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College Football Recruiting, Opinion, and Analysis

Week 13 National Blitz: Michigan Manhood Prevails on Magical Day of College Football Glory

Michigan impressively won The Game as College Football demonstrated why it is God’s Game in the regular season finale.

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By Rock Westfall

Michigan impressively won The Game, and college football demonstrated why it is God’s Game in the regular season finale. 

A Better QB, Kicker, Defense, and Superior Toughness Carry Michigan 

This space has relentlessly held Michigan accountable harshly but fairly. With that in mind, we turn to Saturday and the greatness of Jim Harbaugh’s program.

Michigan defeated Ohio State 30-24 in The Game for many reasons. The Wolverines made more plays when they had to and were clutch all day. Ohio State fought valiantly but was proven not good enough.

Michigan QB JJ McCarthy, kicker James Turner, and the nasty Wolverine defense carried the day. There was no doubt which team was superior. Most important of all, Michigan proved its masculinity in a way that Ohio State could not.

It is said in the military that you become a veteran when you lose the guy next to you, but keep pressing forward. A college football version of that adage occurred at the Big House when All-American offensive guard Zak Zinter went down to a leg injury so horrific that the FOX telecast would not show a replay of it.

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There was a lengthy, hushed pause in the Big House as Zinter’s teammates looked crestfallen on the sidelines. Some were in tears. But when action resumed, Blake Corum powered to a 22-yard TD run on the first play after Zinter was carted off. That sequence of events epitomized Michigan’s manhood and championship football.

Costly Ohio State errors included two Kyle McCord interceptions and a missed 52-yard field goal by Jayden Fielding at the end of the first half. 

By contrast,  McCarthy was 16/20 for 148 yards with a TD and no interceptions. Michigan converted all three of its fourth down attempts. And with a precarious 27-24 lead, Michigan met the moment with a seven-minute drive ending in a 37-yard field goal by Turner, his third of the game, with 1:05 remaining.

Ohio State’s final desperation drive got to the Michigan 37-yard line before McCord was intercepted under pressure to end the threat and seal the Wolverine triumph.

Jim Harbaugh was suspended and not on the sidelines. But there is no doubt it was his program that won the game. Indeed, the victory was marked with a big Harbaugh stamp. Michigan’s grit and tenacity were too much for the Scarlet and Gray. 

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day’s quality of life took a turn for the worse with his third consecutive loss to Michigan (12-0, 9-0).  Speculation is that Day may seek refuge in College Station, Texas.  But more on that later.  

Despite Defeat, Is Ohio State in the Catbird Seat?

As championship week begins, Ohio State (11-1, 8-1) has been written off for dead. Yet, it is too soon for an autopsy.  Especially considering that Ohio State won’t lose this week.

Florida State (12-0, 8-0) showed vulnerability in barely winning at struggling Florida (5-7, 3-5) 24-15 with backup QB Tate Rodemaker. Should the Seminoles lose the ACC championship game against Louisville (10-2, 7-1), that could open a door for Ohio State.

Texas (11-1, 8-1) is peaking as they head into the Big 12 championship game. But a loss to Oklahoma State (9-3, 7-2) would eliminate the Longhorns.

Also, if Alabama (11-1, 8-0) loses to Georgia (12-0, 8-0) in the SEC championship game, they would be out.

And then there is the theory that if Oregon (11-1, 8-1) beats Washington (12-0, 9-0) in the Pac-12 championship game, both teams would potentially be excluded from the College Football Playoff.

Thus, the Buckeyes have plenty to root for and could still get into the CFP.  In fact, it’s a scenario that has played out many times before.

A Bewitching Hour of Agony and Ecstasy 

In the second window of Saturday’s games, the final hour was one for the ages.

Consider the Iron Bowl, where Alabama trailed 24-20 and faced a 4th and goal from the Auburn 31-yard line. With no pass rush to contend with, Crimson Tide QB Jalen Milroe took his time and found Isaiah Bond in the back left corner of the end zone for the game-winning TD pass. The play kept Alabama’s playoff hopes alive and put Auburn (6-6, 3-5) fans in tears. The Iron Bowl is known for its delirium, and this one will go down as one of the most spectacular endings ever.  

But that was hardly all in an hour of magnificent madness.

Pistols Firing in Stillwater

Needing a Senior Day win to clinch a spot in the Big 12 championship game, the Oklahoma State Cowboys fell behind the BYU Cougars 24-6 at halftime. BYU (5-7, 2-7) was fighting for a win to gain bowl eligibility.

In the second half, OSU rallied to take a 27-24 lead, but Alex Hale’s PAT attempt was blocked. Incredibly, that allowed BYU to rally with a 48-yard field goal by Will Ferrin to send the game into overtime.

With OSU leading 40-34 in the second OT, Isaac Rex made a catch for the Cougars but had the ball stripped by OSU’s Trey Rucker, ending the game and BYU’s season. After a 2-2 start, the resurgent Cowboys will meet Texas in Saturday’s Big 12 championship game.

Northwestern Completes Improbable Season and Sends Illinois Home for 2023

Illinois (5-7, 3-6) needed a win on Senior Day to become bowl eligible. The Fighting Illini hosted the upstart Northwestern Wildcats (7-5, 5-4). Northwestern had numerous opportunities to close out the game but failed to do so.

With 55 seconds to play, Illinois QB John Paddock hit Casey Washington on a spectacular 80-yard TD pass to get the Illini within two points and overtime. But the two-point conversion pass failed, ending the season for coach Bret Bielema and Illinois. 

Meanwhile, David Braun led Northwestern to an impossible season of triumph and unlikely bowl eligibility, gaining the permanent coaching position in the process.

Washington State Falls Short of Bowl and Apple Cup 

The Pac-12 was not left out of the 3:30 window of game-ending drama. Washington State (5-7, 2-7) was fighting for bowl eligibility and the chance to ruin its arch-rival’s season in the Apple Cup. But in a tie game, Washington gambled on 4th and one from its own 29 with 1:11 to play. Rome Odunze took a pitch from QB Michael Pennix Jr and ran 23 yards into Cougar territory. Subsequently, Washington (12-0, 9-0) was aided by a 15-yard personal foul penalty, eventually setting up Grady Gross for a 42-yard game-winning field goal.  For his heroism, Gross was awarded a scholarship after the game.  

If anyone doubted why college football is God’s Game, they found religion by 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday night. Yet that was not all.  

Another Chip Malfunction as Cal Gets Golden Win in Bear Market

One week after earning considerable goodwill with a 38-20 win over USC, head coach Chip Kelly and the UCLA Bruins (7-5, 4-5) laid a stink bomb on Senior night, losing to Cal 33-7. The Golden Bears (6-6, 4-5) achieved bowl eligibility with the win and likely spared coach Justin Wilcox from the firing squad.

Just one week earlier, Kelly was reportedly going to be fired. But the USC win seemed to call off the dogs. Conversely, Saturday’s Chip malfunction may reignite demands for change in Westwood.

Wisconsin Restores Program Pride and Reclaims Axe

First-year Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell faced a season on the brink after the Badgers lost at home to Northwestern 24-10. But Fickell returned Wisconsin to its old Neanderball DNA for the final two games with great success. 

The regular season finale was a 28-14 win at Minnesota. The Badgers (7-5, 5-4) reclaimed Paul Bunyan’s Axe and, more importantly, their program pride, personality, and culture.

In what may have been his final game for UW, Braelon Allen rushed for 165 yards and two TDs in an unforgettable performance.

Indeed, it was vintage Allen and Wisconsin on Saturday, calling into question whether Fickell should follow through on his Air Raid vision. Physical football is a requirement for Big Ten and Wisconsin success.

Head coach PJ Fleck and his Golden Gophers (5-7, 3-6) ended a miserable campaign without bowl eligibility and with restless natives wondering if a sinking boat could be saved. 

Texas A&M Stoops to New Level of Ridiculous Self-Importance

There was plenty of Saturday drama off the field, too. It was leaked by multiple sources that Kentucky (7-5, 3-5) head coach Mark Stoops would be leaving to take over at Texas A&M (7-5, 4-4). 

The announcement came a few hours after Stoops earned a signature 38-31 win over #10-ranked Louisville (10-2, 7-1). Earlier this season, Stoops got into a family quarrel with fans about his inability to beat top teams, which made Saturday’s win all the sweeter.

However, a primal Aggie Yell quickly followed the announcement. Texas A&M fans screamed as Tennessee fans did in 2017 when it appeared as if the Vols would hire Greg Schiano as head coach. Aggieland doesn’t think Stoops is good enough for its program.  Seriously.

Early Sunday morning reports indicated the deal was likely off and that Stoops would return to Kentucky. If true, he is lucky to do so.  It is Texas A&M’s loss.  

Stoops has maxed out at Kentucky. He produced the eighth consecutive bowl season in Lexington this year. He has two 10-win seasons and is the all-time leader in career wins at UK, a notorious basketball school that has struggled at football since the departure of Bear Bryant in 1953 for, ironically, Texas A&M. 

Now the question is if Ryan Day is good enough for Aggieland.  And if Day wants to tuck tail and run from Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines.  

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