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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan defeated Ohio State on Saturday, 42-27, in a game that not many people predicted would happen — a Michigan win.
The Wolverines have lost nine straight games to the Buckeyes, and the last time the maize and blue had defeated Ohio State was back in 2011.
Even though both teams entered the game at 10-1, most people thought that Ohio State would either win the game closely or blow Michigan out of the water, like it did last week to Michigan State. The story has been written, however, and it did not go like that.
Instead, the Wolverines did what they do best — run the ball. Michigan rushed for 297 yards on the day, and Hassan Haskins led the charge with 169 yards and five scores. The Michigan offensive line had another great day, even against the No. 11 ranked rushing defense that Ohio State bolstered coming into the game.
While the Michigan offense did what it needed to do to win, the Wolverines defense was sensational.
Ohio State has the No. 1 offense in the nation for a reason — it’s prolific. The Buckeyes have three receivers that could be a No. 1 on most teams in the country, and the Buckeyes also have a freshman sensation at running back. But none of those things stopped Aidan Hutchinson and company from helping Michigan go to its first Big Ten Championship game next weekend.
Hutchinson remains the star of the defense, he was all over the place on Saturday and caused a ton of havoc on the Buckeye offense. Hutchinson recorded seven sacks, three tackles-for-loss, and three sacks while cementing his legacy as one of the best Michigan defensive players to walk the streets of Ann Arbor.
Aidan Hutchinson, among four other Michigan players, met with the media after the game to talk about the gigantic win over its arch-rival.
Hutchinson talked about how both the offense and defense complemented each other. He said that the offense gained a ton of yards, and the defense did what it needed to do.
“We played really complementary – offense and defense,” said Hutchinson. “The offense was moving the ball up and down the field. Defensively, we let up a couple of big plays, that we knew we would let up, but we got big in the red zone on those drives.”
In the first defensive possession, he saw Ohio State get a false start and fumble the snap. Hutchinson gave credit to the crowd at the Big House for being so loud.
“I think the crowd was the loudest I ever heard the Big House – the most invested, rightfully so, but it was such a great atmosphere,” said Hutchinson. “Talk about a good group of fans.”
When Hutchinson got his third sack on C.J. Stroud, he became the single-season sack leader in Michigan history with 13 sacks.
What does that feel like to be the season leader in sacks for a program like Michigan? Well, he truthfully wanted to just beat his dad, Chris Hutchinson — a former All-American.
“It was crazy,” said Hutchinson. “I can’t really put it into words, I just really wanted to beat my dad. I guess I went a little further, it’s so cool, and a moment I can’t wait to share with my dad.”
Hutchinson has said multiple times that a big reason he stayed another season at Michigan was to beat Ohio State. He said after this win he is going to remember everything — every play and yard — and he said he has visualized this day for a long time.
“Everything, everything about it,” said Hutchinson. “The emotions, plays, going into this game – we started in January all the work we put in. Mentally and physically to get over that hump, if that’s what you want to call it, to beat Ohio State.”
“This was it right here. I visualized fans storming the field, the goalposts coming down – I don’t think they came down – all of that. I was crying, we did it, and it was something I’ve been thinking about for years now.”
There were a couple of different altercations during the game between the two teams: a locker room spat, and an on-the-field argument. Hutchinson didn’t mince words when asked about that. He said Ohio State was about the talk, but Michigan was about it.
“Yeah, man,” said Hutchinson. “These guys have been disrespecting us, stepping on our jerseys, talking about hanging 100 on us – all that rah-rah and talk, but we were about it today.”
It got leaked back in the spring, how Michigan had a “What are you doing today to beat Ohio State” sign in its locker room. Hutchinson talked about that, and how all their hard work this offseason was about beating the Buckeyes.
“I told you guys on Big Ten media day that we were emphasizing this game more,” said Hutchinson. “I had a lot of questions on how we were doing that, but I told you to trust me, we were doing it. You saw how we played in that dominating fashion.”
“It’s an electronic image we had in January and something that we changed this offseason – staring them in the face and not fearing them. Everything we did in the offseason when it comes to training or practicing, was to beat Ohio State.”
It’s not yet known who Michigan will face in the Big Ten Championship game, but it will happen, and it will take place next Saturday.
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