UM stunned Ohio State to close out the regular season with an upset win in Columbus

Website: Columbus, Ohio (Ohio Stadium)

Score: Michigan 13, #2 Ohio State 10

Records: UM (7-5, 5-4 B1G), Ohio State (10-2, 7-2 B1G)

Participation: 106,005

Next UM event: Still open

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The University of Michigan football team concluded the 2024 regular season with a 13-10 victory over No. 2 rival Ohio State on Saturday (Nov. 30) at Ohio Stadium. The Wolverines held the Buckeyes scoreless the entire second half and finished the game with a strong rushing attack.

With 6:13 left in the game and the score tied at 10-10, the Wolverines launched an 11-play drive that consisted of running plays, including nine runs for 53 yards Kalel Mullings. The drive lasted more than five minutes and ended with a 21-yard field goal Dominic Zvada Taking a 13:10 lead with 45 seconds left in the contest. UM secured the upset win on the defensive side of the ball, holding the Buckeyes to just one yard on the final drive of the game.

The Maize and Blue defense shined in the win, holding Ohio State to a season-low 10 points and 252 total yards. The Wolverines added two interceptions Aamir Hall And Makari Paige to prevent Ohio State from scoring. In the final frame of the game, Michigan allowed just 10 total yards and zero first downs to secure the win.

Mullings threw the ball 32 times for 119 yards and scored UM’s only touchdown. As a unit, the Michigan offense totaled 234 yards (172 rushing, 62 passing) and owned the ball seven minutes longer than the Buckeyes.

After punting on their first possession, the Wolverines allowed a nine-play drive that featured a steady dose of Ohio State’s passing game. Michigan created a red zone stand and held the Buckeyes to a 29-yard field goal.

UM responded with a long drive of its own, a 6:30 march down the field before being stopped by a fourth-down rushing attempt at Ohio State’s three-yard line. Momentum quickly swung back Michigan’s way as Hall jumped a route, intercepted a pass at the OSU 13-yard line and returned the ball to the OSU two-yard line. Two plays later, Mullings hit the ball into the end zone from one yard out for a 7-3 lead in the second quarter.

After the Buckeyes missed a 38-yard field goal attempt and were forced to punt on their next offensive drive after a three-and-out, the Wolverines were lined up at OSU’s 39-yard line. The offensive momentum failed to gain momentum, but Zvada capitalized on the opportunity with a 54-yard field goal to take a 10-3 lead with 2:15 left in the first half.

Ohio State closed the first half with a nine-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a 10-yard passing touchdown to tie the game 10-10 at halftime.

At the start of the second half, the teams traded punts and then turnovers. A flying Paige previously intercepted an Ohio State pass at the UM nine-yard line Davis Warren threw an interception himself to give the Buckeyes the ball back into Michigan territory. The Maize and Blue defense formed a strong front and held OSU to a 34-yard field goal attempt that fell short for the second time that afternoon.

As the game stalled at a 10-10 tie, a UM offensive offensive began. A key play came when Warren, rolling out to his right, found Peyton O’Leary for a sliding 18-yard catch down the sideline on third down to keep the drive going and put the Wolverines into OSU territory. Warren was lined up at Ohio State’s three-yard line and threw his second interception of the game to give the Buckeyes the ball with less than eight minutes to play.

UM ran the clock down to 45 seconds and finally kicked the game-winning field goal before setting up a defensive stand to secure the 13-10 victory in the rivalry game.

With the regular season now complete, the Wolverines are waiting for bowl game announcements to see who and where they will play this postseason.