3 people most to blame for Ohio State losing to Michigan

It is season over for the Ohio State Buckeyes, and these people are to blame for losing to the Michigan Wolverines.

The Ohio State Buckeyes lost The Game to the Michigan Wolverines, 42-27.

It had not happened since Jim Harbaugh was in his first year coaching the NFL‘s San Francisco 49ers. Seemingly a decade in the making, the Wolverines got the job done and will face presumably Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship game next Saturday with a trip to the College Football Playoff on the line. For the Buckeyes, it is season over and heads will roll in Columbus.

Here is who is most to blame for the Buckeyes getting outplayed all afternoon in Ann Arbor.

Ohio State football: 3 people most to blame losing to Michigan

3. The entire defensive coaching staff needs to go find employment elsewhere

This is the biggest indictment of the Buckeyes season overall. They need a new defensive coaching staff. Larry Johnson is the only one that should keep his job because of his recruiting prowess and track record. While the offense was capable of putting up points on anyone, the defense was the fatal flaw of this team all season long. It burned them vs. Oregon and it ended their season vs. Michigan. With so many five-stars on the roster, the defensive coaching staff absolutely blew it.

2. The entire defensive line had no answers for Hassan Haskins all afternoon

If there was one position group most to blame for this loss, it has to be the Buckeyes’ defensive line. They allowed Wolverines running back Hassan Haskins to have the greatest game of his life in a contest both teams needed to win. Haskins had 169 yards and five touchdowns. Haskins is a fantastic player, but not being able to get any push up front or dictate terms against the Michigan offensive line was pitiful. This is why they lost.

1. Ryan Day put forth arguably the worst coaching performance of his career

Ultimately, this all falls on head coach Ryan Day. The Urban Meyer era in Columbus is so over, as Day has to take a fat slice of humble pie and it eat it like cold pizza in the bowels of The Big House. Ohio State had serious national title aspirations, but the Buckeyes did not play with the vigor of a champion at any point in this game. Michigan is good, but Day just got outcoached by Jim Harbaugh. 10 penalties by Ohio State, including five false starts and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the third quarter, were signs the team lost its composure and wasn’t able to handle the Big House environment.

This loss is a referendum on the Ohio State program and Day now has to make major adjustments.

For more NCAA football news, analysis, opinion and unique coverage by FanSided, including Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff rankings, be sure to bookmark these pages.