Michigan Football: Top 5 games of the Jim Harbaugh era for Wolverines

No. 1 Michigan @ Ohio State 2016

The Game. No. 2 vs. No. 3. A chance to go to Indy. CFP implications. This was a high stakes game that didn’t disappoint. The Wolverines and Buckeyes gave everyone a game to remember on that Saturday afternoon in November. That is why it tops the list.

Michigan was looking to get its first win against Ohio State since 2011 and its first win at the horseshoe since 2000. The Wolverines had their best team since the Lloyd Carr years and they were poised to get the win. The team had a lot of NFL talent and they matched up well with OSU.

The game was a defensive struggle with both teams searching for offense. Michigan went into the locker room at halftime with a 10-7 lead. Ten points was not going to be enough to beat OSU and the offense needed to pick it up in the second half.

Regulation wasn’t enough to decide a winner and the game went into OT tied at 17-17. That is where the fun began.

Ohio State began the overtime with a touchdown run from J.T. Barrett. Michigan needed an answer to keep their hopes alive. They needed a touchdown and Amara Darboh got one, a five-yard pitch and catch from Wilton Speight.

In the second overtime, Michigan could only muster a field goal. This is where the game gets controversial. In the second overtime, OSU is down to a 4th and one and they decide to go for it. Barrett runs to his left and appears to be stopped right at the line to gain. This became the infamous “JT was short” play.

The Buckeyes won the game on the very next play courtesy of a 15 yard TD run from Curtis Samuel.

The Game was a thriller that will be remembered for years to come because of the one play. Michigan fans believe that Barrett was short on the run. OSU fans claim another victory in the rivalry.

The Wolverines have played in a lot of exciting games over the last five seasons and it is safe to assume there will be more classics in the coming seasons.