It's Monday morning and we are two days removed from Michigan football doing the unthinkable, upsetting the previously second-ranked Buckeyes 13-10.
Yes, the 2024 had been disappointing going into "The Game." Michigan football didn't meet expectations and the transition to Sherrone Moore from Jim Harbaugh proved more difficult than expected.
It didn't help that the Wolverines were hindered at quarterback. In hindsight, Moore and his staff made the right call in Davis Warren. And Warren should probably have remained the starter, even after his interception problem.
But no matter. In the most important game of the year, Michigan football delivered a win that Wolverine fans will never forget.
How were they able to do it? Of course, most are pointing the finger at Ryan Day, which is fair. Yet, the Wolverines deserve credit to and not just the players but Sherrone Moore, Wink Martindale, Lamar Morgan, and truly the entire staff.
The players delivered in part because all they know is beating Ohio State. They knew it was going to happen as surely as Day and the Buckeyes knew they were going to lose.
That's what happened in the fourth quarter. Michigan rose to the occasion. Ohio State melted down.
Here are five reasons why it happened.
Kalel Mullings
Michigan would not have won this game without the effort of Kalel Mullings. Ohio State fans can say the Wolverines cheated, and I'm sure they'll find a way to say it again about this game -- some have, seriously -- but the truth is Ohio State has allowed a Michigan running back to go over 116 yards in three of the last four years. Blake Corum led with 88 and two touchdowns in 2023.
How many times do you think you will win allowing a 100-yard rusher? Against anyone? Let alone Michigan? Mullings carried the ball 32 times and found his way into the end zone.
Also, his 27-yard run to get Michigan into field goal range in the fourth quarter will live on forever.