ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Think of The Game as Michigan must.
The talent edge belongs to Ohio State, so the Wolverines must search for an edge somewhere else. On Saturday, the Wolverines early on pieced together a precise passing game that picked apart the No. 1 defense in the nation, quarterback Shea Patterson getting the ball out of his hand to a bevy of pass catchers. Michigan moved the ball almost at will in the first half. The Buckeyes came in allowing 126 passing yards per game, and Michigan topped that after the first quarter.
Patterson finished 18 of 43 for 305 yards. And ... it wasn’t enough. Michigan executed an ideal offensive plan in the two quarters ... and trailed by 12 at the half. The Wolverines briefly rallied early in the fourth quarter ... but that came after they trailed by 26. Michigan limited Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields to 14 completions ... but he still threw for 302 yards and four touchdowns.
It wasn’t enough. Ohio State drubbed Michigan 56-27. It wasn’t nearly enough.
Michigan did something very well. Against Ohio State at this stage in The Game, Michigan must do everything well. Ohio State recruits more talent and treats the rivalry with a sharper edge. That means when the last Saturday in November arrives, Michigan is already behind.
At 12-0 and as the No. 1 team in the nation, as the winner now of eight straight games in this rivalry and 15 of the last 16, Ohio State demands of Michigan (9-3) a level of perfection that the Wolverines have been unable to muster in this Jim Harbaugh era, the former Michigan quarterback now 0-5 in the rivalry as a coach. They actually haven’t mustered it for nearly two decades.
Ohio State first-year coach Ryan Day was a ready leader, J.K. Dobbins was a rushing monster and Fields was a returning hero, coming out of the medical tent with a brace on his left knee and throwing a touchdown pass on his first play back after going down in the third quarter. If Michigan thought Day was new, or Dobbins could be stopped, or Fields might be hurt for the rest of the game, none of that was a problem for Ohio State.
The Buckeyes, headed to the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis next week and on track for the College Football Playoff, weren’t perfect, but they didn’t have to be. Missing injured starting cornerback Shaun Wade, the defense looked more vulnerable than at any point this season. But Michigan also owned the best throwing game they’d seen. Defensive end Chase Young didn’t completely dominate as he has at times this season, and Fields was a little off-target early.
But ground power and big plays in the passing game were enough. Dobbins carried 31 times for 211 yards. Freshman receiver Garrett Wilson caught three passes for 118 yards and Chris Olave hauled in a 57-yard touchdown.
Ohio State made big plays. Michigan made big mistakes.
The Wolverines marched down the field for a touchdown to open the game, but missed the extra point. Patterson dropped a shotgun snap in the red zone and fumbled away what seemed to be a touchdown drive. Michigan jumped offsides on an Ohio State punt, and the Buckeyes turned the extra first down into seven points. Harbaugh twice took field goals when he had the chance for aggressive fourth-down touchdown calls. A late hit on Fields out of bounds pushed the Buckeyes to the 2, and they soon scored.
Take away all those mistakes and you might swing the game by 20 points. Michigan lost by 29. Right now, Michigan perfection wouldn’t definitely beat Ohio State. It would only give the Wolverines a chance.
What Harbaugh’s team gave Saturday wasn’t enough. It wasn’t nearly enough. It makes you wonder when it might be.
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