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No Going Bowling for Buckeyes after Loss to Arch Rival

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Last game: Illinois 46, Ohio State 20

Next game: End of Season

The running game was the star of the show as they gained 263 total yards. However the efforts of leaving star, Michael Wiley, and future star Jonathon Wells was not enough to beat the Team Up North.

Crucial turnovers cost Buckeyes

For a fleeting moment it looked like the Buckeyes might salvage a dismal season with a huge win over their arch rival Michigan.

A win over Michigan would have put the Buckeyes in a bowl game, not a New Year's Day one, but a bowl game nevertheless. It would have put a little sunshine on an otherwise dark season. The Buckeyes could muster little offense against other Big Ten teams, and the defense was spotty at times.

But then there was the first half of the classic clash between Ohio State and Michigan. The Buckeyes offense was rolling, racking up the yards, and the defense was coming up with huge plays and stops.

But in the second half, crucial turnovers cost the Buckeyes any hope of going to a bowl game. In fact a turnover lead to the Wolverines winning score, a touchdown pass from Tom Brady.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for everybody at Ohio State, from the players to the fans. The Buckeyes went from the Sugar Bowl to 6-6, and staying home for the holidays.

Where was this running game the whole season?

It's hard to believe that Ohio State lost this game. They outgained the Wolverines, 368 to 252 yards. They chalked up 263 rushing yards, an aspect of their game that had been missing all season. Yet it was the crucial turnovers that ended up costing them the game.

  • In his final game, Michael Wiley rushed for 62 yards on 22 carries. Future running back Jonathan Wells chalked up 85 on 3 carries.
  • Wells might have swung the momentum of the game as he broke loose for a long run, but was caught from behind near the goal line. The Buckeyes then faltered and couldn't get a TD.

  • The fullback combo of Jamar Martin and Matt Keller combined for 59 yards rushing.

  • Steve Bellisari was 8-20 for 84 yards and 2 touchdowns.
  • He also threw two interceptions.

  • Tight end Kevin Houser caught a 6 yard TD pass for the first score of the game.
    • Where was this running game the whole season?

    The defense played well, as the offense struggled. At times they looked like the Silver Bullets of last year, and at others they looked like a Division 2 school. But against Michigan, they stepped it up, and gave the offense a chance to win the game. The defense, however, is not responsible for the offensive mistakes.

  • Nate Clements had 9 tackles.

  • Jason Ott, Michael Doss, and Na'il Diggs all had 7 tackles.

  • Gary Berry added 6 tackles.

  • The defense held Michigan to only 252 total yards of offense. They held RB Anthony Thomas to only 102 yards.
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