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5 things we learned from Michigan football win in ‘The Game’ — the most important ever

By Chris Peterson

Michigan receiver Roman Wilson and acting head coach/offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore celebrate Wilson's touchdown catch against Ohio State during the first half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023.
Michigan receiver Roman Wilson and acting head coach/offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore celebrate Wilson's touchdown catch against Ohio State during the first half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. /
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The 2023 edition of “The Game” was the biggest ever and Michigan football came away as the winner. Here are five things we learned. 

There have been plenty of huge games between Michigan football and Ohio State over the years, but none were bigger than the one on Saturday.

‘The Game’ had higher stakes than ever. Part of it had to do with Michigan football’s recent success, but more to do with the NCAA investigation U-M believes was initiated by Ohio State.

So not only did Michigan football have to beat Ohio State for a third straight time, it had to defend its honor for the wins in 2021 and 2022.

That’s pressure.

But maybe not as much pressure as trying to beat the Wolverines without Jim Harbaugh, which Ryan Day and company couldn’t do, robbing him forever of any excuses for his 1-3 record against Michigan that features three straight losses in top-10 showdowns.

With the 12-team playoff and the elimination of divisions, unless these teams meet in the College Football Playoff, there won’t be a do-or-die game quite like this again.

And Michigan football won. It’s the first three-game winning streak over OSU in 26 years and now the goal is to win some championships, starting with the Big Ten title next week.

Here are five things we learned from a Michigan football win over Ohio State we’ll never forget.

Sherrone Moore is a better head coach than Ryan Day

In the biggest game of his life, Sherrone Moore pushed all the right buttons with Jim Harbaugh sitting at home on his couch.

He didn’t hesitate to go for it three different times, which led to Michigan’s first touchdown, as well as another touchdown in the second quarter.

Ryan Day also had two fourth-and-short opportunities in the first half but decided to punt and kick a field goal, you know, because his team is so tough.

The decision to play for a field goal was particularly egregious. Ohio State needed a couple of yards, but if the Buckeyes convert, you get a couple of end-zone shots to Marvin Harrison Jr.

Instead, Day settled for a field-goal attempt that would have still sent Ohio State into the half down 14-13. The miss left the score at 14-10.

When two of Michigan’s best players got hurt in the game — Zak Zinter and Will Johnson — Moore didn’t panic — he adjusted. Moore moved Karsen Barnhart to guard, put Trente Jones in at tackle, and on the first play, after Zinter was carted off the field, Blake Corum went 22 yards for a touchdown.

Even the final drive was almost perfect. Moore kicked the field goal to put Michigan up six and if they were only up three, that game probably winds up tied — OSU was one completion away from field goal range.

The problem is that they needed a touchdown. Moore knew he could trust his defense, his running game, and his quarterback and they all delivered in a legendary win for the Wolverines.

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