That result should not have shocked anyone who has been watching this team for the second half of the season. I don't know what it was, injuries or what, but this team peaked early in the season. They probably should have lost at Penn St but won it with a flurry at the end thanks to Tuimoloau going God-mode. They played like trash against Northwestern. I don't care about the weather and the wind, it's freaking 1-win Northwestern. They should have been able to pound that team to death with the running game and they couldn't do it. They struggled again with Maryland. I was shocked they were favored over UM by as much as they were, I thought it was a pick-em kind of game.
I watched the first half and felt like OSU should have been up by multiple touchdowns at the half, but were only up 3 thanks to settling for FG's, a failed 4th down call, and allowing big plays to UM. That's when I knew they were in deep shit. The second half was all about will and UM broke OSU's. Maybe if they could have forced McCarthy to make tight throws it would have been different, but his big plays through the passing game were to largely wide open receivers. Any competent Power 5 QB can make those throws. The big runs by Edwards at the end were just salt in the wound.
I think OSU is a front-runner sort of team. Let them play with a lead and they play free and open. When they get in tight spots against quality opponents, they play tight and all of a sudden little issues like short yardage plays and being able to play fundamental football bite you in the ass. And Michigan bit down HARD on Saturday. I heard the word soft being tossed around about the Buckeyes, and I think it's accurate. They're a soft team that needs to find some toughness.