With playoff spots at stake, Ohio St beats Michigan in 2OT

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh strongly criticized Big Ten officials for several calls during Saturday’s 30-27 loss to Ohio State, including a spot that gave the Buckeyes a first down in the second overtime. The Wolverines were penalized seven times for 59 yards while Ohio State was called for only two penalties totaling six yards.

After the drama-filled ending to the Michigan-Ohio State game, Buckeyes defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs ran up to Wolverines star Jabrill Peppers and grabbed his arm. Peppers returned the ensuing kickoff 44 yards, and MI drove for the go-ahead score on Hill’s 1-yard plunge with six seconds left in the half.

On Ohio State’s game-tying drive of the fourth-quarter, Michigan’s Delano Hill was called for pass interference downfield on third down against Curtis Samuel on a pass from Barrett.

But there’s no way this game was going to end so easily.

If that wasn’t enough, it also gave fans the first overtime in 113 Michigan-Ohio State meetings. MI took a 10-7 lead into halftime.

But Ohio State doesn’t have reason to feel guilty. Another freshman, tackle Davon Hamilton, recovered a fumbled snap by Speight at the OSU 2 to snuff out a threat in the third quarter.

That’s pretty much all Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer wanted to talk about. Ohio State punter Cameron Johnston was short on the rush, giving the ball right back to MI. (He took the blame for that call.) It looked like Durbin sealed OSU’s fate, at 17-14, by missing wide left again from 19 yards out with 7:01 to play.

Last week against IN, when the Wolverines’ passing game was bogged down behind backup quarterback John O’Korn, it was Smith who wore down the Hoosiers.

The Buckeyes will have to wait until Penn State plays to find out if they will play for the Big Ten title.

Harbaugh drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty earlier in the game after an offside call on MI. Tyler Durbin then missed a 37-yard field goal. But the Buckeyes’ defense stood tall and forced the Wolverines to an immediate three and out.

More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25. The Wolverine defense continued to exert its dominance and seemed to force a punt on Ohio State’s first drive of the second half.

Harbaugh was called for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty late in the third quarter following an offside penalty against MI. If Barrett hadn’t made it, the game would have been over and MI would have won. Samuel and Weber combined for 80 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns.

No. 1 Alabama 30, No. 16 Auburn 12 • In Tuscaloosa, Ala., Jalen Hurts rebounded from two early interceptions to pass for 286 yards and No. 1 Alabama’s defense did the rest against No. 16 Auburn. They produced just 24 yards the rest of the half. Darboh caught eight passes for 68 yards and a touchdown. Sitting pretty at No. 2 in the Playoff standings, the Buckeyes may prefer it if the Nittany Lions win it for themselves. He also was angry about a pass interference call on MI during Ohio State’s game-tying drive late and a non-call on a would-be pass interference against the Buckeyes in OT.

Jackson likely could have wrapped up the Heisman with his record-setting day, but a second consecutive loss might impact the race.

And befitting an old-school, rough-and-tumble Big Ten game played under cool, overcast skies, some spectacular punting.

The No. 8 Nittany Lions (8-1 Big Ten, 10-2 overall) turned a two-point halftime deficit against Michigan State (1-8, 3-9) into a 45-12 victory at Beaver Stadium in State College.

Teams make their own breaks.