Michigan Outlasts Ohio State in “The Game”
This year, during college football’s Rivalry Week, the embattled Michigan Wolverines took on the Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, MI. The annual showdown between the two titans, dubbed “The Game,” is often one of the most anticipated matchups of the year, with at least one of the teams often poised to make the coveted College Football Playoffs. This year’s game between the No. 3 Wolverines and No. 2 Buckeyes had major implications for the CFP, since the winner was virtually guaranteed a spot in the top four teams while the loser was almost certain to miss out.
After going on an eight-year losing streak to OSU between 2012 and 2019, the Wolverines had beaten the Buckeyes the last two times the teams had met during the regular season. However, this matchup was significantly different for Michigan, since it was the first time they had faced Ohio State without Head Coach Jim Harbaugh since 2015. Harbaugh was placed on a three-game suspension by the Big Ten Conference in early November following Michigan’s now-infamous sign-stealing scandal. Despite being without their head coach, the Wolverines were three-point favorites heading into the contest.
After the game started with four consecutive drives that ended in punts, Michigan’s defense generated the first big play of the game when star cornerback Will Johnson intercepted OSU quarterback Kyle McCord’s pass and returned it to the Buckeyes’ seven-yard line. The Michigan offense opened the scoring on a one-yard rush by running back Blake Corum, who ran the ball on all four plays on the seven-yard drive. The Buckeyes responded with a drive that ended in a field goal after one of the best receivers in college football, Marvin Harrison Jr., reeled in a 24-yard pass. Both offenses scored on the next two drives following a 22-yard touchdown pass from Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy to wide receiver Roman Wilson and a three-yard touchdown pass from McCord to wide receiver Emeka Egbuka. With Michigan leading 14–10, Ohio State missed a field goal to close out the half.
The game evened up during the third quarter after a Michigan field goal and an Ohio State touchdown. However, after Michigan scored another touchdown, this one after a seven-play, 75-yard drive, they regained the lead and never looked back. After the Wolverines kicked a field goal to go up 30–24 late in the fourth quarter, Ohio State attempted a comeback but came up short when McCord threw a game-sealing interception. Michigan won “The Game” for the third year in a row and became the second-best team in the country, while Ohio State virtually dropped out of the CFP race. Ohio State’s regular season is finished while Michigan will compete against Iowa in the Big Ten Championship tomorrow.
Ducks Win Oregon–Oregon State Rivalry Game
On Nov. 24, the No. 5 Oregon Ducks played the annual Oregon–Oregon State rivalry game, formerly known as the Civil War, against the No. 21 Oregon State Beavers. The Ducks, led by Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Bo Nix, won 31–7. Nix passed for 367 yards and scored two touchdowns, one on the ground and one in the air. Ducks receivers Troy Franklin and Tez Johnson — Nix’s adopted brother — combined for 265 receiving yards and one touchdown, and running back Jordan James powered in a one-yard touchdown. Beavers quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, who just entered the transfer portal, threw for 220 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
The Oregon–Oregon State game was first played in 1894 and has since been played 127 times. In even years, the game is played at Reser Stadium at Oregon State; in odd years, the game is played at Autzen Stadium at the University of Oregon. The alumni association of the winning school receives the Platypus Trophy, which has both features of a duck bill and a beaver tail. 59,987 fans, the fourth-largest crowd in Autzen Stadium history, streamed through the gates to watch the game.
Both the Ducks and Beavers are currently a part of the Pac-12 Conference. The fate of the annual rivalry game is unclear; the University of Oregon and the University of Washington are leaving for the Big Ten next season, which means Oregon is not scheduled to play against Oregon State next year. Two teams in a similar situation to the Ducks and Beavers, the Washington Huskies and the Washington State Cougars agreed to keep playing the Apple Cup series for the next five seasons.
