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ANN ARBOR – Michigan junior defenseman Rashan Gary remembers looking up at the Ohio Stadium stadium in 2016 and watching the JT Barrett takeover ran in the 4th and 1 st in prolongation.
He thought the Ohio State Quarterback was not in the lead and the Wolverines would leave Columbus with their first win in the rivalry since 2011.
Instead, Barrett got his first try and, at the next game, Curtis Samuel scored on a 15-yard run that sent Ohio State to the Big Ten Championship match.
"I've been very disappointed," Gary said after training Tuesday. "I look at the screen and I say to myself" No, it can not be a first. "
"But they end up getting it – it's a little slap on the face, but that's what it is." We need to brush our teeth and go for it. before."
Gary said last year's defeat was also a snap, while Michigan scored 14 points and lost 31-20 in Ann Arbor.
But the stakes were much higher for the Wolverines in 2016, when a win would have sent them to the Big Ten title match with a chance to win the college football game.
Michigan, No. 4, is as likely to play Saturday's game against Ohio No. 10 as it was two years ago. A win would place the Wolverines in the Big Ten championship against Northwestern, while a defeat would be the 14th in the last 15 meetings against the Buckeyes.
Gary remembers the heartbreaking feeling that he had had to leave the field in 2016 and was determined to avoid a repeat this season.
"We were about to win," said Gary of the 2016 game, which saw Michigan lead 17-7 in the second half. "Some rooms have gone sideways, it's just that big room that everyone remembers (Barrett's fourth run).
"I do not want to talk about it, but everyone knows this game. That's why I keep it in my head and I know that my brothers keep it in my head and use it as a motivation to get there. There game. "
This season, Michigan has been better in closing games, Gary said. Beyond September 22, he dominated his opponents in the fourth quarter in each game against Nebraska, which the Wolverines won by 46 points.
In 2017, they were outperformed five times in the fourth quarter, including four of their losses.
"Just a bad taste in our mouth last year with all the losses we've had," Gary said. "It's something that we talked about this year and we did not want to feel anymore. Last year, we did not finish much in the third and fourth quarters, and this year we are. I feel that this is what separates us. That's what makes us a better team. "
Having the highest ranked defense in the country and quarterback Shea Patterson, who added 2117 yards and 18 touchdowns in total, was a big factor late in the game.
"Shea is an integral part of this team," said linebacker Noah Furbush. "Really just being an anchor point in attack for us – it's this guy who makes games for us – he's what you want to be a quarterback, someone who controls the play and create games for you when needed and who really is a leader for your offense and for the team ".
Patterson will experience the rivalry for the first time, but he does not need a reminder of what is at stake.
"That's why we play the game, for times and opportunities like this," he said. "I'm so happy to be able to do this with this group of guys and this university."
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