| Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Wolverines | |||||
| Nov 29, 2025 | 1ST | 2ND | 3RD | 4TH | SCORE |
| #9 Ohio State Buckeyes (9-3) | 0 | 7 | 14 | 8 | 29 |
| #4 Michigan Wolverines (12-0) | 17 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 36 |
Michigan Survives Rivalry Thriller, Beats Ohio State 36-29 to Finish Perfect Regular Season
ANN ARBOR — In one of the wildest chapters of The Game, No. 4 Michigan held off No. 9 Ohio State 36-29 on Saturday at Michigan Stadium, completing a perfect 12-0 regular season and securing a trip to the Big Ten Championship.
The Wolverines controlled the first half from start to finish. Darnell Jefferson’s 4-yard touchdown run opened the scoring, and Bryce Underwood found Donovan McCulley for an 11-yard score to stretch the lead to 14-0. Kicker Dominic Zvada was nearly automatic, drilling three field goals in the second quarter — including a booming 55-yarder — as Michigan took a 26-7 halftime lead.
Ohio State clawed back in the second half. James Peoples broke free for a 67-yard touchdown run, and Jayden Fielding added two field goals to cut the deficit to 26-20 entering the fourth. The Buckeyes tied the game at 29 midway through the final quarter when Julian Sayin connected with Max Klare for an 11-yard touchdown and the ensuing two-point conversion.
But Michigan had the answer. Zvada tied the game with his fifth field goal of the day, then Jefferson powered into the end zone from 3 yards out with just over two minutes to play. The Wolverines’ defense held firm on Ohio State’s final possession, sealing a rivalry win that will be remembered for its grit and tension.
Underwood was razor sharp in his rivalry debut, completing 20 of 22 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown. McCulley delivered a star turn with nine catches for 155 yards and a score, while Jefferson finished with 110 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 23 carries.
Defensively, Rod Moore paced Michigan with 10 tackles, and edge rusher TJ Guy contributed key pressure up front.
For Ohio State, Sayin threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns, with Peoples adding 129 yards and the explosive 67-yard score.
With the win, Michigan heads into the Big Ten Championship against Penn State, ranked No. 3 in the College Football Playoff poll and No. 4 in the AP Poll, still in prime position to return to the College Football Playoffs
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