Michigan Football: Instant reactions to another embarrassing loss to Ohio State

Michigan football gave us moments for hope Saturday against Ohio State, but in the end, too many mistakes doomed the Wolverines in an embarrassing loss.

After watching Michigan football lose 62-39 a season ago, you didn’t figure there was any possible way things could get worse.

That was until Ohio State went to the Big House and demolished Michigan football once again by a score of 56-27. Instead of whipping the Wolverines by 23, the Buckeyes won by 29, giving U-M fans a not-so-subtle reminder of just how large the gap is between the two programs.

Jim Harbaugh or not, Ohio State is in another galaxy right now and with the way they trounced the Wolverines Saturday, it doesn’t look like that will change anytime soon.

The offense was better but still choked in the red zone. On three possessions inside the Ohio State 25 late in the second and early in the third quarter, Michigan managed to score six points. Get 21 or 17 or even 13 points there and it’s a game. Instead, it spelled doom.

Shea Patterson dropped a snap and fumbled. Donovan Peoples-Jones dropped a touchdown and the Wolverines kicked a field goal. Then, after getting a gift turnover on a muffed punt, the Wolverines, down 26, settled for three again.

Add that to the offsides on 4th-and-four, which allowed Ohio State to score a touchdown and all the other errors, like Hassan Haskins not following a wide-open lane on a 4th-and-1 down 15. If he follows his blocker, he maybe scores and its a ballgame.

Instead, he misreads it, gets stuffed and a few plays later, it was 49-27. Game over.

It was classic Michigan and it makes you wonder if Harbaugh will ever beat Ohio State. Heck, it makes you wonder if he will be the head coach next season.

Harbaugh shouldn’t be fired, although Don Brown absolutely should be, yet maybe Jim will duck out to the NFL or simply walk away.  A man can only take so much.

At any rate, here are some instant impressions from another brutal loss:

• Don Brown needs to go. His defenses have allowed 49.6 points to Ohio State the last three seasons and there is no excuse for that. Ryan Day owns him. Plain and simple.
• Josh Gattis called a good game. His call for Haskins on fourth down could have been a touchdown. He wasn’t perfect but the offense took a step forward, at least in the first half.
• Ohio State keeps dominating Michigan in the trenches and until that changes, nothing will change in this rivalry. The Wolverines used to compete there, even if OSU had better skill guys. Now, the Buckeyes have the advantage at basically every position.
• I still believe in Harbaugh as head coach. Michigan is Michigan. It’s never going to be as good as Ohio State. But another loss or two and he will have no choice but to quit.
• Harbaugh has to stop saying Don Brown is a great coach and fire him. At the very least, relegate him to linebackers and let Chris Partridge or an external hire take over. You can’t give up 50 a game over three years to Ohio State and not make changes. That’s the definition of stupid.
• Michigan didn’t lose because of Shea Patterson. He was one of the few that showed up.
• Khaleke Hudson won the pregame with his shirt, then played one of the worst games of his career. Good thing he has a bowl game left. He won’t want to end it like that.
• A 10-win season is still significant. At least for Michigan football. That’s where the Wolverines are and pretending this program is elite is just delusional.

• That’s all for now until clearer thoughts prevail.