Best Football Game of the 2015 Season: Ohio State at Michigan

Ryan Cooper
Thu, 31 Mar 2016 03:26:37 +0000
Uncategorized, Buckeyes, Ezekiel Elliott, J.T. Barrett, Jim Harbaugh, michigan, ohio state, osu, the game, Urban Meyer

Then-OSU wide receiver Michael Thomas (3) makes a catch during a game against Michigan on Nov. 28 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Samantha Hollingshead | Photo Editor

Any time The Game between Ohio State and Michigan ends with the Scarlet and Gray victorious, there’s a pretty good chance the Buckeye faithful are going to hold onto it as the game of the year.

The 2015 version was no exception, as OSU, fresh off a loss at home to Michigan State that proved to be a fatal blow to the Buckeyes’ hopes to return to the College Football Playoff, thoroughly dominated its archrival in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Nov. 28.

Billed as a marquee game for reasons beyond the rivalry because of Michigan’s resurgence under first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh, the contest was competitive in the first half before it became a blowout.

OSU outscored the Wolverines 28-3 over the final 30 minutes to grab a 42-13 victory in the regular-season finale.

Running back Ezekiel Elliott recovered in a big way from his well-publicized underused evening the week prior to rush 30 times for 214 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback J.T. Barrett did not have a big game through the air, only throwing for 113 yards and a touchdown, but the then-redshirt sophomore ran for 141 yards and three more scores.

In total, the Buckeyes rushed for 369 yards, which was five yards more than Michigan had total.

“From the bottom of my heart, I told these players, that might have been the best week I’ve ever seen,” said OSU coach Urban Meyer after the game.

Meyer even had a chance for his Woody Hayes moment, keeping the offense on the field for a fourth-and-goal situation at the 3-yard line with under three minutes left, though Elliott was stopped short of the end zone.

Meyer improved to 4-0 against the school whose name he refuses to utter, and OSU won its 11th of the past 12 editions of The Game.