Here are 5 things we learned from Ohio State's 42-27 loss to Michigan

Brian White, The Columbus Dispatch

November 28, 2021 at 12:09 PM·4 min read

It was a humbling end to Ohio State's eight-game win streak over Michigan, and a shocking one at that.

The Buckeyes will be home next week to watch the Wolverines play Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game, an end few saw after OSU ripped apart Michigan State last week.

Now as they prepare for whatever bowl game is coming, the Buckeyes' thoughts will be on next year and how to get back on top.

Here are five things we learned about the Buckeyes from their 42-27 loss on Saturday:

Ohio State Buckeyes safety Bryson Shaw (17) chases Michigan Wolverines running back Hassan Haskins (25) during the fourth quarter of the NCAA football game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. Ohio State lost 42-27.

The defense is not fixed. Not even close

This defeat felt worse than the Oregon fiasco, because the Ducks' win could somewhat be written off as being outschemed. Or being young and confused. Or, incorrectly, on Kerry Coombs.

This was a loss due to a fundamental inability to stop what you knew what was coming. Even sound teams can be fooled. But great teams are not bullied.

The Buckeyes might need better schemes, but mostly they need run-stuffing linebackers and consistency in the secondary.

Whoever is the defensive coordinator next year will be asked to address those issues first.

Ohio State will face the 'soft' question for a year now

All season, the first thing people talked about when referencing the Buckeyes was the crazy-good passing game. A flashy offense. Video-game play-calling.

Those things will return next year, even with the departures of star receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. But now there's a big "They're talented, but ...."

The Buckeyes were outmuscled on Saturday. They weren't tough enough in the trenches on either side of the ball, and in the Big Ten that's about the worst thing that can be said about you. In the Pac-12? Who cares? But in these parts, physicality is required.

Now coach Ryan Day and whoever is the new defensive coordinator will be continually asked about losing in the trenches.

You can't outscore everyone all the time. You need a backup plan that comes with a running game and defensive gap-filling.

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) complains about a false start with offensive lineman Luke Wypler (53) and offensive lineman Thayer Munford (75) during the second quarter of the NCAA football game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021.

The young Buckeyes were not ready for the moment

False starts. Ripping a helmet off an opponent, right in the middle of the field. Inability to play physical football when you knew it was coming. Two bad snaps to the quarterback.

A team filled with young four- and five-star players who had never played in a Michigan-Ohio State game learned firsthand what all the talk is about. It starts with deafening stadium noise but escalates from there.

The Buckeyes committed 10 penalties for 66 yards. Michigan was whistled twice for 20. That's discipline and experience.

Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh celebrates on the sideline after beating Ohio State Buckeyes 42-27 in a NCAA College football at Michigan Stadium at Ann Arbor, Mi on November 27, 2021.

Jim Harbaugh remains ungracious

You have to give Jim Harbaugh credit for how he had his team ready to play and ready for the moment. But just once, you'd love to also compliment how the Michigan coach handles ... well, anything.

When he loses, he complains about the officiating. When he wins, he does so with too much arrogance. That goes back to his days at Stanford (Google "Harbaugh What's Your Deal")

On Saturday, after he lifted his record to 1-5 against Ohio State, he chose to throw a dart at Day, basically saying the Ohio State coach has no right to take any credit for any Buckeye success in the series.

Asked after the game about trash talking from Ohio State in recent years, Harbaugh said, "Some people were born on third and think they hit a triple."

Just once, you'd like to see humility.

Michigan Wolverines linebacker David Ojabo (55) abnd defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) celebrate a sack of Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) during the third quarter of the NCAA football game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021.

Either Aidan Hutchinson is J.J. Watt or the Ohio State tackles were overrated

Aidan Hutchinson was the force that C.J. Stroud had not experienced this year. He had three sacks, giving him 13 for the year, and three tackles for loss. He looked like a top-five draft pick.

Until Saturday, the Buckeyes had given Stroud a lot of time to operate the Buckeyes' high-powered offense. Hutchinson and David Ojabo wrecked that.

The College Football Playoff schedule

Here are the dates to know for the College Football Playoff:

Selection show: Noon Dec. 5 on ESPN
Cotton Bowl: 3:30 or 7:30 p.m., Dec. 31 on ESPN
Orange Bowl: 3:30 or 7:30 p.m., Dec. 31 on ESPN
College Football Playoff national championship game: 8 p.m., Monday, Jan. 10, 2022 on ESPN

Week 13 College Football Playoff rankings

Georgia 11-0
Ohio State 10-1
Alabama 10-1
Cincinnati 11-0
Michigan 10-1
Notre Dame 10-1
Oklahoma State 10-1
Baylor 9-2
Ole Miss 9-2
Oklahoma 10-1
Oregon 9-2
Michigan State 9-2
BYU 9-2
Wisconsin 8-3
Texas A&M 8-3
Iowa 9-2
Pittsburgh 9-2
Wake Forest 9-2
Utah 8-3
NC State 8-3
San Diego State 10-1
UTSA 11-0
Clemson 8-3
Houston 10-1
Arkansas 7-4

Get more Ohio State football news by listening to our podcasts

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State Buckeyes football loses to Michigan: What we learned

Yahoo News
Flight delays and cancellations mount as severe weather impacts holiday travel across the U.S.
Storms across the southern and western portions of the United States continue to impact flight schedules on one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, causing delays and cancellations as people head back home from the holiday season.
USA TODAY
Israel raids north Gaza hospital, ministry says staff out of contact
The Israeli military said Hamas had turned the the Kamal Adwan Hospital into a command center.
USA TODAY
Bears usually hibernate in winter, but some wander Northern California yards instead
California residents say they've spotted non-hibernating bears dragging their trash cans away.
Reuters
US anti-missile system in Israel used to intercept projectile from Yemen
The THAAD, or Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, was used to try to intercept a projectile from Yemen sometime during the last 24 hours, and an analysis would determine its success, said the source who spoke on condition of anonymity. Israel struck multiple targets linked to the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen on Thursday, including Sanaa International Airport, and Houthi media said at least six people were killed.
AFP
N. Korean soldier captured in Russia-Ukraine war dies: Seoul
A North Korean soldier who was captured while fighting in Russia's war against Ukraine has died of his wounds, South Korea's spy agency said on Friday. "It has been confirmed through an allied intelligence agency that the North Korean soldier captured alive on December 26th has just passed away due to worsening wounds," the NIS said in a statement.
Associated Press
One dead, several injured after fire at Tyson Foods plant
One person is dead and several others are injured after an overnight fire at a Tyson Foods plant in southwest Georgia, the company said Friday. Tyson said it was working with local authorities to determine the cause of the fire. The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which represents 1,600 workers at the plant, said Friday that a boiler had exploded at the plant.
Associated Press
A 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House says
A ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans, a top White House official said Friday. Biden administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies, as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. The update from Neuberger is the latest development in a massive hacking operation that has alarmed national security officials, exposed cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the private sector and laid bare China's hacking sophistication.
CBS News
What to know about returning unwanted holiday gifts
The National Retail Federation expects about 17% of sales to be returned this year.
Associated Press
Maryland sues maker of Gore-Tex over pollution from toxic 'forever chemicals'
Maryland is suing the company that produces the waterproof material Gore-Tex often used for raincoats and other outdoor gear, alleging its leaders kept using “forever chemicals” long after learning about serious health risks associated with them. The complaint, which was filed last week in federal court, focuses on a cluster of 13 facilities in northeastern Maryland operated by Delaware-based W.L. Gore & Associates. It alleges the company polluted the air and water around its facilities with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, jeopardizing the health of surrounding communities while raking in profits.
USA TODAY
What is the Kessler Syndrome? How space junk has become an orbital threat
Space junk poses a threat to our future in space. Here's what's being done to combat it.
USA TODAY
Cats keep catching and spreading a puzzling and deadly disease: Is your cat safe?
Cats may help the bird flu virus become a greater public health threat. Here's why.
CNN
Severe storms across the US could snarl holiday travel during one of the busiest weekends of the year
Buckle up for a potentially bumpy ride, as coast-to-coast storms could impede millions of travelers this busy holiday weekend.
AFP
Bird flu mutated inside US patient, raising concern
The bird flu virus found in a severely ill patient hospitalized in the United States has mutated to become better adapted to human airways, though there is no evidence it has spread beyond the individual, authorities said.Moreover, similar mutations have been found in severely ill patients in the past without triggering wider spread among humans.
Associated Press
Philadelphia judges, citing security lapses, order sheriff to implement a new safety plan
Philadelphia judges concerned about security lapses at city courthouses have ordered the sheriff to address what they call a rising number of assaults, threats and staffing shortages that lead to court delays. The judges, in a court order published this week, say the sheriff’s “systemic failures” to staff the criminal courthouse, family law center, City Hall courtrooms and other sites pose an “imminent threat” to public safety. In one alarming incident caught on video in February, two men brawled in a hallway at Philadelphia Family Court while another man was on the floor, seemingly unconscious, and a lone security officer tried to regain control.
CNN
China launches new amphibious assault ship in a race to rival US military
China has launched its first next-generation amphibious assault ship, adding a powerful cutting-edge warship to the country’s fast-expanding navy as it races to rival the military power of the United States.
Reuters
Biden administration proposes new cybersecurity rules to limit impact of healthcare data leaks
Healthcare organizations may be required to bolster their cybersecurity, to better prevent sensitive information from being leaked by cyberattacks like the ones that hit Ascension and UnitedHealth, a senior White House official said Friday. Anne Neuberger, the U.S. deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology, told reporters that proposed requirements are necessary in light of the massive number of Americans whose data has been affected by large breaches of healthcare information. The proposals include encrypting data so it cannot be accessed, even if leaked, and requiring compliance checks to ensure networks meet cybersecurity rules.
AFP
Damascus rally demands news of missing Syrians
A silent crowd gathered in the Syrian capital Damascus on Friday to press the new authorities about the fate of relatives who went missing under Bashar al-Assad and to demand justice for their loved ones.Other placards read: "Revealing the fate of the missing is a right," and "I don't want an unmarked grave for my son, I want the truth."
AFP
Slovakia says ready to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks
Slovakia on Friday confirmed its readiness to host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, despite Kyiv's accusation that it is playing into the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin.He said Slovakia had told Kyiv in October that it was available to host peace talks.
CNN
Suspect in fatal New York subway burning indicted on charges of murder and arson
The man accused of setting fire to a woman who was asleep on a New York City subway has been indicted on charges of murder in the first and second degree and arson, according to Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.
CBS News
Man accused of burning woman on subway indicted on murder, arson charges
A grand jury has indicted the man accused of setting a woman on fire aboard a Brooklyn subway train, Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez announced Friday.