Kornacki: Why This Wolverine Loss Was So Hard to Explain

By Steve Kornacki

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Wolverines who spoke with the media after the 62-39 loss to the Buckeyes were asked the same question in different ways, but it always boiled down to one simple point:

How did this shocking outcome happen?

How did the University of Michigan, which came into the game leading the nation in total defense, passing defense and passing efficiency defense, get riddled for 318 yards and five touchdown passes by Dwayne Haskins and surrender 567 yards in total offense along with more points than it had allowed in the previous five games combined?

Nobody really had a good answer for what happened Saturday (Nov. 24) because it was inexplicable.

On the other side of the stadium, the first question for Ohio State coach Urban Meyer: "Where has this team been all year?"

That revealed all we needed to know: A powerhouse Buckeye team that had not been seen previously and won last week at Maryland only because the Terrapins' quarterback couldn't hit an open receiver for the game-winning, two-point conversion pass, had picked an optimum time to arrive.

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said he took "responsibility" for the outcome but was also sure to credit his rivals.

"They played great," he said. "The third quarter, especially. They had a lot of speed plays that got out on the perimeter and got loose. It also set them up in good field position with a couple turnovers and, of course, the blocked punt contributed to the score as well.

"I thought their protection was really good. We didn't get the pressure on the quarterback that we wanted to."

Michigan had 31 sacks in 11 games and a 2-to-1 edge on opponents there. But it had zero in this one, while the Buckeyes had three.

Quarterback Shea Patterson added, "We had Big Ten championship hopes and playoff hopes, and maybe that got in the way a little bit. But hats off to them; they played a hell of a game."

Patterson

However, this outcome wasn't on the defense alone. OSU had a blocked punt returned for a touchdown, and the offense, despite finishing with 401 yards and a good point total, wasn't without fault. It took too long to get going, collected only 101 yards and six first downs in the first half.

Still, thanks to one 79-yard drive and a recovered kickoff fumble that resulted in two touchdowns in six seconds, the Wolverines made it a two-point game after falling behind, 21-6.

First, Nico Collins made a 23-yard touchdown catch with great effort by going up for a ball Patterson threw where only Collins could snare it.

Then, on the ensuing kickoff, Demario McCall fumbled the ball forward at the goal line and Nate Schoenle was in perfect position to pounce on it at the nine-yard line. On first down, Patterson found Chris Evans wide open for a touchdown pass.

"We had a burst of momentum going," said Evans. "We felt good coming out the second half."

Ohio State led, 24-19, at the half, but the third quarter was 17-0 for the home team. Michigan gave up nearly that same amount of points in 11 previous third quarters, owning a 100-19 edge there. It had won games in that quarter, and now it had its 10-game win streak broken in that quarter.

Making the third quarter worse still was the fact that in the space a several minutes cornerback David Long, middle linebacker Devin Bush and defensive end Rashan Gary all went down.

Gary wasn't out long, but Long and Bush never came back. Bush favored his left leg when he finally was able to get up, and limped off to the locker room with his arms around two members of the training staff.

"Devin has a hip (injury)," said Harbaugh. "I don't think it's anything that's long-term, but he wasn't good for today. (Slot receiver) Grant Perry had a hip pointer. David Long, it looks like a hip flexor strain. I believe all three are not long-term kind of injuries. (Tight end Zach) Gentry had a concussion, and Shea Patterson has a knee bruise, a bone bruise."

Devin Bush, Rashan Gary Bush (top) and Gary (right)

Patterson, who threw for 187 yards with three touchdowns and one interception that he said he was attempting to throw out of bounds, summed up the frustration of this defeat, the seventh consecutive to OSU.

"This is why everybody comes to Michigan -- to play in this game," said Patterson. "It's one of the reasons I came here. It was a childhood dream to play in this game. I'm the quarterback and I have the ball in my hand every snap, and I take full responsibility for our faults on offense."

Patterson should be commended for doing that, and he's a fine leader. But the truth is, no one person was the fault, and Harbaugh praised how Patterson played and competed.

Free safety and captain Tyree Kinnel, who had a team-high eight tackles, said: "They completely beat us every way they could -- run game, pass game. Everyone's to blame.

"We felt like we had a good shot at dominating this game. So, I'm pretty shocked that the outcome was like this. ... They slowly devastated us throughout the game with all the yards they were putting up and how easily they were scoring. It was tough; it was extremely tough. We made adjustments at halftime, and then they came out and beat us with something else.

"Credit to them and their coaches. They had a great game plan and completely beat us today."

To a man, the No. 4-ranked Wolverines (10-2, 8-1 Big Ten) said their motivation is to win the next game, a bowl game that could, if the No. 10 Buckeyes (11-1, 8-1) make the College Football Playoff, end up being in Pasadena, California. But that was a long way away, and the pain of this one will take a while to dissipate.

"It's a pretty sour taste actually," Patterson said. "We had a hell of a season. The defense played lights-out most of the season, and I'm just really proud of our guys. We made a really good run, and we're still going to move forward regardless of the outcome today.

"I love my brothers, I love this team and this university like no other. ... I love this team and I wouldn't rather win or lose with anyone else."

You could see the hurt and love in his eyes.

"Coach Harbaugh told us to keep our heads up," said Collins. "You know, we really wanted that win. But it didn't come. So, we just keep moving forward and keep our heads up."

Patterson said the team still could get its 11th win in a bowl, adding that it would make the season a "success" in his mind.

"We've got a bright future ahead of us," said Collins, who had two touchdown catches. "I'm hoping next year we can get that win."

Harbaugh concluded: "We'll come back motivated to make darned sure it doesn't happen again. ... We'll come back in our next game and be motivated to win our next game."