University of Michigan defeats Ohio State for the first time in 8 years

The University of Michigan waited 2,926 days to defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Big House 40-34 in front of the second largest crowd ever in Michigan Stadium history with 114,132 fans.  The victory moves the Wolverines closer to a BCS Bowl bid with their 10-2 record under 1st year Head Coach Brady Hoke.   The 2011 football season do a complete turn around from the last 3 seasons under Rich Rodriguez.  This Michigan team learned to play defense under Defensive Coordinator Greg Mattison. 

Michigan's Denard Robinson had his best game of the 2011 campaign to lead the Wolverines with 337 total yard and accounting for 5 touchdowns.  Denard finally played a complete game to lead this team to a much needed win against their arch rivals from down south of the Michigan border. 

Michigan's Fitz Toussaint also gained a 120 yards rushing to give the Wolverines their first pair of 1,000 yard rushers in the same season since 1975.  Toussaint who busted onto the scene halfway through the season had some huge runs during the contest.   Ohio native Kevin Koger scored the clinching touchdown on a 4 yard pass from Denard Robinson with 6 1/2 minutes to go in the game. 

On a warm and breezy late November afternoon the Wolverines dominated the Buckeyes in the 108th meeting of these two storied programs.  The Buckeyes minus five starters and former Head Coach Jim Tressell because of the NCAA violations from a year ago left the Wolverines in a good spot.  They made the most of it in turning back the Buckeyes 40 - 34.

Not since the storied match-up in 2006 when both teams entered the contest at 11 - 0 and ranked #1 and #2 in the country and finished in 42 - 39 slugfest.  This game was one for the ages and the new reign of Head Coach Brady Hoke.  The future now looks bright for the Wolverines and the top ten recruiting class that Hoke has put together.   It can only get better in Ann Arbor over the next few years.