A 43-yard touchdown pass from Braxton Miller to DeVier Posey with 1:21 left in the second quarter gave Ohio State a one-point lead over Michigan. At halftime, the Buckeyes lead the Wolverines 24-23.
Michigan took a 23-17 lead with just over four minutes remaining on a six-yard run by Denard Robinson. The big play on that drive was a 46-yard run by Fitzgerald Toussaint.
In the first half, Robinson has rushed for 82 yards on 12 carries, pushing him over 1,000 yards rushing for the season. His touchdown was his 15th on the year. Robinson has also completed 7-of-8 passes for 58 yards and a score. That came on a 26-yard first quarter pass to Junior Hemingway.
Toussaint has rushed for 57 yards on eight carries for the Wolverines.
Michigan has had difficulty stopping Miller on designed runs and scrambles. The Ohio State quarterback has 54 yards rushing and a touchdown on eight carries in the first half. He’s also beaten the Wolverines with the pass, completing 8-of-15 throws for 129 yards and two touchdowns.
But the Buckeyes might have an even bigger lead had Miller not missed Posey on a flag route early in the second quarter. Ohio State ended up settling for a 45-yard field goal by Drew Basil.
Overall, it’s been a pretty even match between the two rivals. Ohio State has 210 yards of total offense in the first half, while Michigan has 203. The Wolverines have outrushed the Buckeyes, 145-81. But OSU has the advantage in passing yards, 129-58, thanks largely to big plays by Posey and Corey Brown.
Michigan has the lone turnover thus far, which essentially accounts for the difference in the game. Robinson fumbled early in the second quarter, giving OSU the ball on the Wolverines’ 31-yard line. Three plays later, Miller scored on a 19-run run to give the Buckeyes a 17-16 lead.
The Wolverines will receive the ball to begin the second half.