J.J. McCarthy tossed three touchdown passes and also scored on the ground, and No. 3 Michigan defeated No. 2 Ohio State 45-23 on Saturday, stunningly dominating the Buckeyes for the second consecutive season.
Michigan (12-0, 9-0, No. 3 CFP) defeated Ohio State (11-1, 8-1, No. 2 CFP) at Columbus for the first time since 2000, despite playing nearly the entire game without star running back Blake Corum due to injury.
The Wolverines are in complete control of their chances for a second consecutive postseason berth as they proceed to next Saturday’s Big Ten championship game. The Buckeyes will have to hope they can return to the CFP after losing their season’s most important game for the second time.
Last year, Jim Harbaugh and Michigan ended an eight-game losing streak to their toughest rivals. Now they have their first two-game victory run in The Game in 22 years.
McCarthy, the second-year quarterback who beat out incumbent Cade McNamara for the starting position early in the season, had the best game of his career when Michigan needed a victory.
His previous longest pass completion was 42 yards, but he threw three touchdown passes of at least 45 yards against the Buckeyes, the most touchdown passes of 45 yards or more in the history of the rivalry game.
In the first half, he threw touchdown throws of 69 and 75 yards to Cornelius Johnson. In the second half, he found Colston Loveland for 45 yards and the freshman tight end’s first career touchdown reception.
On third-and-10 at the Ohio State 13 early in the fourth quarter, McCarthy was being chased by Zach Harrison when he lofted a throw to Ronnie Bell in the end zone, resulting in a pass interference call against safety Ronnie Hickman.
That put the ball on the Ohio State 2, and three plays later the 19-year-old quarterback from suburban Chicago bowled over a tackler for another score and a 31-20 Michigan advantage.
The Buckeyes had to settle for a field goal by Noah Ruggles to bring the score to 31-23.
Edwards sealed the victory for Michigan.
With 7:11 remaining, Corum’s replacement, who was playing with a severely wrapped and damaged hand, sprinted through a hole on the right side and raced 75 yards for a touchdown.
After the Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud was intercepted, Edwards sprinted 85 yards for a touchdown.
»Michigan thrashes Ohio State to stay undefeated«