3-ranked Buckeyes 17-14, ending winning streaks of 30 conference games and 23 games overall.
Advertisement
The Wolverines (9-3, 6-2, No. 10 CFP) simply could not stop their rivals from running at will. They fell behind early, and quarterback Jake Rudock was knocked out of the game when he was slammed onto his left shoulder. It won’t be an easy assignment.
Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett going over Michigan’s Jourdan Lewis, left, and Jarrod Wilson for a touchdown in the second half Saturday. There was nearly no pushback from the defensive line on carries, and the Spartans lost just five net yards throughout the game as opposed to Penn State’s 34 rushing yards-lost.
“We’re just not – we’re not operating at maximum capacity, is the key word, and we’re still 10-1”, Meyer said.
Some folks are taking some umbrage that I am spending more time on scenarios that involve an Iowa loss in the Big Ten Title game. The victor earns the Amos Alonzo Stagg Championship Trophy and a chance to play in one of the six bowls that comprise the College Football Playoff, including the Rose Bowl Game. Jim Harbaugh replaced him after last season and the entire vibe of the program has changed as well as the results on the field.
“We’re playing our best football down the stretch, and if you look and compare us to last year’s Big Ten champion, that’s what they were able to do”, Dantonio said.
“When you put us in a situation like today, when we’re one game from going to Indy, there’s no question we’re going out and giving it everything we’ve got”, Cook said.
Even with the win, the Buckeyes need Penn State to beat No. 6 Michigan State later in the day to reach the Big Ten championship game against Iowa. Michigan State won the Big Ten’s East Division, the first in a series of lofty goals this season, and the Spartans have known since January: If they won their division, they would have a shot at the playoff.
A week after an emotional win on the road, Michigan State turned around and made a statement to wrap up the division title, again leaning on obvious strengths that can take the team a long way. “He should be in NY”.
Sparty was officially toying with Penn State. Losing to Michigan State was not what caused the disappointment, as the Nittany Lions were heavy underdogs.
I understand the losses of Ryan Glasgow and Mario Ojemudia-and Bryan Mone, who’s been out all season with a broken leg-were heavily felt in both games, but to surrender 676 yards in 120 game minutes is a problem that can’t be overstated. “We went up against a big physical offensive front”.
The Buckeyes didn’t get it.
Afterward, player and coach appeared on national television in a half hug as Meyer heaped praise on Elliott and then gave him an affectionate forehead nuzzle – the football equivalent of a public kiss-and-make-up. Expect Elliott to make a big effort against the Wolverines to atone for his behavior a week ago.
No. 13 Stanford 38, No. 4 Notre Dame 36 • Kevin Hogan threw four TD passes and drove the Cardinal for Conrad Ukropina’s 45-yard field goal on the last play of the game as they spoiled the visiting Fighting Irish’s playoff hopes. Not well enough, anyway, to keep up with a Michigan State offense that was dominating those battles consistently.
He spread his passing game around, and wideout Matt VandeBerg was his leading receiver with 59 catches, 625 yards and three touchdowns. Hello, Ohio State (11-1, No. 8 CFP).
Sophomore running back Gerald Holmes gained a combined 100 yards, including a rushing touchdown. He caught the pass around the 10, bounced off one defender and spun past another before diving into the end zone.
Advertisement
It looked like a developmental scrimmage early in the fourth quarter as No. 5 (No. 6 AP poll) Michigan State put the finishing touches on the Nittany Lions’ regular season, beating Penn State, 55-16. We thought his QBR for the game might be in the millions, but it was just 99.5.
