In a rivalry filled with memorable games, this year’s version of The Game has to be one of the greatest ever. Back and forth, with the game ending on a thwarted effort by Michigan to get a two-point conversion and spring a stunning upset. But Ohio State’s defense, which had been gashed repeatedly during the day, finally made a play, Tyvis Powell knocked down the pass, and the Buckeyes hung on to win.
This was the kind of game that makes the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry the greatest rivalry in college sports. Michigan ran just about every play in their playbook, their much-maligned offensive line held up, and Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner was a warrior who played a virtually flawless game. He never quit, and neither did the Wolverine coaching staff. Michigan just kept coming, and coming, and coming. They gained more than 600 yards — 600 yards! — and were clicking on all cylinders. I give great credit to the Michigan team, from the head coach on down, for developing a near-perfect game plan and showing what this rivalry is all about.
Fortunately for me and other Pepto-Bismol-guzzling members of Buckeye Nation, the Wolverines had no answer for the Ohio State offense. For the Buckeyes, the accolades must start with the offensive line. The Buckeyes front wall pushed the Michigan defensive line around like a precision lawnmowing team, and Carlos Hyde and Braxton Miller took full advantage. The Buckeyes ran for 393 yards — 393 yards! — and Carlos Hyde rumbled for the most yards ever by an OSU running back against the Wolverines. I was especially glad to see Carlos Hyde, who has been a monster, bounce back from his fumble to score the winning touchdown.
So, the Buckeyes’ winning streak continues. The pundits can talk all they want about style points, and we can worry about that porous defense next week. For tonight, Columbus and Ohio and Buckeye lovers everywhere will breathe a sigh of relief and crack open a cold one. The Buckeyes won against their great rival, stay in the hunt for a BCS title game spot, and move on to the Big Ten championship game next weekend. That’s good enough for me.
I’m not sure what factors Brandon considers important, but it is hard for me to believe that any factors would point in favor of keeping Rodriguez. He has a losing record. He has never beaten Ohio State, or even played a competitive game against them. His conference record is awful. His defenses have gotten progressively worse from year to year. His offenses put up flashy numbers against poor teams, but tend to come up empty against the better teams. And Michigan’s game yesterday against Mississippi State demonstrated all of those problems. Michigan scored twice in the first quarter and then was shut out for the rest of the game. In the meantime, the Bulldogs dominated the Wolverine defense and scored 42 — 42! — unanswered points.
In recent years Big Ten fans have paid careful attention to the conference’s bowl record. They feel like the Big Ten is disrespected on the national level, particularly in comparison to the SEC. (I regret to say that Ohio State is responsible for a lot of this perception. The Buckeyes are one of the Big Ten’s flagship programs, and they have never beaten an SEC team in a bowl game. That record unfortunately includes two national championship game losses.) Bowl games are supposed to be fun, but for the Big Ten they are serious business, and not just because they produce significant revenue for the member schools. Big Ten fans want everyone to recognize what they believe to be true — that the Big Ten is the best conference in the country, with the biggest stadiums, the richest traditions, the greatest rivalries, and the most dedicated fans. If you want to exercise such bragging rights, however, you have to earn them on the field.
This year the Big Ten has gotten off to a good start in bowl season. It is 2-0, with Illinois and Iowa both posting bowl wins. Today will tell the tale, however, particularly since three of the bowl games match up the Big Ten and the SEC. Each of the games, moreover, poses intriguing questions and matchups. How will Northwestern perform without their fine quarterback, Dan Persa, and will it be able to win its first bowl game since the Truman Administration? Can Michigan State put a signature win over the defending national champions as a capstone on a break-through season that has seen the Spartans win 11 games? How will Michigan’s Denard Robinson fare against the Bulldogs, and can the beleaguered Michigan defense keep the Wolverines in the game? And which Penn State and Florida teams will show up for the Outback Bowl?
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