Harbaugh ‘bitterly disappointed’ in officiating

This was a game that should be remembered for something more, something on par with that 2006 showdown, even if the controversy is up there with the fallout from the 10-10 tie in 1973.

The Commodores (6-6, 3-5 Southeastern Conference) earned a bowl berth for the first time since 2013 thanks to their Academic Progress Rate (APR) score before kickoff. Everything else about the second-ranked Buckeyes’ 30-27 victory over the third-ranked Wolverines on Saturday was nearly too overwhelming for Meyer to sort out so soon after it was over. Fans turned the field into a sea of scarlet and gray and delirium. It was 55-16 past year.

That paved the way to the two plays that cemented Curtis Samuels’ place in OSU-Michigan lore.

Jerome Baker’s interception deep in MI territory late in the third quarter set up a touchdown that lifted some of the burden from the offense’s shoulders.

Not even close in an error-filled test of wills the Buckeyes – so thoroughly handled much of the day by the visitors’ top-ranked defense – surely had no business winning. However, he escaped tacklers and ended up gaining eight yards to the other side of the field, setting up fourth-and-one. Speight connected with Amara Darboh on a five yard touchdown pass. The unranked Buckeyes, wearing white headbands with Bruce’s name written on them, beat the unranked Wolverines 23-20 to drop them to 7-4.

“That stopped my heart for a second”, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said.

Andre Robinson added 14- and 40-yard touchdown runs in the fourth quarter for Penn State, and Saquon Barkley scored on a 1-yard run in the second. Meyer rolls the dice and leaves his offense on the field instead of sending out kicker Tyler Durbin to attempt a game tying field goal.

Austin MacGinnis made a 47-yard field goal with 12 seconds left to give Kentucky the 41-28 upset victory over Louisville and Heisman Trophy favorite Lamar Jackson.

“That was obviously their goal to stop the running game, and we came out and absolutely just tore them apart in the passing game”, Gesicki said.

“My view on the first down was it was that short”, he said, holding his hands apart a few inches. Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh started venting about perceived one-sided officiating during the game and kept going for long afterward.

Truth No. 1: Samuel’s run through the MI defense ended the game.

The Buckeyes win eliminated the Wolverines from the Big Ten east division championship.

Showing no hangover from last week’s loss to Oklahoma that knocked West Virginia out of the Big 12 title race, the Mountaineers (9-2, 6-2) piled up 613 yards.

Prior to the game, Hounshell was honored as one of Ohio State’s departing seniors. Barrett out gained MI on the ground himself.

Worth ran 15 times for 107 yards and three touchdowns, increasing his FBS-leading total to 25 rushing scores while playing only three quarters. However, a touchdown run by Ohio State’s Mike Weber cut the lead to just three points. On third-and-nine, Barrett threw a quick pass outside to Samuel, which almost proved disastrous, as Samuel bounced backward. He struggled throwing until the fourth quarter and finished 15 for 32 for 132 yards.

Jackson passed for two touchdowns and ran for two more, but he also threw three interceptions.

Michigan QB Wilton Speight was either really good or bad – turnover or nice play. He also was angry about a pass interference on MI during Ohio State’s tying drive late in regulation and a non-call on a would-be pass interference against the Buckeyes in OT.

So Wolverines chances of reaching the College Football Playoff probably went down the drain. That means Ohio State can relax at home next week and wait for the unveiling of the final playoff rankings next Sunday. If officials hadn’t given Ohio State the spot, they wouldn’t have considered the Buckeyes.