Revisiting Michigan’s last two wins vs. Ohio State: What were the keys?

ANN ARBOR – Thousands of fans stormed the field at Michigan Stadium on Nov. 21, 2021 as the Wolverines snapped an eight-game skid against its arch rival.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh said the 42-27 win over Ohio State felt like “the best one” during his Wolverines’ tenure as he often was criticized for the team falling short in rivalry games.

Last year, Michigan showed 2021 wasn’t a fluke, going into Columbus and leaving with a 45-23 victory to cap an undefeated regular season.

The Wolverines hadn’t won consecutive games in the series since 1999-2000 and hadn’t won back-to-back by double digits since 1947-48.

How were Harbaugh’s teams able to upend the Buckeyes despite being bettering underdogs in both games? Here were the keys to victory as the two teams prepare for another top-three undefeated showdown Saturday in Ann Arbor.

Dominating the trenches

Michigan’s offensive line won the Joe Moore Award as the best in the country in 2021 and 2022, and it certainly went to work against OSU. The Wolverines’ strength up front combined with the hard-running style of 6-foot-1, 220-pound Hassan Haskins wore down the Buckeyes’ defense in the first meeting. Haskins tied a program record with five rushing touchdowns and totaled 169 rushing yards on 28 carries.

Cade McNamara threw an early interception and only had 15 pass attempts as Michigan stuck to its identity running the ball. Blake Corum returned from an ankle injury and carried six times for 87 yards. The Wolverines took the lead for good at the 3:51 mark of the second quarter, and the Buckeyes essentially abandoned their run game. Michigan outgained OSU 297 yards to 64 on the ground.

It also held a 252-143 rushing yards advantage in 2022, but 160 of those yards came on two Donovan Edwards runs in the fourth quarter that iced the game for the Wolverines. Michigan was without Corum for most of the game after he re-aggravated a knee injury, forcing Edwards into a featured role. OSU bottled up Edwards, who was playing through a broken hand, in the first half, but the line created two massive holes for the former top-50 recruit in the fourth quarter. Edwards burst through both and outran the OSU defense for 75- and 85-yard scores. His first came on the first play after a Buckeyes field goal trimmed Michigan’s lead to 31-23.

Big plays in big moments

The Buckeyes had success moving the ball against the Wolverines in both matchups, gaining more than 450 yards in each. But Michigan’s defense bowed up when it needed to, forcing five field goals during the two games. Last year, any hopes of an OSU comeback were thwarted when CJ Stroud was flushed out of the pocket and tried to underhand a pass to a receiver but was intercepted by Talor Upshaw in the red zone. A touchdown on that drive could have made it a one-score game with just over four minute remaining.

Earlier in the quarter with Michigan leading 31-20, Stroud appeared to have a sure-touchdown to tight end Cade Stover in the corner of the end zone. But defensive back Mike Sainristil closed in quickly and knocked the ball out of Stover’s hands just as he was about to secure the catch.

The Buckeyes were better known for their quick-strike offense the past two years, but in 2022, it was the Wolverines who capitalized on some big plays. Five of their six touchdown were from more than 40 yards out, including two J.J. McCarthy passes to Cornelius Johnson for 69 and 75 yards.

In 2021, Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo were the most formidable pass-rushing duo in the country, and they showed up against OSU. Stroud threw for 394 yards, but Michigan’s success stopping the run and four sacks (three from Hutchinson, one from Ojabo) forced Stroud into passing situations.

Creative play-calling and coaching

Harbaugh won’t be on the sidelines Saturday, but he got the better of Ryan Day in the previous two matchups. Some viewed Michigan’s run-heavy offense vanilla the previous two years, but it opened up the playbook against OSU.

A well-designed fake-pass and reverse to receiver A.J. Henning ended in a 14-yard touchdown in 2021 that gave Michigan an early lead. It also converted on a flea flicker both years.

With Michigan leading 24-20 last season, a jump pass from running back Kalel Mullings to tight end Luke Schoonmaker led to a big gain on third-and-1 from the OSU 38.

Over the past two matchups, OSU was flagged 19 times for 157 yards compared to Michigan’s seven for 50 yards. Six of the Buckeyes’ penalties led to first downs for Michigan. Last season, OSU’s defense appeared to make a stop and force a field goal on third-and-11 from the 13, but Ronnie Hickman was flagged for pass interference in the end zone, leading to a first-and-goal and eventual touchdown for Michigan that extended the lead to 31-20.

Midway through the third quarter, OSU was called for two penalties on the same play – totaling 25 yards – that nullified a 24-yard catch by running back Chip Trayanum, putting the Buckeyes back inside their own 30 instead of inside Michigan’s 25.