In a big matchup of heated rivals, Michigan dominated Ohio State in Columbus to finish off a perfect 12-0 regular season.

The Wolverines and Buckeyes both came into the matchup 11-0 and ranked among the top three teams in the College Football Playoff rankings. Then, a year after breaking its losing streak against Ohio State and winning the Big Ten title, Michigan went on the road and got its first win in Columbus since 2000.

Michigan hung around in the first half despite being outplayed on both sides of the ball. They were missing star RB Blake Corum, who tried to play on his injured knee. Corum was on the field for a few plays, but was ineffective and spent the rest of the game on the sidelines.

Michigan WR Cornelius Johnson. Photo courtsey of Kirthmon F. Dozier/USA TODAY NETWORK

Michigan WR Cornelius Johnson caught a 69-yard touchdown and a 75-yard touchdown on back-to-back offensive plays to give the Wolverines a brief 17-13 lead before Ohio State took a 20-17 advantage into halftime.

Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy threw a third long touchdown pass to open the second half, hitting Colston Loveland from 45 yards out to take a 24-20 lead.

Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy. Photo courtsey of AP Photo/Jay LaPrete

Michigan never looked back, scoring three touchdowns in the fourth quarter while surrendering just a single field goal. Michigan RB Donovan Edwards provided the knockout punch with a 75-yard touchdown run for Michigan’s final score and added an 85-yarder to add further insult. In the end, the Wolverines ran out the clock with a 45-23 victory.

Michigan’s sophomore QB J.J. McCarthy finished 12-of-24 for 263 yards and three touchdowns and added 27 yards and one score on the ground. He routinely found success with deep throws, identifying a weakness within the Buckeyes secondary.

For Ohio State, this a bad loss. Losing in a blowout in ideal weather to the underdog Wolverines at Ohio Stadium, where Ohio State hadn’t lost to the Wolverines since 2000.

Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud. Photo courtsey of USA Today Sports

The Buckeyes managed only one field goal in the second half as C.J. Stroud’s Heisman Trophy bid took a blow. He completed 31 of 48 passes for 349 yards with two interceptions that ended the Buckeyes’ final two drives.

Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy passes against Ohio State during the first half at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 26, 2022. Photo courtsey of KIRTHMON F. DOZIER, DETROIT FREE PRESS

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