Wednesday thoughts: The 2022 Michigan – Ohio State game (the subtle things) and the state of the rivalry

The 2022 Michigan – Ohio State game set up to be one of the more fascinating in the rivalry’s history, for a few reasons. For one (and foremost), the Buckeyes fans, players, parents, coaches, etc. publicly and privately wrote off U-M’s dominant, 42-27 win in 2021 as a one-off … a “we knew we couldn’t win every game, so this was eventually going to happen” type thing. 

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But they added their own twist with a litany of excuses (“snow flurries,” “some of our boys were so sick they could barely stand up,” etc.), and all pointed to the 2022 game in “there’s no way that happens again” mode.

Well … it happened again, and this time in Columbus. Had Michigan lost, most likely would have felt it was back to business as usual in the rivalry with OSU back on track after owning it for a decade and a half. With the win, though, U-M solidified its spot as a player in the rivalry again, with a chance to take control this year in Ann Arbor. 

And let’s be honest — we’re feeling better about Michigan’s chances in this one than any game in the series since probably 2003. Win three in a row and Buckeyes everywhere start curling up in the fetal position under their desks. 

Michigan 45*, Ohio State 23 — One last look … subtleties and behind the scenes 

We start with the asterisk, because we all know this would have been a 52-23 beatdown had the referee not blown the whistle on what could have been a scoop and score at game’s end.

Even the officials felt bad for the Buckeyes at this point, apparently, after Eyabi Okie’s brilliant spin move for a sack.

What we’ve picked up since and after watching this game about a dozen times … 

• Junior running back Blake Corum recently told us he knew in warm-ups he wasn’t going to be able to go very long, but he wanted to be there for his guys. Kind of a “Willis Reed” moment, though he didn’t last as long. 

And it did inspire them. So did Donovan Edwards. His learning to carry in his left hand brought back memories of center Steve Everitt learning to snap with his left after breaking his right hand back in the early 1990s. 

This is a bigger deal than most realize. Ball security is huge in this game. Watching Edwards put a nail in the coffin on his 75-yard, fourth quarter run with mangled thumb in the air as he approached the end zone … goosebumps. He secured his legacy and any questions about his toughness.

• As for that long run … after the Taylor Upshaw interception, we scrambled to the elevator to get to the field for the last few minutes on the way to the postgame press conference. We rode down with former OSU coach John Cooper … listening to his reaction when he learned Edwards had broken off another long one (the 85-yarder) was something we won’t forget (“again? You sure that wasn’t the replay?”). 

• Watching the film — what a game for sophomore safety Rod Moore. Head coach Jim Harbaugh talked about how much film he watched compared to other players. This game was proof of its importance. He jumped so many routes, and he’s such a sure tackler. This is one of the best games we’ve ever seen a safety play in this series. 

Now … how does Ryan Day respond? One thing about Jim Tressel, for example … he changed things up for the Wolverines, broke tendency. In some games, he’d set Michigan safeties up to get comfortable, only to burn them (either run or pass) with a big play by catching them off guard. Whether it was a receiver completely behind the defense, a 50- or -60-yard touchdown run at their expense … he was better than anyone we’d ever seen at scouting U-M and taking advantage. 

We’ll see what Day comes up with. The last two years, though, Michigan flat out dominated the second halves. That’s pretty telling. 

• One OSU coping mechanism after this one — the officiating. And they did have a point on one call. The tight end flinched on sophomore J.J. McCarthy’s first touchdown pass to senior Cornelius Johnson and could have been called for a false start. 

But … that happens (a lot). There were several plays in which the Ohio State tackles seemed to be getting off the ball before the snap. Not coincidentally, the last two games appeared to be two of the best officiated games in the series in the last decade. 

Amazing what an even whistle can provide in a game of relatively evenly matched teams. 

But it’s the defense the last few years that’s been the difference. The stops they made down 10-3 when OSU had several chances to open a two-score lead were huge. Mike Macdonald and Jesse Minter proved “solving your problems with aggression” probably isn’t the best way to slow the potent Ohio State offense after all. 

Quarterback CJ Stroud often was confused and had nowhere to go with the ball. At least three of his checkdowns resulted in lost yardage and huge momentum plays for the Wolverines. 

That’s another reason you feel confident heading into this year’s game if you’re a Michigan fan. That, and the tackling. These guys just don’t give up much yardage after contact … great technique, facemask to the chest, play after play.

• Colston Loveland’s big touchdown that gave Michigan the lead for good … interesting route. Was it really designed that way (kind of a rub route), or was it serendipity?

Regardless, this kid was playing high school ball in Idaho only a year earlier, and he makes that play in that game. That’s special.  

Also, watch the right tackle on the play. On this one and Johnson’s second score, Karsen Barnhart has just enough length to force the pass rusher outside and allow McCarthy to step up. 

Folks ask all the time why arm length matters on tackles. Here’s another exhibit. 

And kudos to J.J. McCarthy for adapting on the deep ball when it mattered most. He has ice in his veins. Never flustered. Great leader. It’s no wonder his teammates love him so much. 

• Finally … we loved the flag plant and loved it even more that some Ohio State fans were so up in arms about it. Tressel used to pull up a ladder and direct the band in the alma mater after wins in Michigan Stadium, but you want to cry about your rival celebrating on your turf?

Get outta here. 

And to get the Harbaugh Michigan fans signed up for … the “what’s your deal?” Jim. Not only didn’t he apologize, but he also said he wanted to get the flag and put it in the Towsley museum at Schembechler Hall. And he did. 

What it means going forward 

Every year is different, of course. But we always said getting the rivalry back meant Michigan getting that first one. Nobody on that team knew what it took to beat the Buckeyes, or what it felt like. 

Now, you’ve got juniors on the team who don’t know what it feels like to lose to these guys … who go in expecting to win. 

There are upperclassmen, too, who took their games to another level in this one and are returning for one last go ‘round with their rivals at home. Braiden McGregor played his best game against the Buckeyes. Tackle Kris Jenkins made two or three huge, game-changing plays, including drawing a hold on what would have been a big gain. 

The pressure is all on the Buckeyes and their coach, and they know it … just as it was last year. And they wilted under it. You could feel the air come out of the stadium in the second half just when they knew they were in game. Guys tightened up, and it got awfully quiet. 

This might be Harbaugh’s best team at Michigan. Ohio State will be breaking in a new quarterback and has question marks at a few positions, including offensive line. 

We can’t fast forward to late November, and we wouldn’t want to with this team. This is one that should be savored. But it’s a special feeling knowing you’re likely going to head into The Game with a lot at stake, and a great chance to win a third straight. 

We might not have guessed that after 2020 (if you did, you’re a liar), but that’s where we are in 2023. And while we don’t expect long stretches of dominance for the foreseeable future, it’s nice to have The Game back. 

Again — rivalry on.

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