Michigan DB Rod Moore’s game-winning INT vs. Buckeyes was personal

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Rod Moore’s second interception of the season could not have come at a better time. Or against a more relevant opponent.

With the Ohio State offense marching down the field in the game’s final seconds on Saturday, with the ball and inside the Michigan 40-yard line, the Wolverines’ junior safety stepped up and picked off a Kyle McCord pass to help seal his team’s 30-24 win.

The victory was Michigan’s third in as many years over Ohio State, sending it to the Big Ten championship game on Saturday.

“Being from Ohio, this whole game was personal,” Moore, a Clayton, Ohio, native, said. “The whole year, it’s so personal. I said before the defense went out there, I told myself, ‘You either going to make the play or somebody else is’ to seal the game.

“And I made the play.”

Michigan left little time thanks to a 13-play, 56-yard drive that took seven minutes off the clock and netted it a field goal, forcing the Buckeyes to go 81 yards in one minute without a timeout. McCord, the Ohio State quarterback, hit Marvin Harrison Jr. on a deep 22-yard completion to get things moving, setting up a 21-yard completion over the middle of the field to Julian Fleming, who subsequently fumbled the football.

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Replay review confirmed the catch and recovery for the Buckeyes, who moved into Michigan territory with under 30 seconds to play.

“I have so much trust in that defense,” Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy said after. “Obviously we see them every single day, so I know how good they are. I’m not lying to you — I really felt like Rod was going to make that play.”

That’s when McCord, facing pressure in the pocket from Michigan edge rusher Jaylen Harrell and push from defensive tackle Mason Graham, let fly an under-thrown pass that Moore had no trouble coming down with. The interception was Michigan’s second of the game, after cornerback Will Johnson intercepted a McCord pass in the first quarter that helped set up the team’s first touchdown.

“Ice in his veins,” Michigan running back Blake Corum said. “Seeing Rod out there getting that pick, it just brought joy to my heart. I knew he was ready; I knew he was ready for the moment.”

The interception was Moore’s second of the season, after the 6-foot, 198-pound defensive back came down with one against Indiana. He missed the first three games on the schedule while recovering from injury, slowing his start to the season.

Since then, Moore has played exceptional in Michigan’s biggest games this season; racking up six tackles (including one for a loss) at Penn State and five on Saturday against Ohio State, a team he grew up watching.

“I can’t really put into words how I’m feeling,” Moore said. “Just being a three-peat and being from Ohio, it feels great. Especially them guys not recruiting me coming out of high school. Just being able to beat ‘em and get the get-back on ‘em feels so good.”