Michigan triumphed over Ohio State with a score of 13 to 10.

Reflecting on how both teams arrived at this pivotal matchup at the end of November, it was surprising to see the Wolverines pull off such an upset.

Two main factors were often underestimated. Firstly, there was a historical element: Michigan had defeated Ohio State three times consecutively, leaving the No. 2 Buckeyes in a position where they had to change their approach to regain competitiveness in this rivalry.

The second significant factor was Michigan’s defense. Although not performing at the same level as the previous year, this unit helped the Wolverines reach the postseason despite their offense struggling immensely.

The combination of history, a solid defense, crucial plays at pivotal moments, and the ability to control the game’s tempo – even against Ohio State’s best efforts, marked by a dominating fourth quarter – led to what should be remembered as one of the biggest upsets in this rivalry.

For Michigan, this victory offers a bright spot in what has been a challenging season under new head coach Sherrone Moore. This win can serve as a significant milestone for building a path towards future Big Ten or national championships.

Looking ahead, Ohio State will miss out on the conference championship match. Instead, No. 1 Oregon will compete against No. 4 Penn State, who ended their regular season on a high note by defeating Maryland. Not participating in the Big Ten Championship implies Ohio State will have to anxiously wait for the final College Football Playoff rankings to determine their postseason prospects.

Moreover, this marks a troubling chapter for coach Ryan Day. He becomes the first Ohio State coach to experience four consecutive losses to Michigan since John Cooper from 1988 to 1991, as well as the first to lose to an unranked Michigan team since Cooper in 1993.

This loss is perhaps the most significant setback of Day’s career, ranking among the worst defeats for the Buckeyes in this rivalry’s history. Despite achieving regular-season success against many teams apart from the Wolverines, Day could find it hard to recover from this game.

The outcomes of the games on Saturday spotlight Michigan, Ohio State, and South Carolina as the main winners and losers:

Winners

Michigan

Michigan is poised for a bowl game in locations like Charlotte, Nashville, or Tampa, with even the possibility of Ohio State making the playoff, leading to a bittersweet end for the Buckeyes. However, the Wolverines will enjoy their victory over Ohio State for another year, given their commanding performance in the fourth quarter that epitomizes their four-game winning streak. Since 2021, Michigan has outscored OSU 75-31 in the second halves of games.

South Carolina

In a nail-biting finish, South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers scored a 20-yard touchdown run to turn the tide in their 17-14 victory against No. 12 Clemson, capping off a remarkable second-half season. The No. 14 Gamecocks wrapped up the season with six consecutive wins, four against ranked teams, and are now in contention for a surprising playoff berth with some favorable outcomes ahead. In a crucial rivalry match for both teams, South Carolina clinched victory in Death Valley for the second time consecutively, intercepting Cade Klubnik to seal the win.

Clemson

Even though Clemson lost their rivalry match, they still emerged as winners in a sense. Thanks to No. 6 Miami’s loss to Syracuse, the Tigers will still advance to the ACC Championship Game. If Clemson manages to beat No. 9 SMU and secure their seventh ACC title in nine years, they could still find their way back into the playoff conversation.

Tennessee and Notre Dame

Both playoff hopefuls, Tennessee and Notre Dame, secured at-large bids by scoring rivalry victories at the close of the regular season. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava threw four touchdown passes to guide No. 8 Tennessee to a 36-23 victory over Vanderbilt. Later that afternoon, No. 5 Notre Dame outscored Southern California 21-7 in the third quarter, followed by two interception returns for touchdowns in the fourth, leading to a 49-35 win. Both teams are now set to host opening-round playoff matches. Depending on the outcomes of the upcoming conference championship games, Tennessee could be headed for a playoff berth as well.

Losers

The ACC

The ACC’s hopes dimmed after Miami’s 42-38 loss to Syracuse, putting the No. 6 Hurricanes’ playoff aspirations in jeopardy. However, all is not lost, especially given the unpredictable nature of the SEC and the scarcity of contenders with fewer than three losses. The upcoming playoff rankings on Tuesday will reveal Miami’s standings, which rest on at least five wins against bowl-eligible teams, including victories against Duke and Louisville. But the overall narrative for the ACC remains grim: the losses suffered by both Clemson and Miami on Saturday likely position the conference for just a single playoff opportunity.

Ryan Day

Describing the challenges faced by Ryan Day on Saturday is difficult, as he has thrived at Ohio State in many areas, except for the two crucial ones: defeating the Wolverines and capturing national championships. While he may still hold a strong record overall, Day’s failures against Michigan could define his legacy.

Thanks to the expansion of the playoffs, there remains a possibility for achieving success. However, regardless of how the next couple of months unfold, the defeat to Michigan will be a stain on Day’s record. Although the prospect of him being replaced seems far-fetched, he will definitely enter the 2025 season with the necessity to not only defeat Michigan but also to contend for the Big Ten title and make a significant playoff run to secure his future with the Buckeyes.

Kansas

Kansas’s magical second half came to an end just before the finish line. After achieving three straight victories against ranked teams like Iowa State, Brigham Young, and Colorado, they fell 45-21 to Baylor, missing the chance for bowl eligibility. Trailing 21-10 at halftime, the Jayhawks conceded three touchdown drives of over 62 yards during the third quarter, which left them down 42-17 heading into the final period. This marked the first game this season where Kansas lost by a wide margin; their remaining six losses were by a slender total of 30 points.

Auburn

The Iron Bowl proved timely for No. 13 Alabama. Following last week’s disappointing 24-3 loss to Oklahoma, the Crimson Tide released their frustrations on Auburn, racking up 201 rushing yards and four touchdowns en route to a 28-14 victory. This defeat marks the fifth consecutive loss for the Tigers in this rivalry, their longest streak since falling to Alabama nine times in a row from 1973 to 1981. Consequently, this loss also means Auburn will miss the postseason for the second time in three years, while coach Hugh Freeze faces back-to-back losing seasons, an unprecedented occurrence in his coaching career.