Big Ten Power Rankings: Week 14

This college football season should come with two labels: BG (Before the Game) and AG (After the Game). That’s because the landscape will be drastically altered now that Ohio State has won. It’s hard to call this the best Game ever – how can you top that 2006 contest – but it was the first time in 113 meetings that they went to overtime. And considering how evenly matched the two were all season, and throughout the game, it was only fitting that regulation would solve nothing.

While Curtis Samuel will get all the praise, Ohio State’s defense won them this game. With a quarterback that probably wasn’t 100%, Michigan tried to go to the run. But their primary rushers, De’veon Smith and Chris Evans, averaged three yards per carry which forced the Wolverines to beat the Buckeyes through the air. They knew they could rely on their vaunted secondary, and they came through with two huge interceptions that changed the dynamic of the game.

Then there’s the way they limited Michigan to five yards on three possessions in the fourth, and made them settle for a field goal in double overtime. The best individual defensive player was Raekwon McMillan who finished with a gaudy 16 tackles. Even though they’ve had no problem replacing every defensive stud that’s come through the ranks, the Buckeyes are going to miss McMillan a great deal.

Ohio State have been wildly inconsistent across the board – one week, they’ll blow out a top 10 team 62-3, and the other, they’ll almost lose to a three-loss team. But results matter in this business, and their win over Michigan gives them the most impressive resume in the country. They now have three wins over teams currently in the Top 10, while their Penn State loss looks better and better each week.

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There’s a lot to be concerned about regarding Ohio State, particularly Barrett’s struggles under center. But this team conquers adversity like no other, and they (almost) always find a way to win. And after laying it all out on the line against Michigan, nobody’s questioning their resolve. If they make it back to the Playoff, it’ll certainly erase the disappointment of last season when they failed to qualify despite fielding an NFL roster.