Michigan shuts Ohio State down to pull off massive upset, 13-10

COLUMBUS — Kalel Mullings was wrapped up in the backfield. 

On a third-and-6 with three and a half minutes left in the game, Mullings was tripped up at No. 2 Ohio State’s 44-yard line. It looked like the Michigan football team would have to punt the ball back to the Buckeyes in a tie game, giving their explosive offense a chance to win it. 

But somehow, Mullings stayed on his feet, and broke off a game-breaking 27-yard run. The Wolverines’ defense held Ohio State scoreless in the second half. And against all odds, Michigan (7-5 overall, 5-4 Big Ten) pulled off the miraculous upset, beating the rival Buckeyes (10-2, 7-2) for the fourth-straight year, 13-10. 

On its first drive, Ohio State demonstrated its lasting inability to find success on the ground. Still, quarterback Will Howard found receivers in space to set up a go-ahead field goal. The Wolverines then used their ground game to push down the field in response — until the Buckeyes stuffed Mullings on a fourth-and-1 on their own 3-yard line, taking over deep in their own territory. 

Graduate cornerback Aamir Hall wasn’t satisfied with the Wolverines’ failed response, though. 

On Ohio State’s third play of the drive, he jumped a route on the sideline to pick Howard off — his second interception in as many games — before taking the ball all the way back to the 2-yard line. There, Mullings punched it in two rushes later, not getting denied for a second time to give Michigan a 7-3 lead.

With some help from special teams in the form of a missed Buckeyes field goal, senior punter Tommy Doman’s best punt of the season and a 54-yard make by junior kicker Dominic Zvada, Michigan took a touchdown lead up to the two-minute mark of the first half. But once Ohio State started airing it out during their ensuing two-minute drill, they found their only real success in the game.

Moving down the field with ease, Howard piloted a smooth 9-play, 75-yard drive. He repeatedly picked on Wolverines junior cornerback Zeke Berry, finding wideout Carnell Tate for a wide-open touchdown and a 10-10 game heading into the break. 

Momentum was starting to swing in Ohio State’s favor, a once-booing Ohio Stadium crowd now erupting in cheers. But Michigan’s defense continued to keep it hanging around, forcing a punt out of the break before graduate safety Makari Paige picked off Howard for the second time as the Buckeyes threatened to score in the third quarter. 

As it has for most of the season, the Wolverines’ defense kept them alive, but their offense did little with the support they got. Three plays after Paige’s interception, senior quarterback Davis Warren gave the ball, and an instant red zone opportunity, right back to the Buckeyes. When Ohio State kicker Jayden Fielding missed a second field goal, this time from just 34 yards out, Michigan’s offense failed to make good on its defense’s effort again. 

Warren started leading a 15-play, 77-yard drive to the 3-yard line, but he made one more error. He noticed freshman tight end Hogan Hansen open in the end zone, but his pass was a few inches too low, and defensive end Jack Sawyer leapt into the air to pick it off, leaving the Wolverines empty-handed. 

Again, though, Michigan forced a three-and-out. And then, Mullings took matters into his own hands, defying gravity to give the Wolverines the first down they so desperately needed.

The Buckeyes managed to keep Michigan out of the end zone, but the Wolverines were already well into Zvada’s range. He drilled it from 21 yards out, leaving Ohio State with just 45 seconds to mount a response.

The Buckeyes had done nothing the entire second half, though. Michigan’s defense didn’t let that change. The Wolverines brought the pressure, held Ohio States’ playmakers in check, and with one final hurried Howard incompletion, sealed the game.  

And with a dominant defensive performance, and a little magic from Mullings, Michigan went down to Columbus and pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the history of The Game. 

The post Michigan shuts Ohio State down to pull off massive upset, 13-10 appeared first on The Michigan Daily.