Second string quarterback Dwayne Haskins looked like a seasoned veteran as he led the Ohio State Buckeyes to a come-from-behind 31-20 win at arch-rival Michigan, Saturday.
Haskins was called upon in the second half with Ohio State trailing 20-14, when J.T. Barrett went down after aggravating a knee injury that Barrett says was caused by someone carrying a camera on the sideline, before the game started. Barrett told reporters after the game that he was warming up on the sideline before the game when an unidentified male bumped into his right leg, aggravating a knee injury he has played through all season.
“I remember he was wearing something gray, and he continued to walk,” Barrett said. “He got a little nervous.”
Coach Urban Meyer was agitated about the incident, when he spoke to reporters after the game. “Too many people on the sideline,” Meyer said after the game. “I’m so angry right now.”
That's when OSU called upon freshman QB Dwayne Haskins, who went 6/7 for 94 yards passing and had a 22-yard scamper that set up J.K. Dobbins’ 1-yard TD run that gave Ohio State a 21-20 advantage in the closing part of the third quarter.
In the first half, OSU fell behind 14-0, before storming back to tie it 14-14 at halftime.
Michigan fifth-year senior John O’Korn completed less than half of his throws in the game and made the game's only turnover when he tossed an interception with two minutes left and the Buckeyes leading 24-20.
Ohio State's running back Mike Weber clinched the win with a 25-yard touchdown run with 1:44 remaining in the contest.
J.T. Barrett was 3/8 passing for 30 yards with a touchdown to Marcus Baugh. Barrett also had 15 carries for 67 yards rushing and another TD.
Ohio State's offense was as different as "night and day" from the first to second quarter, losing 6 yards in the first quarter, but finished with 226 yards with J.K. Dobbins running for 101 yards and scoring a touchdown on 15 totes.
John O’Korn was 17/32 for 195 yards with a TD pass that put the Wolverines up 14-0 early in the second quarter.
(10-2) Ohio State now faces unbeaten Wisconsin next Saturday in the Big Ten championship game. The last time the two teams met for the Big 10 title, was in 2014 when the Buckeyes blasted the Badgers 59-0, sending OSU on to a national championship.