Michigan’s losing streak against Ohio State is over.
The Wolverines racked up 487 yards of offense and suppressed the Buckeyes’ top-ranked passing offense just enough Saturday in a 42-27 win at Michigan Stadium. OSU (10-2, 8-1) had won the past eight meetings and 15 of the previous 16 entering Saturday.
Michigan (11-1, 8-1) had strong performances on both sides of the ball to help send the team to the Big Ten championship next week.
Here is our stock report from Saturday’s game.
STOCK UP
Hassan Haskins
Haskins continues to show he can be a bell cow running back. The senior tied a program record with five rushing touchdowns, including the final one that gave Michigan a 42-27 lead with 2:17 remaining. He finished with 169 yards on 28 carries. His ability to get yards after contact continues to impress, and he also converted on some crucial third and fourth down situations. On Michigan’s final touchdown drive, he carried on all five plays, totaling 63 yards.
Aidan Hutchinson
The senior defensive end’s final home game was a memorable one. He created havoc all game long in OSU’s backfield and recorded three sacks, breaking the Michigan single-season record of 12. His first came on third-and-goal to force a field goal in the first quarter. He also drew a holding call from the OSU left tackle on a pass-rush in the third quarter. Hutchinson finished with seven tackles. Was Saturday’s performance enough to catapult him into the Heisman Trophy conversation?
Offensive play-calling
Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis has been criticized for predictable play-calling in the past, but he went deep in the playbook Saturday with some outstanding calls. Whether it was the misdirection on A.J. Henning’s touchdown run or the run-pass option with J.J. McCarthy or the flea-flicker leading to a 34-yard completion to Mike Sainristil, Gattis definitely caught OSU by surprise on multiple occasions.
Offensive line
The Buckeyes entered Saturday leading the Big Ten in sacks, but Michigan’s offensive line was able to keep the pocket clean for Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy for most of the game. Tackles Ryan Hayes and Andrew Stueber deserve extra credit for mitigating OSU’s talented defensive ends Zach Harrison and Tyreke Smith. The line also was superb in run blocking. Michigan didn’t have any offensive plays go for negative yardage, largely because of the push up front.
STOCK DOWN
Fourth-down defense
Limiting Ohio State to 27 points was a victory for Michigan. But the Wolverines still allowed 397 passing yards. Michigan’s secondary did a good job of keeping OSU’s talented receivers in front of them, but the Buckeyes were able to find soft spots in coverage multiple times, especially on fourth downs. They converted their first three fourth-down attempts, including a fourth-and-5 in the fourth quarter. C.J. Stroud hit running back TreVeyon Henderson for a 10-yard touchdown that made it an eight-point game with 4:39 remaining. Michigan’s only fourth-down stop came on OSU’s final possession, when it turned the ball over on downs in the final minute.
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