Michigan’s offense held to a season-low 163 yards as the Buckeyes dominated late, outgaining the Wolverines 419–163 and reclaiming control of “The Game.”
Michigan (9–3) delivered an explosive start and grabbed early momentum, but Ohio State (12–0) showcased why it entered the weekend as the nation’s top-ranked team — overpowering the Wolverines on both sides of the ball, seizing control before halftime, and choking out the final 30 minutes with old-fashioned ground dominance.
Michigan Starts Fast, But Ohio State Slams the Door
The Wolverines struck first after receiving the opening kickoff. RB Jordan Marshall carved through the Buckeye front for 48 total yards on the opening possession, setting up a 45-yard field goal from Dominic Zvada.
Michigan doubled its lead 15 seconds later when Jyaire Hill intercepted Ohio State QB Julian Sayin on the Buckeyes’ second snap. Marshall broke off another chunk run, and Zvada connected again — this time from 25 yards to push the lead to 6–0.
It was the kind of start Michigan needed.
It was also the last time the Wolverines would control the game's flow.
Buckeyes’ Offense Finds Rhythm — and Never Looks Back
Sayin and the Buckeye offense responded with championship-level poise, tearing off 419 total yards, the second-most Michigan has allowed all season. Ohio State’s receivers exploited the Wolverines' back end, finishing with a 233–63 passing advantage, while the run game hit its stride late.
The Buckeyes went 10-for-16 on third and fourth downs, extending drives, flipping field position, and slowly gutting Michigan’s defense. Only two Ohio State drives ended in punts.
A 50-yard touchdown strike in the third quarter cracked the game open, and from there the Buckeyes leaned on the ground attack, chewing 23:40 of second-half possession time.
Michigan’s Offense Hits Season Low
What began with promise quickly turned into frustration for the Wolverines.
The Wolverines went 1-for-10 on third- and fourth-down conversions, constantly facing long-yardage situations and failing to finish drives. Zvada drilled his third field goal — a 47-yarder — late in the first half, cutting it to 14–9, but Michigan never scored again.
Bright Spots in a Tough Afternoon
Despite the loss, a few Wolverines stood out:
- Jyaire Hill grabbed the early interception that set up Michigan’s second scoring drive.
- LB Jimmy Rolder delivered a career-best 12 tackles and 1.5 TFLs, anchoring a defense forced into extended stints on the field.
- Jordan Marshall sparked the offense early and accounted for the bulk of Michigan’s production.
But the Wolverines’ inability to sustain drives eventually broke down the defense, which was left to shoulder far too much of the load.
What This Means for Both Teams
Ohio State:
The Buckeyes not only snapped Michigan’s dominance in the rivalry but also entered the postseason undefeated, looking every bit like a national-title front-runner.
Michigan:
The Wolverines close the regular season with their first home loss of 2025 and their first loss after scoring first. At 9–3, Michigan now turns its attention to bowl selection and the postseason reset that awaits.
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-- By Lakisha Brown
© Copyright 2025 JWT Communications. All rights reserved. This article cannot be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten, or distributed in any form without written permission.
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