Michigan vs. Ohio State score: Live game updates, college football scores, NCAA top 25 highlights today – CBS Sports

JJ McCarthy with a laser

That might’ve been the best throw I’ve ever seen JJ McCarthy make. On third-and-long, McCarthy threads a rope between two Ohio State defenders to Roman Wilson for a 22-yard touchdown pass to give the Wolverines a 14-3 lead. The play was reviewed because it looked like Wilson may have lost possession of the ball before crossing the goal line, and Denzel Burke ripped the ball away from him. However, the call on the field stood following review.

It capped a 14-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that saw the Wolverines go for it on fourth-and-1 twice and convert both times, once with Blake Corum soaring over the pile, and on the second a clever quick pass to tight end Colton Loveland.

It’s a 14-3 game early in the second quarter, and The Big House is Big Loud right now.

Blake Corum can fly!

This looks like a fun way to convert a fourth down.

End 1Q: Michigan 7, Ohio State 3

No. 3 Michigan leads No. 2 Ohio State 7-3 after a quarter of play at Michigan Stadium in a game that has featured a lot more defense than offense. Michigan’s lone touchdown was set up by its defense when Will Johnson jumped a slant route to intercept a Kyle McCord pass to set the Wolverines offense up with a first-and-goal. Even then, it was difficult for the Wolverines to convert as they needed all four downs before Blake Corum plowed through the line to pay dirt, scoring a Michigan single-season record 21st rushing touchdown.

Ohio State has been able to move the ball more effectively on offense overall, which is something to keep an eye on going forward, but one must be wary of McCord, who already has a pick and nearly threw a second later in the quarter. He’s completed only 4 of 10 pass attempts for 47 yards and has been off with a lot of his throws.

That’s important because neither team is finding room to move the ball on the ground. Ohio State has 17 yards rushing on seven carries, while Michigan has 24 on 10 runs. This game may come down to who makes fewer mistakes.

Ohio State gets on the board

The Buckeyes hit a big pass play to Marvin Harrison Jr., advancing them to midfield, with a personal foul on Michigan moved them deeper into Wolverines territory. Unfortunately for Ohio State, that’s as far as it got. Of course, considering Kyle McCord nearly threw his second interception (and it probably should’ve been picked), the Buckeyes are happy to get 3 points.

Jayden Fielding’s 43-yard FG caps off a nine-play, 51-yard drive to make it a 7-3 game late in the first quarter.

Wolverines capitalize with a TD

Well, here’s an interesting sentence: Michigan has only 20 yards of offense on nine plays and has not yet picked up a first down … but it leads 7-0.

A Will Johnson interception set the Wolverines up with a first-and-goal from the Ohio State 7, and after Blake Corum was stuffed at the goall ine on third-and-1, Michigan punched it in on fourth down with Corum scoring easily and Michigan taking a 7-0 lead with 5:36 left in the first.

The touchdown is Corum’s 21st of the season, a new Michigan single-season record that breaks the mark Hassan Haskins previously set. Corum needs three more to match Anthony Thomas’ career mark of 55 rushing touchdowns with the Wolverines. 

Kyle McCord gets picked off near OSU end zone

Our first big moment of the game. Kyle McCord goes to Marvin Harrison on a slant off an RPO and Will Johnson jumps the route to pick off the pass. Johnson beat Harrison to the ball plain and simple. Michigan has a first-and-goal at the 7.

Defense dominating early

Shocking, I know, but these two teams who have been dominant defensively all season have been dominant defensively to start today. The good news is we’ve seen some offensive progress. After both Ohio State and Michigan went three-and-out to start, Ohio State managed to pick up a first down on this latest possession before being forced to punt again.

Kyle McCord had an open Marvin Harrison Jr. on first down, but it was either a miscommunication or a terrible throw that left the Buckeyes in second-and-10, and it was too much to overcome from there. 

Key drop as Ohio State starts on offense

The Buckeyes got the first crack on offense after the Wolverines won the opening coin toss but opted to kick off. Ohio State scored a touchdown on the first drive last season, but it ended up being one of only two touchdowns on the day, and the Buckeyes need to find points today against a tough Michigan defense.

Unfortunately for Ohio State, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka had a first down on the third play of the game only to drop a wide-open pass that forced the Buckeyes to go three-and-out. OSU can’t afford to waste opportunities, and Egbuka will be thinking about that catch all game.

Legacies on the line

The careers (not jobs) of both Ryan Day and Jim Harbaugh are on the line Saturday. Well, not necessarily, but there is bound to be something in the air besides the smell of kielbasa outside Michigan Stadium. Something profound — and perhaps troubling — is about to happen.

Day, Ohio State’s coach, has the 800-pound Mustelidae on his back having lost two in a row to Michigan. (The last time the Wolverines won a third straight was 1997, their national championship year.) There was hardly time for the Buckeyes to celebrate Saturday after Day became the winningest coach (by percentage) in program history, surpassing Urban Meyer.

He has to beat Michigan this week … or else what?

Read more below: 

College football games, Rivalry Week: As Michigan hosts Ohio State, careers of Jim Harbaugh, Ryan Day in focus

Dennis Dodd

J.J. McCarthy is key for Michigan

If the Wolverines want to extend their winning streak to three over the rival Buckeyes, then J.J. McCarthy will need to live up to the Heisman Trophy hype he received for a good portion of the season. McCarthy’s production has fallen off a bit in recent weeks, especially since Harbaugh’s three-game suspension began. But if he can turn it on Saturday and crack the code of the Ohio State defense, then the Wolverines will be on track to getting another win over their rival. 

Read more below: 

Michigan vs. Ohio State game: Why J.J. McCarthy holds key to Wolverines extending win streak over Buckeyes

Shehan Jeyarajah

High-scoring affair on tap? 

I don’t need to hype you up for this game. We all know what’s on the line, and we all know the hate runs deep between these two. We also know that the hatred is usually layered over a foundation of respect, but I’m not convinced that layer is there this season. Either way, this will be a banger of a game and I’ve no idea who will win. That’s why I’m avoiding the spread and attacking the total.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the winner of this game has averaged 43.6 points over the last nine meetings. I understand how incredible these defenses have been all year. I don’t care. Both teams spend all season preparing for this game, bringing stuff out of the playbook they haven’t used against anybody else. I watch nearly every game both these teams play every season, and every year I see them doing stuff in this game I haven’t seen before. Now, the defenses are good enough that I don’t expect the winner to crack 40 points, but I can see both teams getting to 30. Pick: Over 45.5 (-115)

For more picks involving Week 13 games, read on below: 

The Six Pack: Ohio State vs. Michigan, Oregon vs. Oregon State among top Week 13 college football picks

Tom Fornelli

Jim Harbaugh would be credited with win

Jim Harbaugh had his record credited with Michigan’s record 1,000th win from last Saturday as part of an institutional decision regarding his current three-game suspension imposed by the Big Ten, CBS Sports has learned.

Michigan informed the NCAA on Wednesday that it decided the Wolverines’ results over the final three games of the regular season would be credited to Harbaugh’s record. That includes last week’s win at Maryland overseen by acting coach Sherrone Moore, which was the the 1,000th victory in program history.

Jim Harbaugh’s win-loss record being credited with Michigan results during three-game Big Ten suspension

Dennis Dodd

Read more: 

It’s time to play The Game

No. 2 Ohio State goes on the road to meet No. 3 Michigan in the latest installment of one of the best rivalries in not just college football but all sports: The Game. It’s a rivalry so well known that it doesn’t need a fancy nickname; every college football fan knows immediately the teams and high stakes involved when you mention The Game. 

Like last year’s meeting, both teams enter with perfect 11-0 records, and the winner will emerge on top of the Big Ten East and head to Indianapolis to face Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game next weekend. These teams could both be 0-11 and they’d approach this season finale with the same level of energy and passion, however. A 1-11 season would be a success so long as that lone win came against the other. 

Saturday, in front of 100,000 people inside Michigan Stadium, the Wolverines and Buckeyes will battle for the 118th time. If you’re not in attendance, be sure to follow along here as CBS Sports brings you live updates, highlights from the most important game of the 2023 college football season as the regular season concludes.