Michigan's J.J. McCarthy wasn't the most decorated quarterback on the field going into the game against Ohio State.
He left Ohio Stadium to become a legend for the Michigan football team. McCarthy threw three long touchdown passes and added a scoring run early in the fourth quarter as Michigan beat Ohio State. Michigan scored five times of 45 or longer and four times of 69 or longer to stun the Ohio State.
The last winning streak in the rivalry for the UM was two games in 2000. Before Saturday, Ohio State had won 29 in a row at home. Both Michigan and Ohio State entered their game without a loss or tie for the fourth time in the last 75 years. Both Michigan and Ohio State were ranked in the top 5.
Harbaugh lost his first five games to Ohio State but has won the last two. Ryan Day has a 1-2 record against Michigan.
In the third quarter, Michigan held Ohio State to 17 yards. After the Buckeyes cut their deficit to eight points midway through the fourth quarter, Michigan struck right back. The Ohio State fans were heading for the exits.
Next week in Indianapolis, Michigan will face either Illinois or Iowa in the Big Ten title game. For the first time in 22 years, the UM can win the Big Ten title in back-to-back years.
The Boilermakers can win the West Division with a victory over Indiana. Illinois can win the division with a victory overNorthwestern. Iowa will advance for the second year in a row.
Ohio State will have to wait until next week to find out if it makes the College Football Playoff. The Ohio State's defense, which had shown improvement this season, simply had no answer for McCarthy and the Michigan offense.
McCarthy completed only three of his first nine attempts, but he began to find gaps in the Ohio State defense that had allowed only two passing touchdown of 45 yards or longer all season. He found Johnson who beat Brown and ran for a 69-yard touchdown.
Johnson caught a 75-yard touchdown pass from the sophomore in the third quarter to help Michigan regain the lead. Michigan came in with only one passing touchdown of 50 yards or longer, and McCarthy had operated a mostly conservative passing plan in his first year as the starter. He ranked 11th in the Big Ten in passing with an average of 177.5 yards per game.
A 42 yard touchdown reception by Marvin Harrison Jr. late in the first half was one of the highlights of the game. In the last five minutes, he threw two picks up.
McCarthy became the first player to pass for three and run for a touchdown in the same game against Ohio State in over two years.
Both teams had running backs. After two carries on Michigan's first possession, Corum left the game and did not come back. In the first half, Michigan had 10 yards on the ground.
Miyan Williams came back from an injury but was not effective. Before Saturday, there was only one carry for Ohio State for a man who played running back at Arizona State. He had 83 yards on 14 runs.
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