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In a surprising turn of events, Michigan defeated Ohio State 13-10, triggering a postgame brawl as emotions ran high and a victory flag was planted at midfield of the Horseshoe. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day appeared both bewildered and stunned, struggling to comprehend the fourth consecutive loss to the Wolverines. "I'm still trying to digest everything that just happened," a clearly shaken Day stated postgame. "I have a locker room full of guys who are just devastated… There are a lot of guys who are crushed right now. There is nothing you can say at this point. You have to take ownership of that and it starts with me."

Despite their 10-2 record, this loss looms large for the Buckeyes as they head into the College Football Playoff with a challenging path ahead. Without a Big Ten title, Ohio State faces the possibility of no bye week and an arduous first-round road game. On the other hand, Michigan, with a 7-5 record, is headed to a lesser bowl game, but the victory has significantly uplifted first-year coach Sherrone Moore and his team. Entering the game as 19.5-point underdogs, Michigan's lineup featured a former walk-on, cancer-surviving quarterback who rarely threw passes longer than 10 yards.

Ohio State's well-funded and star-studded roster, combined with strategic hires like UCLA's former head coach Chip Kelly, seemed poised for victory. Yet, despite all the preparation and focus on this rivalry—symbolized by avoiding the word "Michigan," crossing out "M's" on campus, and Day likening previous defeats to his father’s tragic death—the Buckeyes couldn’t pull off a win.

Michigan quarterback Davis Warren completed just nine passes for 62 yards and two interceptions, with his longest pass being 18 yards. His passer, Peyton O'Leary, had initially joined Michigan with plans to play lacrosse. The narrative seemed ripped from a lesser-known conference, yet the Wolverines triumphed by sheer grit.

The Wolverines outrushed the Buckeyes 172-77, a crucial factor that usually signals success in this storied rivalry. Kalel Mullings alone amassed 116 rushing yards. Day acknowledged, "We just couldn't control the game in the run game. The overall execution wasn't good enough."

Contributing to Ohio State’s woes were two interceptions, two missed field goals, zero sacks, and an ill-timed penalty resulting in 12-men-on-the-field during Michigan's final drive. The Buckeyes’ second-half performance was dismal, with their last first down occurring with 5:59 left in the third quarter. The Michigan defense effectively shut them down, leading to boos from the home crowd.

Meanwhile, Michigan overcame errors and limitations, embodying resilience. As Ohio State's playoff future hangs in the balance, their defeat has intensified scrutiny on Day, despite his 66-10 record. Fans and players alike reacted furiously to Michigan attempting to plant their flag on Ohio Stadium’s logo, triggering a melee.

Day justified his team’s response, stating, "Those guys are trying to put a flag on our field and our guys weren't going to let that happen. This is our field, and we are obviously disappointed we lost the game, but we have some prideful guys on our team [who] just aren't going to sit back and watch that happen."

Michigan’s Mullings countered, "They got to learn how to lose, man." Until Day finds a way to overcome Michigan, even the most talent-laden roster might not be enough to secure his future.