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No. 3 Michigan has taken home their first win at the Horseshoe in over two decades, and may have effectively knocked No. 2 Ohio State out of College Football Playoff contention. As the Wolverines head to the Big Ten Conference Championship Game, Ohio State ends their season on the wrong end of a 45-23 blowout.
A closer game may have kept the Buckeyes in contention, but they were completely dominated by Michigan in the second half. Quarterback CJ Stroud was 17-for-26 in the first half, and 12-for-19 in the second, with an unfortunate interception on a desperation play in the last five minutes that led to a second 70-plus-yard Donovan Edwards touchdown to bury them in their own house.
Without a chance to prove their worth to the committee in a conference championship game, Ohio State’s spot might go to LSU, USC, a one-loss TCU, Oregon, or Alabama, depending on how the next two weeks go for each team.
The Wolverines’ defense struggled to contain OSU in the air and on the ground in the first quarter, but the secondary adjusted their coverage in the second quarter to keep CJ Stroud to 17-for-26.
A huge stop on a Buckeyes fourth down attempt in the first half helped keep the Wolverines in the game, and Michigan was able to effectively adjust their game plan in Blake Corum’s absence, relying on QB JJ McCarthy to make some big plays as well as RB Donovan Edwards. McCarthy threw for 263 yards and three touchdowns today, rushing for a fourth score.