With their backs to the wall and the nation doubting them, Ohio State stood tall and crushed the vaunted Michigan defense for six touchdowns in a 42-13 win.
Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 214 yards and two touchdowns, while J.T. Barrett added 252 total yards and four total touchdowns as the Buckeyes punished the Wolverines from start to finish.
Michigan’s defense had not allowed more than three touchdowns in any game this season prior to Saturday. The Buckeyes put six TDs on the board in Ann Arbor.
Ohio State finishes the regular season with an 11-1 record, but leaves their fate up to other teams. Michigan State must lose to Penn State in order to allow the Buckeyes a spot in the Big Ten Championship game. If the Spartans hold on (currently up 20-10 at halftime), MSU will face Iowa for the league title. If Penn State mounts a comeback, Iowa gets the Buckeyes.
Even without a Big Ten title berth, there is hope for the Buckeyes to get into the College Football Playoffs. The SEC is facing the prospect of having only two-loss teams left standing, and the Pac-12 might not have any teams eligible to get into the postseason, unless Stanford for dominate the rest of the season. Two Big Ten teams in the playoffs is not out of the question.
The rest of Saturday could be a thrill ride that sends Ohio State to the championship, much like they saw in 2007 when six teams in front of them fell on the final weekend of action.
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