Ohio State quarterack J.T. Barrett put the Buckeyes up by 18 points with a third-quarter TD.(Photo: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports) ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Breaking down No. 8 Ohio State’s 42-13 win Saturday at No. 12 Michigan: THE BIG PICTURE: The Game was the undercard in the Big Ten, at least in terms of implications for the College Football Playoff. But plenty of significance remained — and give the first meeting of Jim Harbaugh and Urban Meyer to Meyer. Four years to the day after he was announced as Ohio State’s head coach, the Buckeyes were clearly better than the first edition of Harbaugh’s Michigan (9-3, 6-2), pulling away in the second half for an easy victory. Ohio State’s fourth consecutive victory over Michigan (and 11 of the last 12) was also important in more immediate terms: it was an emphatic response after a discouraging loss a week earlier to Michigan State, keeping Playoff hopes alive. WHAT WE’LL BE TALKING ABOUT: The way Ohio State (11-1, 7-1 Big Ten) won will only fuel questions about what might have been for the defending national champion. A week after complaining he should have had more than 11 carries (he got 12) in a loss to Michigan State, Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott got the ball like he was calling the plays — 32 total touches including 30 carries for 214 yards and two touchdowns — and it was the right strategy to grind out victory. …
Continue Reading: Ohio State routs Michigan and stays in Playoff picture
