Three straight losses. Welcome to hell.
For the third straight season, The Game did not end with an Ohio State victory. The third consecutive freshman class has tasted the agony of defeat in the season's biggest game.
This year, the Buckeyes lost 30-24 in Ann Arbor. With a Big Ten East title and a berth to the Big Ten championship game on the line, Ryan Day only played seven of Ohio State's true freshmen, with six of them playing only on special teams.
Malik Hartford was on the field for one defensive snap. That play? Roman Wilson's 22-yard touchdown catch that put the Wolverines up 14-3 in the middle of the second quarter.
Denzel Burke and Hartford were in coverage, but J.J. McCarthy's pass went over both defenders and into Wilson's hands for the score.
3rd & 10
— Due# (@JDue51) November 26, 2023
JJ threads an absolute needle to Roman Wilson. lol I dont even know how.
Literally right over the head of the LB. pic.twitter.com/yCrm8pxigq
Burke ended up with the ball in the end zone and the replay booth reviewed the touchdown catch, but in the end, it was ruled for the touchdown to stand.
Rest of the class
Brandon Inniss participated on all seven kickoff return teams and was on one of the three punt returns.
Jermaine Mathews Jr. covered on Ohio State's five kickoffs.
Luke Montgomery protected on the Buckeyes' three extra points and two field goal attempts.
Arvell Reese was on the field for the team's seven kickoff returns.
Calvin Simpson-Hunt was a gunner on every kickoff and one of the three punt returns.
Carnell Tate took the field for Ohio State's seven kickoff returns, he was on one of the Buckeyes' three punt returns and the last kickoff team.
Ohio State is now relegated to watching the scoreboard to see if the team can make the College Football Playoff. Otherwise, the Buckeyes will play just one more time this year in a non-playoff bowl game.
Through 12 games, 14 of Ohio State's 21 scholarship true freshmen have seen the field, with seven – Hartford, Inniss, Mathews, McDonald, Montgomery, Reese and Tate – now ineligible for a redshirt as they have played in more than four games.
| NAME | POS | DEBUT | MICHIGAN STATS | GP | SEASON STATS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CARNELL TATE | WR | Indiana | Special teams | 12 | 17 catches, 251 yards, 1 TD |
| MALIK HARTFORD | S | Indiana | 1 defensive snap | 11 | 10 tackles, 2 PBU |
| BRANDON INNISS | WR | Indiana | Special teams | 11 | 1 catch, 58 yards, 1 TD |
| JERMAINE MATHEWS JR. | CB | Indiana | Special teams | 11 | 13 tackles, 1 INT, 3 PBU, 1 TD |
| LUKE MONTGOMERY | OL | Indiana | Special teams | 10 | 44 offensive snaps |
| ARVELL REESE | LB | Indiana | Special teams | 7 | Special teams |
| CALVIN SIMPSON-HUNT | CB | Rutgers | Special teams | 4 | 2 tackles |
| KAYDEN McDONALD | DT | WKU | 6 | 1 tackle, 0.5 TFL, 1 PBU | |
| JELANI THURMAN | TE | WKU | 4 | 2 catches, 18 yards | |
| LINCOLN KIENHOLZ | QB | MSU | 2 | 4/5 passing, 25 yards | |
| NOAH ROGERS | WR | Indiana | 4 | 14 offensive snaps | |
| BRYSON RODGERS | WR | Purdue | 2 | 6 offensive snaps | |
| JOSHUA MICKENS | DE | MSU | 1 | 1 defensive snap | |
| JASON MOORE | DT | WKU | 1 | 3 defensive snaps | |
| JAYDEN BONSU | S | ||||
| NIGEL GLOVER | LB | ||||
| CEDRICK HAWKINS | S | ||||
| JOSHUA PADILLA | OL | ||||
| AUSTIN SIEREVELD | OL | ||||
| WILL SMITH JR. | DT | ||||
| MILES WALKER | OT |
(Note: The table does not include freshman walk-ons who have not yet played.)
- #2 Ohio State 24, #3 Michigan 30
- • The Drought Continues
- • Defense Not Up to Standard in 2nd Half
- • McCord's Early Mistake Proves Costly
- • Marv Breaks OSU Record For 100-Yard Games
- • Ohio State Postgame • Michigan Postgame • Photos
- • Wilson Calls Ohio State "Not Tough"
