12/2 – Games like that are just not supposed to happen, but Michigan shocked the world on Saturday. Here are the biggest takeaways from a monumental upset over the Buckeyes:
Truth be told, I find this post tough to write each week, as I try not to overreact to a single game. But oh boy, there is no holding back after this one. No one expected the Michigan Wolverines to waltz into the Horseshoe and log their fourth straight victory in The Game. But thank goodness everyone — including me — was proven so very wrong.
With the regular season now complete, we can more or less close the book on 2024. It was a frustrating year and one that will soon be forgotten, thanks to brighter days ahead. With that hope in mind, Saturday’s win over No. 2 Ohio State feels more like a prologue to the future than a conclusion to this year. Here are my biggest takeaways from the massive upset.
O-H
Oh, what a way to make a statement. Michigan did exactly what it has done in each of the past four years: run the ball right at the Buckeyes and play lights-out defense to stymie their lethal offense. It felt impossible for this blueprint to work even before the two most important players on the roster were ruled out. But in hindsight, it all looks so simple as the same script played out once again.
Michigan winning in this fashion again absolutely shifts the paradigm. Ohio State continues to out-recruit and outspend the Wolverines, but in this specific game, it fails to matter. Development is clearly more important than talent alone, and even raw talent is insufficient if it is not in the right places. Sure, the Buckeyes had injuries along the offensive line, but they still were not equipped to stop this defensive front — or smart enough to scheme around it. And not having a competent kicker is simply inexcusable with an unlimited budget.
At this point, it feels like Ohio State needs to completely overhaul its approach to this rivalry. There was no advanced scouting, no Jim Harbaugh, and no closeness in talent on Saturday. Maybe those excuses worked in the past, but the 2024 edition of The Game proved that Ohio State is fundamentally broken. Michigan owns this rivalry now; the stretch from 2004 to 2019 is long gone and is not coming back anytime soon.
I-O
I owe Sherrone Moore (and staff) an apology. The questionable decisions in Bloomington and struggles over the first 10 weeks seemed to imply he just was not equipped for this job. His coordinator selections deserved criticism as well, especially as Wink Martindale looked completely unable or unwilling to make it work in college during his first month or so on the job.
Based on the past two weeks, however, there is strong reason for optimism among the Michigan coaching ranks. Moore pushed all the right buttons and dealt well with a severely limited roster, and Martindale has been objectively impressive down the stretch, capping the regular season with a masterpiece against the dangerous Ohio State offense. Kirk Campbell is probably the odd man out here, though many of this offense’s issues are not his fault.
Was it a bad first half of the season? Absolutely. But this legendary win, paired with some clearly improved performances over the last month, indicates that we might have been a little too quick to judge. Add in the recent recruiting wins, and suddenly this staff looks ready to take off. Maybe Michigan did not bring in offensive guru Chip Kelly, but I think I know which staff I prefer going forward. Hint: it is not the one led by Ryan Day.
By Kyle Yost @kye_ill Dec 2, 2024, 7:00am CST