Ohio State 30, Michigan 27 (2 OT) Comment Count

Ace



Short. [Patrick Barron/MGoBlog]

I'm staring at my laptop and the sea of exultant Ohio State fans on the field below dancing to "Sweet Caroline" and I feel sick.

Sick that Michigan threw away multiple chances to win this game in regulation. Sick that a dozen little plays one way or the other change the outcome. Sick at that spot. That fucking spot.

Michigan should be playing for the Big Ten championship and a spot in the playoff next weekend. Instead, they will sit at home as either Ohio State or Penn State represents the East. That spot, that fucking spot, will stick in the collective Wolverine memory for much, much longer.

The Wolverines controlled most of this game. Wilton Speight battled back from his still-undisclosed injury to throw for 219 yards and two scores, an effort that would take its place in the pantheon of heroic rivalry performances had the outcome gone the other way. Speight's two interceptions, however, were turned into two Ohio State touchdowns, and that allowed the Buckeyes to keep it close enough to force overtime on a 23-yard Tyler Durbin field goal with one second left in regulation.

The defense, which had played a spectacular game, looked worn out in the first overtime period, ceding a JT Barrett touchdown run on the second play. Speight responded with a fourth-down touchdown to Amara Darboh. Michigan's ensuing possession ended with a field goal after a questionable non-call on a third-down pass to Perry, leaving the door open for Ohio State to win it.

Seemingly given new life, the defense forced an all-or-nothing fourth-and-one. Barrett kept it. The officials gave him a generous spot, and even though it appeared on replay that Barrett's right arm—the one holding the football—never reached the line to gain, that spot, that fucking spot, stood upon review.

In a not-so-alternate universe in which the men in charge of the game are competent, there are Muppets and joy and appreciation of one of the most dramatic football games in recent memory or perhaps ever and scrambling to finalize plans for next weekend. Alas, that fucking spot. Alas.

Comments

JJJ

November 26th, 2016 at 11:08 PM ^

Did anyone see another angle? How is it possible ghat we only see the distorted angle that makes it look close. I'm pretty sure there are close to 20 cameras on that play. OSU must be able to limit the feeds. I smell a cover-up. Why aren't plays reviewed by an impartial committee in Chicago rather than the ref who made the call?

bluepow

November 27th, 2016 at 9:48 AM ^

You have taken an angled shot and made it look straight.  That is not how this works.  My single question: why not measure?  Make it a 50/50 call based on where the chains fall.  I am most infuriated that didn't happen.

Tom Eng 78

November 27th, 2016 at 9:49 AM ^

That's not a direct overhead shot.  It's an angle shot taken from the offense side of the first down line.  From that angle, when the ball is above ground, in the line of the shot,  it would be lined up with a point further downfield from the spot where it is actually lined up vertically.  Sorry you're too stupid to know this.

TIMMMAAY

November 27th, 2016 at 12:12 PM ^

I hate dishonest arguments (and people). If you honestly think that that "angle" shows that you're assessment is correct, then you should play school a little more. If not, then you're just a dishonest person.

In fact, that angle pretty much proves that you're wrong, as basic geometry (or trig, if we want to get more involved) would prove.

 

SD Larry

November 27th, 2016 at 3:00 PM ^

officials the last few years, that would be a much improved solution to the present unsatisfactory procedure.  It is just not working well big picture as being done today.

jmblue

November 26th, 2016 at 6:05 PM ^

The double-standard on PI/defensive holding in this game was infuriating.  You call it on marginal contact by Hill on a key 3rd down for OSU (on their final drive in regulation) and then swallow your whistle on a virtually identical defensive play on a key 3rd down for us in OT?  Not to mention that Speight's pass was actually catchable.

 

Stringer Bell

November 26th, 2016 at 4:39 PM ^

The officiating in this game was an absolute travesty.  Even beyond the spot, they call that PI on Delano Hill on a ball that was completely uncatchable, thus extending OSU's game tying drive, and then let OSU get away with the same exact thing on Michigan's final OT drive.  Speight played a gutsy game but made 3 critical mistakes, without one of those we win this game.  

 

Defense played terrific and Don Brown seems like the right guy to counter Meyer's spread attack.  Restock the defense, get more talent on offense, and things will start going our way in this series.

YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

November 26th, 2016 at 8:50 PM ^

the OL was just average and Smith is a goog situational back. Does anyone really expect Smith to have a robust NFL career?

We need a freak like Elliott or at least a big-time RB along with a very good OL. Hopefully Evans with 1-yr S&C and Kareem can provide the burst necessary. As for OL, we need guys like Runyan, Jansen, Adami and others who can roadgrade when a 1st down is crucial. Kalis has limited agility, Mags is limited strength wise and Braden has limited agility & targeting. They are good but not top tier. 

maize-blue

November 27th, 2016 at 10:09 AM ^

I agree. Just look at how this team finished, losing 2 of it's last 3. They didn't run well down the stretch. We're used the current O lineman but they never were road grading run blockers. Cole is fine but I don' t know if he has the aggression to become a beast in the trenches. Bredeson is young so we'll see where that goes. 

Regarding the RB's, there is no game dominator on the roster. I think Evans can be a playmaker but probably not an every down guy. Higdon is well rounded but probably is not going to carry a team. Isaac seems to be getting squeezed out. Maybe Walker can be the guy? I'm hoping more now that we can flip Najee Harris.

This team just did't have the ability to put together soul crushing, clock chewing, knockout drives. This lets other teams hang around and your defense wear.

It seems we've been saying the same thing for years but the run game has to improve for this team to take another step.

Goggles Paisano

November 27th, 2016 at 5:36 AM ^

Our DL was dominating this game with 8 sacks, lots of pressures and just plain living in the backfield.  And yet not one holding call.  But they did call Cole for pushing a guy in the face which in full speed was minor at best.  And it didn't even impact the play.  That was the call that changed the game.  We were up 10 with a first down around the 50 and one guy who will likely be back in his office tomorrow selling insurance or toner decides he needs to throw a flag on that play.  It wasn't but a few plays later that osu is starting their 2nd TD drive from our 5 yd line.  

BornSinner

November 26th, 2016 at 4:39 PM ^

Lol. Michigan fans blaming the spot is deflecting from what actually lost this game in regulation.

1. Speights choking turnovers
2. Harbaughs anger on the sidelines

Osu now has the mental advantage forever. Meyer just beat Harbaugh with a team full of freshmen and sophomores.

Hello John Cooper!

victors2000

November 26th, 2016 at 5:41 PM ^

we still could have won that game comfortably had the refs called the game fairly. If you are going to call the PI on Delano for what he did, you HAVE to call it on Conley! The play were two OSU guys hit Speight after he had already thrown the ball, THERE IS A REF WATCHING FOR THAT AND HE DIDN'T BOTHER TO CALL IT ON EITHER BUCKEYE. ESPECIALLY THE ONE WHO THREW HIM DOWN.

Two penalties on the buckeyes for 6 yards, 7 penalties on the Wolverines for 59 yards? There is no way that was fairly reffed.

The one penalty where facemask was called on the long Daveon run, is that really the way the penalty should have been assessed? Daveon already had the first down yardage; why should the team be penalized twice by the same penalty?