The tables have turned.
After Ohio State had dominated its Big Ten rivalry against Michigan for a sustained stretch, the Wolverines have pulled off two in a row, executing a 45-23 demolition in Columbus on Saturday.
Following the game, senior defensive back Mike Sainristil, who had seven tackles on Saturday, planted the Michigan flag directly in the center of the ‘O’ in the middle of Ohio Stadium.
The Big Ten East was on the line in the matchup, and there was some chippiness. Ohio State tight end Gee Scott Jr. head-butted a Michigan defender in the third quarter.
The star for Michigan was running back Donovan Edwards, who saw increased time after an injury forced starter Blake Corum to miss the game, and he seized it. Edwards carried the ball 22 times for 216 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy completed 12 of his 24 passes for 263 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Cornelius Johnson caught four balls for 160 yards and two touchdowns.
For Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, it has been a dramatic reversal of fortunes in the past two seasons. Harbaugh lost his first five matchups to Ohio State, and before the 2021 season took a pay cut, going from $8 million in base pay to $4 million, in order to remain on the job.
Michigan now will head to Indianapolis next Saturday to vie for the Big Ten championship against an opponent still to be determined; a win for the Wolverines would cement a berth in the College Football Playoff.
