That’s all for now. Thanks as always for following along with us and be sure to check out the full game report here.
What a finish! Urban Meyer improves to 5-0 against Michigan, who remain winless at Ohio Stadium since 2000. Just when it seemed the Buckeyes offense had failed to answer the bell, a few timely plays down the stretch lift the hosts to a crucial win. And now tens of thousands of fans have stormed the field.
Full time: Ohio State 30-27 Michigan (double overtime)
Ohio State takes over from the 25. Barrett runs for five yards but he’s sacked for a four-yard loss. Now it’s 3rd and 9 and Samuel takes the long way for an eight-yard gain. It’s 4th and 1 and they’re going to go for it! They need one yard to keep the drive and the game alive! Barrett runs for one yard ... and it’s going to come down to the spot. Oh wow! It’s very close! It’s ruled a first down on the field but the officials are going to the booth to review it. The officials says the play stands as it’s called. The Buckeyes are alive! Now it’s 1st and goal from the 15 and Curtis Samuel runs it 15 yards into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown!
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FIELD GOAL! Ohio State 24-27 Michigan, double overtime
Now Michigan takes the field again. Jehu Chesson runs five yards followed by a De’Veon Smith run for one yard. Then Speight’s pass in incomplete and Kenny Allen will try for a field goal. His attempt from 37 yards is good and Ohio State can win it with a touchdown!
TOUCHDOWN! Ohio State 24-24 Michigan, overtime
Speigh completes to Butt for nine yards, then Smith is stopped for no gain. Then on 3rd and 1, Smith runs nine yards down to the Ohio State 7. Smith runs for two more, but then an incomplete pass on second down and a run for no gain on third sets up 4th and goal from the 5. The whole game comes down to one play. Speight drops back ... and ... he find Darboh for the touchdown! Kenny Allen’s extra point ties it and we’re headed to double overtime!
TOUCHDOWN! Ohio State 24-17 Michigan, overtime
Ohio State starts 25 yards from the end zone. Curtis Samuel runs 18 yards for a first down, then Barrett runs seven yards for the touchdown. A Tyler Durbin kick makes it 24-17 and Michigan will have an opportunity to match it!
End of 4th quarter: Ohio State 17-17 Michigan
And we’re headed to overtime!
FIELD GOAL! Ohio State 17-17 Michigan 0:01, 4th quarter
Ohio State takes over on their own 18 and Barrett is sacked by Charlton for a six-yard loss! From there, Barrett rushes nine yards and it will be 3rd and 7 from the 21. Barrett’s pass downfield is incomplete but the flag is thrown and it will be defensive pass interference! That gives Ohio State a 1st and 10 from the 36. Barrett misfires on a pass to Parris Campbell but then completes to KJ Hill for nine yards. Weber then run three yards for a first time. Now Barress completes to Curtis Samuel for 16 yards and the Buckeyes are across midfield.
Then a pair of Barrett runs for four and 10 yards bring it down to the Michigan 22. Barrett then completes to Noah Brown for 14 yards, setting up 1st and goal from the Michigan 22 inside the two-minute mark. Squeaky bum time! A false-start penalty against Isaiah Prince makes it 1st and goal from the 13, then miscommunication leads to a four-yard loss and now it’s 2nd and goal from the 17. A one-yard loss sets up 3rd and goal from the 18. Barrett then completes to Marcus Baugh across the middle for 13 yards, but that will make it 4th and goal from the 5. Ohio State calls their last timeout with six seconds remaining. It will be Tyler Durbin out to force overtime from 23 yards. This time Durbin splits the uprights and it’s tied at 17 with one second remaining.
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Ohio State 14-17 Michigan 5:36, 4th quarter
And just like that, the Wolverines go three-and-out! They only take 85 seconds off the clock. A disappointing drive but Kenny Allen manages to punt it 56 yards. It goes out of bounds at the Ohio State 18! What a performance by Allen today.
Ohio State 14-17 Michigan 6:21, 4th quarter
And after an incomplete pass on first down, JT Barrett scampers 41 yards across midfield down to the Michigan 22! He then completes a seven-yard pass to Curtis Samuel down to the 15-yard line. He’s sacked for a one-yard loss on second down but Barrett runs for three yards and it will be fourth down and about three quarters of a yard. Looks like Ohio State will go for a game-tying field goal but Urban Meyer calls his second timeout. Looks like they’ll be inspecting the spot. The officials announce the spot will stand. They’re going for it! They hand it off to Weber and he’s through for a first down! It’s first and goal from the Michigan 9. Now the Wolverines burn a timeout.
Weber runs for three yards down to the six-yard line and Michigan’s Taco Charlton is down with an injury. He walks off the field with the aid of the medical staff but looks like he’s OK. Now Barrett’s pass into the end zone on second and goal is incomplete. A dangerous pass, nearly intercepted! Now on third and goal, Barrett runs for four yards down to the two-yard line. This time they’ll go for the kick ... and Durbin misses from 21 yards! Oh dear! He hadn’t missed from inside 40 yards all season long and now he’s missed twice from short range today!
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Ohio State 14-17 Michigan 10:32, 4th quarter
Now it’s Michigan’s turn to go three-and-out: an incomplete pass, a run for no gain and a sack. Now Kenny Allen punts for 33 yards and Ohio State’s Curtis Samuel returns it to the Buckeyes 37.
Ohio State 14-17 Michigan 12:03, 4th quarter
Well, that was quick. Barrett is sacked by Chris Wormley for a loss of one yard. He runs for five on second down but is sacked for a loss of five on the next play. Cameron Johnson’s 47-yard punt prompts Jabrill Peppers to wave for a fair catch and Michigan will take over on their own 38.
Ohio State 14-17 Michigan 14:04, 4th quarter
On 3rd and 5 from the Michigan 41, the Ohio State defense gets to Wilton Speight. His pass is incomplete and he’s slow to his feet. Now the punt team will come out and Kenny Allen’s offering sails 43 yards and is downed at the Ohio State 16. A massive drive forthcoming for the hosts.
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End of 3rd quarter: Ohio State 14-17 Michigan
Two quick plays for Michigan bring us to the end of the third quarter. So much at stake in this one and it feels like it will all come down to the wire.
TOUCHDOWN! Ohio State 14-17 Michigan 1:06, 3rd quarter
Ohio State starts from the Michigan 13 and immediately the Wolverines are falled for defensive offside. It’s a five-yard penalty that brings it to the Michigan 8 and Jim Harbaugh is apoplectic! He throws his play cards everywhere and is called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that brings it down to the Michigan. Barrett plunges forward for three years and then Mike Weber punches it through. The Tyler Durbin extra point closes the margin to a field goal.
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Ohio State 7-17 Michigan 1:30, 3rd quarter
Michigan starts from their own 12. Henry Poggi runs for four yards to the 16 before a Speight incomplete pass brings up 3rd and 6. Speight then completes a 16-yard strike to Smith, but a 15-yard face mask penalty will make it 3rd and 5 from the 17. Speight completes a 13-yard pass to Grant Perry for the first down, but one play later Speight is intercepted by Jerome Baker! Baker returns it 22 yards to the Michgian 13 and Ohio State has a golden opportunity to cut into this lead!
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Ohio State 7-17 Michigan 3:47, 3rd quarter
Ohio State takes over on their own 25 after a touchback and immediately begin to move the ball downfield: a nine-yard run by Curtis Samuel, a six-yard run by JT Barrett. Then a forced timeout called on Ohio State on a seldom enforced mouthguard rule. Hmmm. That could come into play later. Play resumes with Ohio State on their own 40. JT Barrett runs 13 yards and the Buckeyes are into Michigan territory for the first time since the opening drive. Barrett then runs 13 yards to the Michigan 34, but from there the drive stalls. Despite making it to the Michigan 40, the Buckeyes punt and Michigan will take over on their own 12.
TOUCHDOWN! Ohio State 7-17 Michigan 6:37, 3rd quarter
And Michigan capitalizes on the fake punt! It’s Khalid Hill who catches a ball in the flat and rumbles into the end zone to cap a five-play, 22-yard scoring drive for the Wolverines.
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Ohio State 7-10 Michigan 9:06, 3rd quarter
Barrett gets Ohio State out from the shadow of their own goalposts with a 10-yard completion to KJ Hill on 3rd and 7 from the 5. But from there the Buckeyes go three-and-out. The punt team is out with Ohio State on their own 19 and ... it’s a fake! Cameron Johnston runs for the first down and he’s dragged down three yards short! Oh dear! Now Michigan will take over on the Ohio State 22.
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Ohio State 7-10 Michigan 11:12, 3rd quarter
Michigan takes over on the Ohio State 42. Speight completes to Jake Butt for 11 yards, then Evans runs for seven. Another Evans run for one yard sets up 3rd and 2 from the 23. Now De’Veon Smith runs 6 yards down to the Ohio State 7. And another Smith run down to the 1! It’s 2nd and goal from the 1 and ... Speight fumbles! Speight fumbles one yard from the end zone and Ohio State has recovered!
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Ohio State 7-10 Michigan 13:47, 3rd quarter
Ohio State takes over on their own 20 after the second-half kickoff goes out for a touchback. Barrett runs for three yards then completes for 10 more to Marcus Baugh. But now he’s intercepted by – who else? – Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers! That’s only Barrett’s first interception in the last six games and it’s a potentially critical one!
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Half-time: Ohio State 7-10 Michigan
Michigan did well to overcome the shock of Ohio State’s defensive touchdown and march right down the field for a touchdown to re-take the lead right before the half. Only 57 yards of total offense from Buckeyes quarterback JT Barrett. Can the Wolverines hold on to this advantage or will Ohio State strike back?
TOUCHDOWN! Ohio State 7-10 Michigan 0:06, 2nd quarter
Peppers returns the kickoff from inside his own end zone 44 yards to the Michigan 43. A good start. Evans runs for no gain followed by a short completion to Amara Darboh to set up 3rd and 4. Then Speight completes to Darboh for an 11-yard completion and a first down across midfield. De’Veon Smith runs for three yards, then Speight finds Smith for five yards and it’s 3rd and 2 from the Ohio State 32. Now Speight completes to Grant Perry for six yards and another fist down. Speight then finds Darboh for 19 yards and another first down and Michigan calls timeout with 58 seconds left in the half. Now Speight completes to Darboh again for five yards to the Buckeyes 2 with an illegal use of hands penalty – half the distance to the goal line – setting up a 1st and goal from the 1. Smith runs for no gain. Then Khalid Hill runs for no gain and Michigan will burn their second timeout with 10 seconds left in the half. It’s 3rd and goal from the 1. What will Harbugh dial up here? A whistle right before the snap and now it’s Ohio State who calls a timeout. The gamesmanship! Here’s the snap and Hill runs it right up the gut for a touchdown! Some extracurriculars between the players after the play as tempers flare with Harbaugh out on the field helping breaks things up. Kenny Allen boots the extra point and Michigan will likely head to the locker room with the lead.
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TOUCHDOWN! Ohio State 7-3 Michigan 4:03, 2nd quarter
Speight drops back into the red paint of the end zone and throws a ball into the middle of the field and it’s intercepted by Malik Hooker, who all but walks it into the end zone for a touchdown! This stadium is going crazy! Hooker’s third pick six of the year gives Ohio State the lead and Tyler Durbin’s extra point makes it 7-3.
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Ohio State 0-3 Michigan 4:10, 2nd quarter
Ohio State starts from their own 20. Weber runs for seven yards, then two. But on 3rd and 1, Weber is thrown for a one-yard loss! It looks like a three-and-out for the Buckeyes, but then Grant Perry runs into Cameron Johnston on the ensuing punt attempt and the running into the kicker penalty will give Ohio State new life. It’s 1st and 10 from the 33, but three more fruitless plays for the Buckeyes: incomplete pass, one-yard run, incomplete pass. Johnston out for another punt. This one travels 60 yards and it’s downed on the Michigan 6. Well played!
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Ohio State 0-3 Michigan 6:41, 2nd quarter
Michigan take over from their own 40. Evans runs for one yard, then Peppers for a pair. Now Michigan face 3rd and 7 from their own 43. And now Ohio State’s Jerome Baker throws down Speight for a sack that ignites this already electric crowd! It’s a 10-yard loss and Michigan’s punt team is on the field. Kenny Allen’s punt travels 67 yards and out of the end zone for a touchback. It’s a second straight third-and-out forced by the Ohio State defense. Now can the Buckeyes offense step up and do their part?
Ohio State 0-3 Michigan 8:32, 2nd quarter
The Buckeyes start in the shadow of their own goalposts on the 4. Barrett runs for two yards but then airmails a pass to Samuel. Yikes. It’s 3rd and 8 from the 6, but Barrett completes to Wilson for nine yards. A favorable spot gives Ohio State the first down. Now Barrett completes to Noah Brown for another 11 yards. Now Michigan’s Taco Charlton rushes off the edge and rips down Barrett for a five-yard loss, the second time the Ohio State quarterback has been sacked today. Now Barrett’s pass on 2nd and 15 is batted down. Another incomplete pass on 3rd and 15 and Ohio State’s punt team is out again. Johnston punts for 39 yards and Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers waves for a fair catch on the Michigan 40.
Ohio State 0-3 Michigan 11:03, 2nd quarter
Speight completes to Kekoa Crawford for four yards and then to Jehu Chesson for two. But he’s incomplete to Butt on 3rd and 4 and Michigan have gone three-and-out for the first time today. Now Kenny Allen is out to punt and he booms one 55 yards and it takes a friendly bounce before it’s downed at the Ohio State 4. Wow! More dismal field position for the hosts.
Ohio State 0-3 Michigan 12:27, 2nd quarter
Michigan’s kickoff to Ohio State is a touchback, which is actually the Buckeyes’ best starting position of the day so far. But the Wolverines immediately complicate matters by throwing Samuel for a loss on the first play from scrimmage. Weber then runs for no gain and Ohio State has 3rd and 15 from their own 20. Barrett drops back and tries to buy time but can’t find Noah Brown. It’s going to be 4th and 15 and the Buckeyes’ punt team is out on the field. Johnston’s effort sails 50 yards into the hands of Jabrill Peppers, who returns it five yards to the Michigan 35.
FIELD GOAL! Ohio State 0-3 Michigan 13:31, 2nd quarter
Empty backfield on 1st and goal from the Ohio State 9 and Speight’s pass is incomplete. Then Chris Evans fights off a loss and plunges forward four yards. That sets up 3rd and goal from the 5 and Jabrill Peppers is wrapped up for a sack as the Ohio State fans go wild! Kenny Allen boots through a 28-yard field goal and the Wolverines have drawn first blood.
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End of 1st quarter: Ohio State 0-0 Michigan
Michigan takes over from their own 37. Speight completes to Jehu Chesson for nine yards, but then Smith runs for a one-yard loss and it’s 3rd and 2 from the Michigan 45. Then Smith runs three yards for a first down. Now Speight passes to Perry for nine yards across midfield, followed by a Khalid Hill run for two yards and another first down. Now Speight finds Butt for a 22-yard completion that brings Michigan into the red zone. Chesson then picks up nine yards on an end around and Michigan is down to the Ohio State 10. Smith fights hard for one yard and that’s the end of the first quarter. It will be 3rd and 1 from the 9 when we return.
Ohio State 0-0 Michigan 3:28, 1st quarter
Ohio State takes over from their own 11. Barrett runs for no gain on first down before completing for four yards on second down. Then he’s sacked on 3rd and 6 by Michigan’s Ryan Glasgow and the Buckeyes will punt. Cameon Johnston’s punt sails 52 yards and it’s downed on the Michigan 37. Good field position for the Wolverines forthcoming.
Ohio State 0-0 Michigan 4:58, 1st quarter
Michigan take over from their own 20. Two short gains set up 3rd and 5, but then Speight completes across the middle of the field to Grant Perry for a 21-yard gain. That’s where the drive stalls with a pair of runs for minimal gain followed by an incomplete pass attempt to Darboh. Kenny Allen’s punt travels 40 yards and is downed at the Ohio State 11, where the Buckeyes will take over.
Ohio State 0-0 Michigan 8:11, 1st quarter
Curtis Samuel runs 14 yards to the edge to their own 22 and the Buckeyes are off and running! Samuel runs for two yards, but a JT Barrett completion to Noah Brown for 15 yards gives Ohio State anohter first down. Five-yard run for Mike Weber followed by a six-yard keeper for Barrett for another first down at midfield. Barrett’s pass to Brown on the next play is incomplete but there’s a late flag and it’s holding against Michigan’s Channing Stribling. That’s a 10-yarder and Ohio State will the 1st and 10 from the Michigan 40. It’s a five-play, 52-yard drive so far. And now Barrett runs deep into the secondary for a 19-yard gain! Weber runs for one yard, followed by a Barrett one-yard completion to Samuel and it will be 3rd and 8 from the Michigan 19. And Barrett is sacked for a one-yard loss! Now Tyler Durbin will trot onto the field for a 37-yard field goal. He’s only missed on field goal all season – that attempt against Penn State that was blocked and returned for a touchdown – but now Durbin misses! What a surprise! Hooked it from the start and we’re still scoreless.
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Ohio State 0-0 Michigan 11:36, 1st quarter
It’s a De’Veon Smith run for five yards to open the first drive, then it’s Jabrill Peppers running out of the Wildcat formation for six yards and a first down. Now Wilton Speight passes to Jake Butt for a 14-yard completion followed by a Smith run for four yards across midfield to the Ohio State 49. A false start penalty pushes the Wolverines back into Michigan territory, but an eight-yard completion gives Michigan a 3rd and 3 from the Ohio State 46. Speight drops back and it’s an incomplete pass to Butt and the Wolverines will punt. Kenny Allen’s punt travels 38 yards and a fair catch by Ohio State’s Curtis Samuel will give the Buckeyes possession on their own 8.
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Kickoff
Ohio State wins the toss and will defer. Now the Buckeyes kick off to the Wolverines and the 113th edition of The Game is underway!
It’s a short kick to keep it away from Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers and the Wolverines will start with good field position on their own 22.
Urban Meyer speaks to an ESPN sideline reporter as the teams meet at midfield for the coin toss: “They’ve been a good team all year. When it’s time to lock in, they listen and they go.”
Michigan has just emerged from the tunnel, joining the Buckeyes on the field.
Ohio State have won 13 of the last 15 meetings including the last four in a row. This is the 11th all-time meeting with both rivals ranked in the top 10, only the third with both ranked in the top three.
The Buckeyes will have a special guest in the house for today’s game: Ohio native and four-times NBA Most Valuable Player winner LeBron James.
The Associated Press reports:
LeBron James is jamming one of college football’s biggest games into his busy schedule.
James and his Cleveland teammates plan to attend Saturday’s Ohio State-Michigan game in Columbus before they travel to Philadelphia and play the 76ers on Sunday. A rabid Ohio State fan, James has been on the sideline at Ohio Stadium in the past, but not for a game he said is on his “bucket list.”
This year’s matchup between the No2 Buckeyes and No3 Wolverines has national championship implications.
The defending NBA champion Cavs hosted Dallas on Friday night before they will take in the OSU-Michigan rivalry.
“We have an opportunity to go down to Columbus and watch an unbelievable battle between two great colleges,” James said following Friday’s win.
Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue said the entire team will attend the game and then fly to Philadelphia. Lue met Ohio State coach Urban Meyer when the Cavaliers were in Columbus to play an exhibition game last month.
James and his teammates also attended several Cleveland Indians’ postseason games when they reached the World Series. Saturday’s showdown will be another big moment.
“Stuff like this doesn’t always come around, the World Series in your backyard and our Buckeyes have been very successful, but you don’t know how many times it’s going to happen “ James said. “A two-three matchup, that’s perfect timing.”
James doesn’t plan on addressing the Buckeyes before the game.
“It hasn’t come up,” he said.
James has more than a rooting interest in this year’s game. He has also provided Ohio State’s players with cleats inspired by his signature Nike sneakers to wear against Michigan. He said the idea was hatched 10 years ago, but it took time before the cleat could be developed.
“It’s been something that’s been in the works for years now,” he said. “We finally was able to put together a shoe and work with the Nike football lab to put a cleat on there. It’s always a hard process when you turn a basketball shoe into a cleat, so we finally was able to find a shoe that fits the Nike lab football cleat.”
James said some of the players tested them this week at practice before deciding whether to play in them.
“It was just like, great timing, I guess, that it came together when they were playing Michigan in the biggest game of the season,” he said.
It’s also perfect timing that James’ cleats are being unveiled when Ohio State is facing Michigan, which this season is wearing Jordan Brand, sports gear designed by Michael Jordan, whose “Jump Man” logo adorns their uniforms.
James, though, said it was just a coincidence that the cleats came out this week.
Ohio State is one of four schools whose basketball teams wear exclusively James apparel and sneakers.
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Welcome to today’s showdown between Ohio State and Michigan. The long-running rivalry between these two schools is a big deal any year, but The Game, as it’s simply known, is seldom bigger than this.
Second-ranked Ohio State is 10-1 and 7-1 in Big Ten conference play, same as third-ranked Michigan. The winner of today’s grudge match is almost certain to wind up in the college football playoffs.
Plenty more to come with kickoff just under a half hour away!
Bryan will be here shortly.
