Michigan Football: 5 things we learned from Wolverines loss to Ohio State

Big-game issues are back

While the final numbers for Michigan football, at least offensively, don’t look that bad, the Wolverines had many of the same issues come up that have cost them in the past.

The running game, which has been so great all season, was a big letdown. Michigan ended up running for 160 yards, however, it took 40 attempts to get there and the Wolverines averaged just four yards per rush.

Karan Higdon, after guaranteeing a win, managed just 72 yards on 15 carries. He did manage one 24 yard run, but time and again, Michigan got stuffed on early downs, which left Patterson and the offense in terrible situations.

I get that Michigan wanted to run the ball, but it wasn’t the more physical team. It got owned at the point of attack and maybe if it had spread out and not stuck to the same old boring offense, things could have been different. Instead, Michigan tried to play power football and got its butt kicked in the trenches, on both sides of the ball.

Patterson was sacked five times. Haskins? Not once. He wasn’t even touched, except when he slid. Ohio State also ran for 249 yards, so in every way, Ohio State owned the line of scrimmage.