1. Michigan still leads the series, with a record of 58-50-6 (.535 winning percentage) in The Game.
2. However, Michigan got out to an early lead in the series, and the Wolverines have been desperately clinging to that lead ever since. Michigan's heyday was from 1901 to 1933, when the Wolverines earned 15 Big Ten titles and 7 national championships. Through 1933, Michigan built up a record of 22-6-2 (.767 winning percentage) in The Game.
3. Even though Michigan clearly dominated the early years of the rivalry, the Wolverines actually underperformed against Buckeyes, as they owned a .793 winning percentage for all games through 1933, compared to a .767 winning percentage versus Ohio State.
4. Since 1933, Ohio State leads the series, with a record of 44-37-4 (.541 winning percentage) in The Game. Ohio State also leads in overall wins (668 to 623); winning percentage (.747 to .697); record in major bowl games (17-13 versus 10-15); Big ten titles (32 to 27); and recognized national championships (8 to 2).
5. Of course, Ohio State has dominated the series in the 21st century, winning 15 of the 17 Games played since 2001 (.882 winning percentage). Ohio State also leads Michigan in overall wins (183 to 138); winning percentage (.839 to .645); record in major games (8-5 versus 1-4); Big Ten titles (8 to 2, with 2017 still pending); and national championships (two to zero).
6. In yesterday's Game, Michigan easily won the first quarter, but Ohio State won each of the remaining three:
Ohio State was clearly the better conditioned team, so it is not surprising that the Buckeyes owned the 2nd quarter, when the Wolverines were running out of gas prior to halftime. Michigan had a brief surge after the intermission, but Ohio State once again pulled away in the fourth quarter. The Buckeyes' final drive, which started with 2:36 left on the clock, consisted of only three plays: a 35-yard run by J.K. Dobbins, a 6-yard run by Dobbins, and a 25-yard touchdown run by Mike Weber. Michigan was physically and mentally beat down by that point in the game, and Ohio State went 66 yards in just 52 seconds for the game clinching score against one of the nation's best defenses (at least by statistics).
7. Ohio State outgained Michigan 5.6 yards per play to 4.3 yards per play. After the first quarter, when Ohio State ran 9 plays for -6 yards, the Buckeyes averaged 6.6 yards per play (356 yards on 54 plays). Ohio State averages 7.0 yards per play for the 2017 season.
8. J.K. Dobbins now has 1,190 yards rushing on the season. With just 48 more yards, he will set the Ohio State freshman rushing mark currently held by Maurice Clarett (1,237 yards in 2002). Dobbins is currently averaging 7.3 yards per carry, which would tie him for the Buckeye single season record (Carlos Hyde, 7.3 ypc in 2013). In 164 rushes, Dobbins has just 9 negative yards.
9. Mike Weber has re-emerged from the doldrums to become tailback 1-B for the Buckeyes. In his last three games, Weber has 32 carries for 327 yards (10.2 ypc) and 5 touchdowns, including four touchdowns of 25+ yards (25, 43, 47, and 82 yards). For the season, Weber has 92 carries for 602 yards (6.5 ypc) and a team-high 10 touchdowns.
10. K.J. Hill has become a very reliable possession receiver for Ohio State, with 51 receptions for 519 yards (10.2 ypc) and 3 touchdowns on the season. Hill's 51 receptions already ties him for 25th best season by a Buckeye receiver (with Ted Ginn in 2005 and Anthony Gonzalez in 2006), and with at least two games left to be played he has a very good chance to break into the top ten (59 receptions would tie him for 10th place).
11. Cornerback Denzel Ward has 14 passes defensed (interceptions + passed broken up) in 2017. The Buckeyes' single-season record is 21 passes defensed by Ahmed Plummer in 1998.
12. In Urban Meyer's first five years at Ohio State, the Buckeye defense has averaged 25 turnovers and four touchdowns per season, with a high of 33 turnovers in the 2014 championship season and seven touchdowns last year. In 2017, the Buckeye defense has created only 18 turnovers and one touchdown (Jerome Baker's 20-yard fumble recovery against Maryland), and that lack of impact plays might be a reason why this Buckeye defense seems just a bit disappointing (that, and giving up 55 points to Iowa....).
13. Another reason might be that this Buckeye defense is high-risk, high-reward. Michigan ran 68 plays yesterday. On 43 of those plays, the Wolverines were held to 3 yards or less. However, the Wolverines also had 13 plays of 10+ yards, including 5 plays of 20+ yards, all of which equals a real mixed bag for the Buckeye defenders.
14. Here's a fun fact that you can pass along to all the tin foil hat Michigan fans out there: Ohio State was penalized 9 times for 75 yards; Michigan 6 times for 50 yards. So the Buckeyes had 50% more penalties for 50% more penalty yards than the Wolverines. Maybe some of the officiating crew were from the State of Michigan....
15. When I saw this play....
I immediately thought of this play....
Did anyone else feel the same way?
2. However, Michigan got out to an early lead in the series, and the Wolverines have been desperately clinging to that lead ever since. Michigan's heyday was from 1901 to 1933, when the Wolverines earned 15 Big Ten titles and 7 national championships. Through 1933, Michigan built up a record of 22-6-2 (.767 winning percentage) in The Game.
3. Even though Michigan clearly dominated the early years of the rivalry, the Wolverines actually underperformed against Buckeyes, as they owned a .793 winning percentage for all games through 1933, compared to a .767 winning percentage versus Ohio State.
4. Since 1933, Ohio State leads the series, with a record of 44-37-4 (.541 winning percentage) in The Game. Ohio State also leads in overall wins (668 to 623); winning percentage (.747 to .697); record in major bowl games (17-13 versus 10-15); Big ten titles (32 to 27); and recognized national championships (8 to 2).
5. Of course, Ohio State has dominated the series in the 21st century, winning 15 of the 17 Games played since 2001 (.882 winning percentage). Ohio State also leads Michigan in overall wins (183 to 138); winning percentage (.839 to .645); record in major games (8-5 versus 1-4); Big Ten titles (8 to 2, with 2017 still pending); and national championships (two to zero).
6. In yesterday's Game, Michigan easily won the first quarter, but Ohio State won each of the remaining three:
| Quarter | OSU Points | UM Points | OSU Yards | UM Yards | OSU Possess | UM Possess |
| 1st | 0 | 14 | -6 | 105 | 4:32 | 10:28 |
| 2nd | 14 | 0 | 123 | 41 | 9:03 | 5:57 |
| 3rd | 7 | 6 | 86 | 68 | 8:15 | 6:45 |
| 4th | 10 | 0 | 147 | 81 | 9:27 | 5:33 |
| Total | 31 | 20 | 350 | 295 | 31:17 | 28:43 |
7. Ohio State outgained Michigan 5.6 yards per play to 4.3 yards per play. After the first quarter, when Ohio State ran 9 plays for -6 yards, the Buckeyes averaged 6.6 yards per play (356 yards on 54 plays). Ohio State averages 7.0 yards per play for the 2017 season.
8. J.K. Dobbins now has 1,190 yards rushing on the season. With just 48 more yards, he will set the Ohio State freshman rushing mark currently held by Maurice Clarett (1,237 yards in 2002). Dobbins is currently averaging 7.3 yards per carry, which would tie him for the Buckeye single season record (Carlos Hyde, 7.3 ypc in 2013). In 164 rushes, Dobbins has just 9 negative yards.
9. Mike Weber has re-emerged from the doldrums to become tailback 1-B for the Buckeyes. In his last three games, Weber has 32 carries for 327 yards (10.2 ypc) and 5 touchdowns, including four touchdowns of 25+ yards (25, 43, 47, and 82 yards). For the season, Weber has 92 carries for 602 yards (6.5 ypc) and a team-high 10 touchdowns.
10. K.J. Hill has become a very reliable possession receiver for Ohio State, with 51 receptions for 519 yards (10.2 ypc) and 3 touchdowns on the season. Hill's 51 receptions already ties him for 25th best season by a Buckeye receiver (with Ted Ginn in 2005 and Anthony Gonzalez in 2006), and with at least two games left to be played he has a very good chance to break into the top ten (59 receptions would tie him for 10th place).
11. Cornerback Denzel Ward has 14 passes defensed (interceptions + passed broken up) in 2017. The Buckeyes' single-season record is 21 passes defensed by Ahmed Plummer in 1998.
12. In Urban Meyer's first five years at Ohio State, the Buckeye defense has averaged 25 turnovers and four touchdowns per season, with a high of 33 turnovers in the 2014 championship season and seven touchdowns last year. In 2017, the Buckeye defense has created only 18 turnovers and one touchdown (Jerome Baker's 20-yard fumble recovery against Maryland), and that lack of impact plays might be a reason why this Buckeye defense seems just a bit disappointing (that, and giving up 55 points to Iowa....).
13. Another reason might be that this Buckeye defense is high-risk, high-reward. Michigan ran 68 plays yesterday. On 43 of those plays, the Wolverines were held to 3 yards or less. However, the Wolverines also had 13 plays of 10+ yards, including 5 plays of 20+ yards, all of which equals a real mixed bag for the Buckeye defenders.
14. Here's a fun fact that you can pass along to all the tin foil hat Michigan fans out there: Ohio State was penalized 9 times for 75 yards; Michigan 6 times for 50 yards. So the Buckeyes had 50% more penalties for 50% more penalty yards than the Wolverines. Maybe some of the officiating crew were from the State of Michigan....
15. When I saw this play....
I immediately thought of this play....
Did anyone else feel the same way?
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