# 2024 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game

The 2024 Michigan vs. Ohio State football game was a regular season college football rivalry game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes, played at Ohio Stadium on November 30, 2024. The Buckeyes, who compiled a 10–1 season record prior to this game, were heavily favored against their rival the Wolverines who had a 6–5 record, however the Wolverines managed to win the game 13–10 in a shocking upset, denying the Buckeyes a spot in the Big Ten championship game that year. The game was also notable for the resulting fight between the teams that took place after the game was over. It was the biggest point spread upset in the history of the Michigan-Ohio State football rivalry, and the fourth consecutive year of the rivalry that resulted in a Michigan win.
The Wolverines, who were coming off a disappointing 6–5 record for the 2024 season following their previous season in 2023, which saw them win the national championship and go undefeated, were widely expected to lose the rivalry matchup against the Buckeyes, who had only lost 1 prior game in the entire season- a narrow loss to the number-1 ranked Oregon Ducks (a loss which was later avenged by Ohio State's 41–21 victory over Oregon during the 2025 Rose Bowl). The Wolverines were listed as 3-touchdown underdogs by most major sportsbooks. However, due to the dominant performance of the Wolverine's defense, as well as several missed field goals by Ohio State, the Wolverines pulled off a 13–10 upset victory. Immediately after the game was over, a fight broke out between the two teams after the Wolverines attempted to plant their flag in the middle of Ohio State's field. The fight resulted in several law enforcement officials using pepper spray against the players, and one law enforcement officer was injured during the brawl and had to be taken to the hospital. The University of Michigan and the Ohio State University were both fined $100,000 each by the Big Ten Conference as a result of the fight.
The Buckeyes would go on to be selected for the 2025 College Football Playoff, which saw them reach the national championship, and defeat Notre Dame for the national title. The Wolverines were selected to face Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl, where they entered as 16.5 point underdogs but defeated the Crimson Tide 19–13.

## Background

The Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry dates back to 1890, and the two teams have played nearly every year since, with a few years taken off during World War I and the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the 2024 matchup, Michigan led the overall all-time series with 61 wins, while Ohio State had 51 wins, plus 6 ties. Michigan had won the matchup in 2021, 2022, and 2023, giving them a three-year winning streak going into the 2024 game.
For the 2024 season, Ohio State had accumulated a 10–1 record prior to this game, with their only loss being a narrow 31–32 defeat to the then-undefeated Oregon Ducks. A win against Michigan would secure them a spot in the Big Ten championship game against Oregon. The Buckeyes were also widely expected to be selected for the College Football Playoff by this point, due to their dominant regular season performance. The focal point of the 2024 Buckeyes was their dominant defense, allowing just 12.9 points per game on average, the best in the FBS in 2024, with an offense scoring 35.7 points per game on average, the 13th highest in the FBS in 2024.
The Wolverines, conversely, had compiled a 6–5 record in 2024. After their previous season in 2023, which saw them compile an undefeated regular season record and win the national championship title, many of their star offensive players, including quarterback J.J. McCarthy and running back Blake Corum, as well as head coach Jim Harbaugh, had left the team for jobs in the National Football League. Consequently, the 2024 Wolverines struggled offensively, failing to establish an effective passing game which caused them to score a meager 22 points per game on average, which ranked 113th in the FBS in 2024.The Wolverine's lackluster offense caused them to lose key games to Illinois, Indiana, Oregon, Texas, and Washington. However, the Wolverine's defense remained strong, allowing 19.9 points per game on average, the 19th best in the FBS in 2024. As a result of their record, the Wolverines, by this point, were already eliminated from contention for both the Big Ten Championship title and a spot in the College Football Playoff, but would still clinch bowl eligibility with a win against Ohio State.
As a result of Ohio State's dominant performance throughout the season, and Michigan's struggles throughout the season, the Buckeyes were 20.5-point favorites to win the game. As a result, Ohio State would enjoy their first win over the Wolverines since 2019, as well as a bid to the Big Ten Championship game.

## Game summary

Ohio State won the coin toss and decided to defer first possession to Michigan, which resulted in a punt. Ohio State responded with a 58-yard drive and a successful field goal from Jayden Fielding, for the first points of the game. Michigan then drove down the field 72-yards, but the drive ended with a turnover on downs at the Ohio State 3-yard line. Ohio State quarterback Will Howard then threw an interception to Aamir Hall, which gave Michigan the ball at Ohio State's 2-yard line. Michigan then responded with a 1-yard touchdown run, giving them a 7–3 lead. Ohio State's next drive went for 55 yards and ended with an unsuccessful field goal attempt. Michigan and Ohio State then traded punts, before Michigan responded with a 54-yard field goal from Dominic Zvada, giving them a 10–3 lead. Ohio State then drove 75 yards, resulting in a 10-yard touchdown pass to tie the game 10–10. Michigan then got the ball back at the end of the half, before time expired with a halftime score of 10–10.
Ohio State received the second-half kickoff, and Ohio State and Michigan traded punts before Will Howard threw another interception at Michigan's 9-yard line, before Michigan responded with another interception at their own 16-yard line. Ohio State then responded with another unsuccessful field goal attempt, before Michigan responded with a 77-yard drive that lasted into the fourth quarter. Michigan reached Ohio State's 3-yard line before throwing an interception to Jack Sawyer at the goal line, ending their drive. Ohio State's resulting drive went 9 yards before punting, and Michigan drove another 57-yards before Dominic Zvada kicked a 21-yard field goal to give Michigan a 13–10 lead with 45 seconds left in the game. Ohio State's next drive resulted in a turnover on downs, and Michigan ended the game with a quarterback kneel, giving them a 13–10 victory.

## Aftermath
### Fight and police involvement

Shortly after the game's conclusion, Michigan defensive end Derrick Moore attempted to plant a flag showing the University of Michigan's logo over the Buckeyes logo at midfield. Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer then ripped the flag out of the ground and threw it. A series of skirmishes then broke out between players on both teams, with members of both teams throwing punches at each other. Police officers from "multiple different agencies" then assisted in breaking up the fight, with pepper spray being used against players fighting. One responding police officer was injured during the scuffle and had to be taken to a hospital for treatment. Both Michigan and Ohio State were fined $100,000 each by the Big Ten Conference as a result of the fight. Josh Williams, a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, introduced a bill to the state's legislature which if passed, would have made flag planting a felony. Dubbed the "O.H.I.O. Sportsmanship Act", the bill is effectively dead, with Jessie Balmert of The Columbus Dispatch saying its chances to pass were "doomed from the beginning".

### Subsequent games

As a result of this loss, Ohio State did not qualify for the Big Ten Championship game, and the game instead featured Penn State and Oregon. However, Ohio State was still selected to participate in the College Football Playoff (CFP) as an 8-seed. They first faced Tennessee, which resulted in a 42–17 Ohio State victory. Then, in a rematch of the earlier regular season game which Oregon won 32–31, Ohio State defeated Oregon in the 2025 Rose Bowl, 41–21. Then, in the semifinal round, Ohio State defeated Texas 28–14 at the 2025 Cotton Bowl, before finally advancing to the national championship, where they defeated Notre Dame 34–23. With this win, Ohio State claimed their first national championship since 2014.
Michigan, now with a 7–5 record, was still not eligible to participate in the CFP. Instead, they faced No. 11 Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl. The Wolverines entered as 13.5-point underdogs, but once again, managed to win the game 19–13, despite many of their defensive stars, including Will Johnson and Mason Graham, not participating due to their entrance in the 2025 NFL draft. With their win in the ReliaQuest Bowl, Michigan ended their dissapointing season with consecutive wins against two top-15 opponents, for a final total record of 8–5.