The Michigan football defense still owns Ryan Day
Remember in 2020 when Ryan Day said Ohio State was going to "hang 100" on Michigan football the next time they played?
Well, the two teams have played four times since then. Ohio State has scored a total of 84 points during the 0-4 stretch. So, if Day is still the head coach in 2025, the Buckeyes might finally reach that 100-point milestone.
Jokes aside, the Michigan defense put together the best defensive performance in the history of the rivalry. Bar none.
In the fourth quarter, Ohio State had 10 yards and zero first downs. The Buckeyes had just three first downs (zero points) in the second half. Hell, they only scored a touchdown because officials didn't call a blatant offensive pass interference on Jeremiah Smith.
The pass interference on Jyaire Hill in the end zone, which happened because Will Howard's throw was 10 yards to the right of where it should have been (still wasn't pass interference), and the resulting TD due to a non-call were literally the Buckeyes' best plays.
An Ohio State wide receiver didn't have a single reception of longer than 18 yards. Smith didn't have one longer than 10 and the Wolverines didn't even have Will Johnson.
One screen pass generated a 23-yard gain. That was it for explosive plays. Ohio State had 26 runs for 72 and exactly one run of more than 10 yards or more.
That's how dominant Michigan was defensively. It was a clinic. Wink Martindale deserves all the credit in the world too. He adjusted to this defense about a month ago and it's been rock solid since.
If the NFL doesn't hire him, Michigan football fans should be dying for him to return.
Oh, and one last stat: Between 2022 and 2024, Ohio State has scored three points in the combined second halfs of the last two games in the 'Shoe'.
If that's not dominance, I don't know what is.
So much for Ryan Day, Chip Kelly, and the best offense money can buy.