PAUL DAUGHERTY

Doc: Ohio State-Michigan rivalry produces its greatest game

Paul Daugherty
pdaugherty@enquirer.com
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Curtis Samuel (4) celebrates after scoring the game-winning touchdown against the Michigan Wolverines in the second overtime at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won the game 30-27 in double overtime.

COLUMBUS – Before the football game ended as all legendary homes games must, with legions of fans filling the grass of the great cathedral. . .

Before J.T. Barrett ran for the biggest yard of his life, now and forever. . .

Before a soccer émigré from the commonwealth of Virginia died and was revived, all in the space of one dusky hour in the late afternoon of an Ohio autumn. . .

Even before Curtis Samuel followed up his most difficult run of the game with his least difficult, which just happened to win the game, many among the 110,045 at Ohio Stadium were saying simply this:

“We’re gonna remember this game the rest of our lives.’’       

You know they were.

Ohio State, No. 2 in the country in quasi-amateur tackle football, beat No. 3 Michigan, 30-27 Saturday. The game required four hours, four quarters, two overtimes, and a few defibrillators.

“I’ve been a part of some crazy football games here,’’ Ohio State junior quarterback J.T. Barrett said. “This is number one.’’ When it was over, Barrett stood momentarily and stared. He’d run the ball 30 times and thrown it 32, against the No. 1 defense in college football. He was exhausted, he was sore, he knew he’d just been a part of something righteous and momentous and larger than himself.

“I just looked around and, man, that just happened,’’ said Barrett. “I think that’s why you play the game of football, for moments like this.’’

The practicalities are these: Ohio State still isn’t guaranteed a place in the four-team playoff, though if the Buckeyes don’t make the cut, they will demand to know how Bo Schembechler got on the selection committee. They’re not even playing in the Big 10 championship game. That honor goes to Penn State, the team that smudged OSU’s 11-1 record.

Michigan is out of the title race on both counts.

But this isn’t a moment for practicalities. Not after that game. This is a moment for moments. You were there. You were 21 years old. In 40 years, right before Ohio State plays Michigan for the 153rd time, you will address your friends, family and neighbors, bounce the next Barrett on your knee, and you will ask. . .

Remember the ’16 game?      

I do. It made my neck hair rhumba.

Remember when Ohio State’s offense was three yards and a dirt clod, without the three yards? Barrett was averaging 275 yards a game of total offense. He had 57 yards at halftime. His legacy looked as solid as ice on the Olentangy in July.

We were losing 10-7, then 17-7. Michigan’s defense beat us up front and in the secondary. Barrett took four sacks in the first half, on his way to eight. We went three-and-out twice in the same possession, after a third down penalty against Michigan gave us another set of downs. We were in trouble. In trouble? We were a bloody nose in a pond of makos.

Remember our kicker? He missed a 37-yard field goal in the 1st quarter, then a 20-yarder with 7 minutes left in regulation, that would have tied the game. Tyler Durbin was a soccer player who transferred in from James Madison University in Virginia.

He’d never played football until he walked on with the Buckeyes in 2015. He made a 23-yarder with one second left to send the game into overtime. Good thing, because we were getting him ready for witness protection.

Brutus Buckeye crowd-surfs as fans surge onto the field following the win over the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 30-27.

Remember when we almost died about six times in five minutes of overtime? First, we let Michigan tie us in the first overtime, on a 4th-and-5 TD pass. Then we let them kick a field goal to start the 2nd OT. Then we’re looking at 3rd-and-9 from the 24 and Barrett throws a quick screen right to our junior running back, Curtis Samuel.

Samuel looks dead to rights. Michigan has him surrounded like Custer in South Dakota. Then he reverses his field and saves our season. He comes back left and suddenly, everyone in scarlet is looking to block somebody in white. “Find the next white jersey and hit him,’’ was the eloquent explanation of guard Billy Price. And so they did. Samuel turned a disaster into a chance, gaining 8 yards and setting up 4th-and-1.

Fourth and season. Fourth and winter. Fourth and all or nothing.

Barrett runs left and into a hellacious shot from Michigan safety Delano Hill. It looked at first like a first down. The refs even said so. But then an official said to Urban Meyer, “They’re buzzing me for the spot.’’ A replay. A reversal? Death by video?

Meyer’s reaction? “Oh, my goodness.’’

On review, the call stands. First down at the Michigan 15. Barrett hands the ball to Samuel and the earth quakes and splits open, right there at Ohio Stadium. “29 Lead’’, they called it. Samuel swept left and into euphoria, untouched.

Meyer stumbled to the ground at that point, overcome with emotion, or something. He wouldn’t say. What he did say was, “That is one of the classic games of this rivalry (and) I know this rivalry as well as anybody. I’m not saying it’s the greatest, because that’s disrespectful for other guys that have played in it.’’

We’ll say it, though. Greatest game in the rivalry. Ever.  Buckeyes fans will remember it the rest of their lives.