Disappointing Offense, Frustration in Columbus as Buckeyes Drop Fourth Straight to Michigan

COLUMBUS, OH

And now it’s time for the main event. Will Howard getting ready for the biggest game as a Buckeye, but the talented Wolverines defense was up for the challenge. Now Ohio State is trying to establish the run game early, but nothing doing, in what ended up being a constant theme in the first half, as well as the entire game at “The Shoe”.

So the Buckeyes settle for a 29 yard field goal from Jayden Fielding to open the scoring in the first. Though the Wolverines come back in the early stages of the second quarter, Kalel Mullins punches one in to give the team up north a lead. A field goal later makes it a seven point deficit for the Bucks, who run the two minute drill to perfection to end the half. Howard to Jeremiah Smith for his first rivalry game score. We’re deadlocked at ten at halftime.

Ohio State now looking to carry the momentum into the second. But late in the drive, Makari Paige reads Howard’s book. His second interception of the game. The Buckeyes were in trouble, but two can play at that game. There’s Caleb Downs at the right place at the right time to take the ball right back in the third. Run game stuffed again. Fielding steps up, but this time he misses his second field goal of the game. We are still deadlocked at ten.

Off to the fourth. The team up north looking for the breakthrough. Mullins with a 27-yard burst to put the Wolverines in Buckeyes territory. And then, with 45 ticks left on the clock, Dominic Zvada knocks in the 21-yard field goal for the late lead. Ohio State., out of timeouts. Last chance on fourth down but the pass falls incomplete. An absolute heartbreak and disappointment for the Buckeyes, falling 13-10 for the fourth straight loss to the team up north.

The action on the field was far from over. The team up north tried planting the flag right at midfield, and that did not go so well with the Buckeyes. The wild skirmish ensues, police even using pepper spray in the melee. And it was an ugly scene to say the least at “The Shoe”, capping off a disappointing day in Columbus.

“Quite honestly, I’m still trying to digest everything that just happened. And, you know, got a locker room full of guys who are just devastated” said an exasperated Ryan Day after the game. “And I thought they played with great emotion. I thought the defense played their tails off. And I thought everybody played hard. Just the overall execution wasn’t good enough, especially on offense.

A disheartened Howard added, ““I don’t really have much right now. But I do know that, you know, we’re a two loss team. We’re going to get in the playoffs and we’re going to make a run. But I mean, this one hurts.”

The Buckeyes now await their playoff fates, which lie right around the corner.