a 38-yard field goal by James Turner, which capped off a 44-yard drive following an Ohio State three and out.

This is the first time this season Ohio State has allowed more than 17 points.

The drive was aided by a trick play when Donovan Edwards took a pitch, ran to his right and hit Colston Loveland for a 34-yard strike. – Scooby Axson

Michigan 24, Ohio State 17: End of third quarter

The Wolverines head into the final 15 minutes with all the momentum.

Michigan will start the fourth quarter at about midfield with an opportunity to drive a dagger into Ohio State, which they held to a three and out immediately after taking the lead back. – Casey Moore

Blake Corum touchdown: Michigan 24, Ohio State 17

The play after Zinter’s injury, Blake Corum ran to the left and scored on a 22-yard touchdown run to give the lead back to the Wolverines. It was Corum's second rushing score of the day. – Scooby Axson

Why Michigan-Ohio State game is delayed: Zak Zinter injury

Michigan offensive guard Zak Zinter, a preseason All-America selection, was carted off the field after a serious leg injury during the Michigan's possession after Ohio State's touchdown.

Zinter is the rock of the Michigan offensive line, having made 41 starts during his career. – Scooby Axson

TreVeyon Henderson touchdown: Ohio State 17, Michigan 17

The Buckeyes went old-school power football to get the equalizer against Michigan.

Ohio State ran the ball eight consecutive times during a 12-play, 75-yard drive. TreVeyon Henderson capped the drive with a 3-yard plunge, and the extra point by Jayden Fielding locked up the game at 17.

Ohio State has scored on three of its last four possessions. – Scooby Axson

Michigan field goal: Michigan 17, Ohio State 10

The Wolverines took the opening possession of the second half and converted it into three points on a 50-yard field goal from James Turner.

Michigan used a Colston Loveland 21-yard catch and an Alex Orji 20-yard run on consecutive plays to get into field goal range. – Scooby Axson

TreVeyon Henderson injury

Ohio State junior running back TreVeyon Henderson was hobbled during the first half, missing the majority of one of the Buckeyes' drives while getting his ankle taped.

Henderson missed three games in 2023 and missed four games in 2022 with a broken bone and torn ligaments in his left foot. – Casey Moore

Marvin Harrison Jr. stats

Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State's dynamic junior wide receiver, has just two catches for 68 yards, including a 44-yard reception just before halftime.

Harrison, the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison, came into the game 1,093 yards on 62 catches and 14 touchdowns, including one rushing. He's considered a top-10 prospect for next year's NFL draft. – Casey Moore

Michigan-Ohio State halftime score

Michigan leads 14-10.

Ohio State missed a 52-yard field goal by Jayden Fielding, trying to cut further into Michigan’s lead, as time expired in the first half.

Michigan will get the ball to start the second half.

The miss wasted a 64-yard, seven-play drive that included a spectacular 46-yard catch by Marvin Harrison, Jr.

Kyle McCord went 12 for 19 for 156 yards, with one touchdown and one interception in the first half, while Michigan's J.J. McCarthy had 85 yards passing with a 22-yard touchdown throw to Roman Wilson.

Neither team has run the ball effectively. Ohio State is averaging 3.1 yards per rush and Michigan has 34 yards on 18 attempts, a 1.9 per carry average. – Scooby Axson

Ohio State defense stops Michigan

The Buckeyes forced the Wolverines to punt for the first time since their second possession. Junior Jack Sawyer earned a big-time sack against J.J. McCarthy on third-and-5 from the Ohio State 46.

Michigan punter Tommy Doman had another amazing punt, downed at the Buckeyes' 2. – Casey Moore

Emeka Egbuka touchdown: Michigan 14, Ohio State 10

The Buckeyes struck right back after the Wolverines' touchdown with a Kyle McCord 3-yard touchdown pass to Emeka Egbuka.

That capped off a seven-play, 73-yard drive during which McCord completed all four of his passes for 48 yards. – Scooby Axson

J.J. McCarthy stats

Michigan's junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy is 6 for 9 for 61 yards and a touchdown so far against Ohio State. McCarthy was 5 for 7 passing for 61 yards on the Wolverines' second scoring drive.

McCarthy came into the game with 2,335 passing yards and 18 touchdowns with four interceptions. He's completed 73.8% of his passes. – Casey Moore

Roman Wilson touchdown: Michigan 14, Ohio State 3

Michigan used a 14-play, 75-yard drive to extend its lead over Ohio State after J.J. McCarthy hit Roman Wilson on a 22-yard touchdown pass.

The play was reviewed to confirm that Wilson had control of the ball all the way through the end of the play.

Michigan converted two fourth downs and McCarthy went 5 for 7 passing for 61 yards on the scoring drive, which took 6:51 off the clock. – Scooby Axson

Michigan on fourth down

The Wolverines have made good on three fourth-down conversions and its not even halftime yet.

Michigan has been successful on two fourth-down tries during its current drive, a fourth-and-1 from the Ohio State 39-yard-line and another fourth-and-1 from the Buckeyes' 22.

The first one came during the first quarter on Blake Corum's 1-yard touchdown run. – Casey Moore

Michigan 7, Ohio State 3: End of first quarter

One down, three to go.

Michigan has driven into Ohio State territory as the first quarter has come to an end. The key play on the drive has been J.J. McCarthy connecting with tight end Colston Loveland on a 16-yard pass across the middle. – Casey Moore

Kyle McCord stats

Ohio State's junior quarterback Kyle McCord has completed 4 of 10 passes for 47 yards and an interception during the first quarter against Michigan.

McCord has completed 66.4% of his passes coming into the game, totaling 2,899 yards, 22 touchdowns and four interceptions. – Casey Moore

Ohio State field goal: Michigan 7, Ohio State 3

Ohio State got on the scoreboard after giving Michigan a short field via an interception on its last drive.

The Buckeyes drove 51 yards on nine plays and settled for a 43-yard field goal by Jayden Fielding. The drive was aided by a 15-yard hands to the face personal foul by Michigan. – Scooby Axson

Blake Corum touchdown: Michigan 7, Ohio State 0

Michigan called Blake Corum's number four times, the last carry resulting in a 1-yard touchdown run on fourth down to give the Wolverines the 7-0 lead with 5:36 left in the first quarter. – Scooby Axson

Michigan interception of Ohio State's Kyle McCord

After a booming 71-yard punt by Michigan's Tommy Doman, Ohio State started at its own 20. On the first play from scrimmage, though, Buckeyes QB Kyle McCord was intercepted by sophomore Will Johnson, who returned it to the Ohio State 7.

The Wolverines have the first legitimate scoring opportunity of the afternoon. – Casey Moore

Michigan's second possession much like first

Michigan had two short runs by Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, and then quarterback J.J. McCarthy was unable to get a pass away on third down and settled for a short scramble of 2 yards. The Wolverines have a total of 13 yards through two possessions. – Scooby Axson

Ohio State nets first down, but drive stalls

Ohio State earned the game's first first down during its second possession.

After a 2-yard run by TreVeyon Henderson, quarterback Kyle McCord hit Henderson for an 11-yard pass and a new set of downs.

From there, the drive stalled out at the Buckeyes' 46-yard line. Michigan starts its second possession at its own 21. – Casey Moore

Ohio State, Michigan trade three-and-outs

The 119th meeting between Michigan and Ohio State got off to a slow start as both teams did nothing the first time they had the ball.

Michigan won the toss and deferred until the second half, and Ohio State went three and out on their first possession after two TreVeyon Henderson runs and a dropped pass by Emeka Egbuka.

The Wolverines also went nowhere, going three and out, on two incomplete passes and a 5-yard Blake Corum run. – Scooby Axson

How to watch Ohio State-Michigan game: Time, TV channel

The game between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Michigan begins at noon ET.

The game will be broadcast on FOX and can be streamed on the FOX Sports app and on FOXSports.com/live. Fans can also stream the game at FuboTV.

Ohio State vs. Michigan picks and predictions

USA TODAY Sports' team of college football reporters and editors give their predictions for "The Game," with four of six experts picking the Buckeyes to come out ahead in Ann Arbor:

  • Scooby Axson: Michigan 24, Ohio State 17

  • Jace Evans: Ohio State 24, Michigan 17

  • Paul Myerberg: Michigan 27, Ohio State 21

  • Erick Smith: Ohio State 26, Michigan 20

  • Eddie Timanus: Ohio State 33, Michigan 26

  • Dan Wolken: Ohio State 24, Michigan 19

Michigan vs. Ohio State: How to bet 'The Game'

The top college football betting apps favor Michigan in their rivalry game against Ohio State. The Wolverines are 3.5-point home favorites over the Buckeyes in the annual Big 10 showdown, according to the BetMGM college football odds. Looking to wager? Check out thebest mobile sports betting apps offeringCollege football betting promos in 2023.

Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. has some of the best odds to win the Heisman in 2023 and boasts a 9.7% ticket percentage at BetMGM.

Not interested in this game? Our college football betting guide can help you get started.

If you’re new to sports betting, don’t worry. We havetips for beginners on how to place a bet online. And USA TODAY readers can claimexclusive promos and bonus codes with theonline sportsbooks and sports betting sites. – Richard Morin

Michigan vs. Ohio State betting odds

The Wolverines are favorites to defeat the Buckeyes, according to the BetMGM college football odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering college football betting promos in 2023, including the new ESPN BET app.

  • Spread: Wolverines (-3.5)

  • Moneyline: Wolverines (-165); Buckeyes (+140)

  • Over/under: 46.5

Top 25 college football scores today

Here are the kickoff times and TV info for Top 25 teams in the US LBM Coaches Poll:

Where is ESPN College GameDay this week? 

The final week of the college football regular season is typically a joyfully chaotic one, with no shortage of passionate, high-stakes rivalry games populating the schedule. Even among that group, though, one game this year stands that much taller. And now, it’s getting the “College GameDay” treatment.

ESPN’s famed college football program will air live Saturday from Ann Arbor, Michigan for No. 3 Michigan's game vs. No. 2 Ohio State.

Week 13 will mark the first time this season Michigan has hosted “College GameDay,” which hasn’t visited the university’s Ann Arbor campus since Nov. 27, 2021 — the last time the Wolverines welcomed Ohio State to Michigan Stadium.

Michigan has been a part of a game that hosted “College GameDay” 37 times, ranking it fifth among FBS programs. Ohio State has hosted the program the most times (23) and appeared on it the most (59).

In the 13 previous times they have hosted “College GameDay,” the Wolverines have gone 10-3.

– Craig Meyer, USA TODAY Network

Michigan will be called a fraud with loss to Ohio State 

Michigan’s football program has won 23 consecutive Big Ten games, two conference championships and asserted a level of dominance over Ohio State that has at times made the Buckeyes’ fan base question whether Ryan Day runs a tough enough program to compete at the highest level of the sport.

But if the Wolverines lose to Ohio State on Saturday, it will all look like a gigantic fraud. 

That's the unvarnished, and perhaps unfair truth of the stakes this year. In some ways, it’s bigger than the rivalry. It’s more relevant than who plays in the Big Ten title game next week. And given the context of what’s been happening at Michigan lately, it’s far more urgent than even winning a national championship.

Regardless of what you think about the sign-stealing scandal that has embroiled the program for the last month and will keep head coach Jim Harbaugh out of Michigan Stadium for the last of his three-game suspension, the consequences of losing this time to Ohio State are crystal clear.

Without this victory, on this day, under these circumstances, the conclusion that Michigan flipped this rivalry by cheating will be served up for Buckeye Nation like a carved turkey placed in front of an offensive line.

And Michigan will never live it down.

– Dan Wolken

Michigan vs. Ohio State all-time series record

Michigan officially leads the overall series 60-51-6.

In the past 30 years, Ohio State leads the rivalry over Michigan with a record of 18-10. This does not include the vacated 2010 matchup, which the Buckeyes won 37-7. The 2006 matchup was the only time the teams were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 with the Buckeyes the top team in the nation and the Wolverines right behind them. The game kicked off a day after the death of legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler. Ohio State outlasted Michigan 42-39 in Columbus in what would be Troy Smith's Heisman Trophy season.

Ohio State-Michigan game this year marks the end of a glorious era  

A case can be made that Saturday’s game in Ann Arbor is the biggest in the history of the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry.

Two undefeated teams. The No. 2 Buckeyes vs. the No. 3 Wolverines. A Big Ten championship game berth and probably a College Football Playoff at stake. Add in the unprecedented absence of Jim Harbaugh because of Michigan’s sign-stealing scandal, and the rivalry almost feels on the verge of boiling over.

Yep, it should be one for the ages at the Big House.

But one thing is certain: This is the last Ohio State-Michigan game of its kind.

Next year, the Big Ten abandons its divisional format with the arrival of the four programs from the disintegrated Pac-12 Conference.

In a division-less Big Ten, it won’t be shocking if Ohio State and Michigan met in back-to-back weeks – in the regular-season finale and then in the conference title game.

"That's crazy," Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord said. "I think that's just the world of college football now with everything going on and its twists and turns. But that would be wild."

– Bill Rabinowitz, Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State-Michigan rivalry history, records 

Ohio State and Michigan first faced off in 1897, making it a 125-year-old rivalry, one of the oldest in college football. The Wolverines won 36-0 in Ann Arbor. Michigan was dominant in the infancy of the series, starting 13-0-2 behind head coach Fielding Yost.

The two teams battled in their first Big Ten Conference game in 1918 after the Wolverines rejoined the league. Michigan won 14-0. The rivalry game has been an annual affair ever since.

Among the memorable games is the 1950 "Snow Bowl" in Columbus where Michigan won 9-3 with a Rose Bowl berth on the line.

– Victoria Hernandez

Who was the last Ohio State coach to lose three in a row to Michigan? 

Michigan last defeated Ohio State three seasons in a row in 1995-97, when John Cooper was the Buckeyes’ coach.

Each of Michigan's wins during that stretch was decided by a single score:

  • 1995: Michigan 31, Ohio State 23

  • 1996: Michigan 13, Ohio State 9

  • 1997: Michigan 20, Ohio State 14

Making those close setbacks that much more painful was the fact that Ohio State was firmly in national title contention entering each game. It was undefeated entering both of the first two contests and ranked no lower than No. 4 in any of the games (including a No. 2 Coaches Poll ranking in 1995 and '96). Conversely, the Wolverines were No. 20 in 1995 and No. 22 in 1996.

Cooper also had a six-year winless streak vs. Michigan from 1988 through 1993, including four straight losses, a tie, and another loss, before winning his first rivalry matchup vs. Michigan in 1994.

– Craig Meyer, USA TODAY Network

Michigan Heisman Trophy winners 

Three Wolverines have won the Heisman Trophy.

Tom Harmon was the first one to take home the award in 1940.

He was followed by Desmond Howard in 1991 after a record receiving season. The wide receiver famously struck the Heisman pose after a 93-yard punt return in the 1991 rivalry game, which the Wolverines won 31-3 over the Buckeyes.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson won the trophy in 1997. He remains the only defensive player to win the coveted award.

– Victoria Hernandez

Ohio State Heisman Trophy winners 

A player from Ohio State has won the Heisman Trophy seven times. The Buckeyes are the only football program with a player who won the hallowed award twice − Archie Griffin, who won it in 1974 and 1975.

Ohio State's most recent winner is quarterback Troy Smith, who took home the award in 2006 after throwing a then-school record 30 touchdowns in an undefeated regular season.

The other winners are: Eddie George (1995), Howard Cassady (1955), Vic Janowicz (1950) and Les Horvath (1944). – Victoria Hernandez

Why is Jim Harbaugh suspended?

Michigan announced in a statement that the school and football coach Jim Harbaugh have "resolved their pending litigation" with the Big Ten Conference and accepted his three-game suspension for the remainder of the regular season.

Harbaugh was punished as part of a sign-stealing scandal that is being investigated by both the NCAA and Big Ten. As part of the settlement between Michigan and the Big Ten, the conference will drop its investigation.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan-Ohio State score: Catch up on the big moments, highlights