ANN ARBOR, Michigan – Jim Harbaugh took the win he might have wanted as badly as any coach in the sport.
Hassan Haskins set a school record with five quick touchdowns and Aidan Hutchinson had three sacks to break a program mark for a single season, helping No. 6 Michigan beat No. 2 Ohio State 42:27 on Saturday, to give Harbaugh his first win as an A coach against the Buckeyes.
“It feels like the best,” said Harbaugh.
The Wolverines have won the Big Ten East and will play with playoff hopes in the Conference title game this week after suffering a streak of eight games to Ohio State.
“It feels like the beginning,” said Harbaugh.
Michigan (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten, No. 5 CFP) reached the Conference Championship for the first time. The Wolverines now have the chance of a Big Ten title for the first time since 2004 and a national championship for the first time since 1997.
Harbaugh was sacked and sacked as a coach for his first six seasons with his alma mater who has long been a hype and little substance, but he earned a win that should at least reassure most of his critics.
“I’m so happy to see my first win and a top five game at home,” said Hutchinson. “He was just so happy.”
Minutes after the game, long-suffering fans filled the Big House lawn to celebrate a rare win in the storied series, and they were in no rush when the music boomed.
“Watching the snow fall and the crowd rush onto the field was a truly surreal moment,” said Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara, who was 13 of 19 for 159 yards with an interception.
Ohio State had a school record winning streak in the rivalry, winning 15 of 16 to make The Game its game.
The Buckeyes (10-2, 8-1) gambled away their chances of resuming dominance on 10 penalties, many before the snap, and because they just couldn’t stop Michigan’s running game.
“I feel awful,” said Ryan Day, Ohio state coach. “I’ve just finished talking to the team, and if you work on this game 365 days a year and come up short, it’s a failure. It hurts. It hurts a lot.”
Harbaugh obviously had his team ready to beat the Buckeyes.
After Harbaugh’s salary was cut in part on his lack of success against the Buckeyes in his new contract last winter, Harbaugh reshaped his coaching staff again, renaming a running-intensive training period “Beat Ohio” to add another layer of focus on rivalry.
Haskins had 169 yards with 28 carries and scored a green touchdown at the end of the second half and four more after half to bolster Michigan’s lead.
“It’s an amazing feeling, I want to thank every single one of my linemen,” said Haskins.
Blake Corum returned from an absence of more than two games to run six times for 87 yards, helping the Wolverines win a total of 297 yards against a rival who’s been pushing them around for much of this century.
“It was dominant,” confirmed Harbaugh. “The boys kept moving.”
The Buckeyes couldn’t argue.
“You have to stop the run in a Big Ten game,” said Bryson Shaw, Ohio State Security. “It’s embarrassing.”
Harbaugh also appeared to out Day, who hadn’t lost a Big Ten game as of Saturday, by throwing in some surprise games like a slot-around where AJ Henning competed for a 14-yard TD to get the 10 open crown. Game, 75 yard drive, and calling a flea later in the game that fooled Ohio State.
The high-profile Ohio state offensive seemed to clash against Michigan’s redesigned defenses, with first year coordinator Mike Macdonald taking the right steps. Hutchinson, who set a school record in a single season with 13 sacks, was in the back room all day.
“The Heisman Trophy should definitely be considered,” said Harbaugh.
CJ Stroud was 34 out of 49 for 394 with two touchdowns, including a 25-yard pass to Garrett Wilson that gave the Buckeyes a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter. The Buckeyes turned it over on their last possession without protecting Stroud. He was sacked four times, doubling the total of any other game that season.
“People will probably hate me for it, but I know in my heart that I got everything up and running,” said Stroud.
After Harbaugh’s press conference, he was received by Sporting Director Warde Manuel.
“You hit a home run,” said Manuel Harbaugh.
The Wolverines and Buckeyes were pushing, shoving, and talking in the tunnel at halftime. The emotions spilled over onto the field many times.
When Michigan receiver Roman Wilson was in the end zone, he grabbed the left leg of cornerback Cameron Brown, who responded by tearing off Wilson’s helmet and being called for unsportsmanlike conduct.
This triggered a crush that officials and coaches were able to contain.
“These guys treated us disrespectfully, stepped on our shirts and talked about putting 100 on us,” said Hutchinson.
Ohio State: The Buckeyes had won 26 straight Big Ten games, a streak that dropped only the school’s 30-game run of 2012-15 in Big Ten history. Ohio State had also won 21 straight games against the Big Ten ranked teams.
Michigan: The Wolverines need to come down quick and focus on the Big Ten title game. Win that, and a seat in the college football playoffs is practically a lock.
Michigan will overtake Ohio State in the College Football Ranking and the AP Top 25.
Ohio State: Waiting for its postseason plans, likely ending up in a New Year’s Six Bowl game.
Michigan: Play Iowa in Indianapolis on Saturday. The Wolverines did not play against the Hawkeyes in the regular season.
Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in any way without permission.
Comments are closed.