UM first possession, we give up a 3rd and 5 running first down, DL with wide alignment and for some reason neither Tommy nor Steele fill the middle. If Tyleik doesn't make that tackle, it's a big play. Totally confused on that, why the LBs were not in the A gaps. Would have been huge 3 and out. This of course leads to another coverage bust TD. Instead of getting the ball back with the lead, we are now down 4. Ransom and Burke just let the TE run free. Total garbage.
OSU offense for the rest of the quarter: not good. Our penultimate 3rd down convo comes with 11 min left in 3Q. 2nd 2, Chip caught from behind by unblocked end. I think that was a read option, Stroud is looking straight at the DE, he should have pulled and thrown or run. Now 3rd and 3, we try another run that isn't blocked by Stover or Marv (who leaves a guy unblocked to double somebody different), Chip bounces, can't get to edge. Probably needed to try something straight ahead there, at least once, or throw.
UM punts, we get the ball back at UM 48. Jackson's holding penalty wasn't terrible but holy shit what a terrible time to get beat. Then the head butt personal foul. The pitch play again into 7 man box which doesn't work again because nobody blocks. Check down on 2nd. Check down on 3rd. Punt, touchback. Could have gone for it here on 4th and 6, but at minimum punter needs to pin this deep. The touchback was a horrible punt. Mirco overspin, gunner never had a chance.
UM puts a 6 minute drive together. We're playing more coverage, QB starts running. Edwards starts running. Missed run fits, missed tackles. On 2nd and 1, if Denzel Burke turns his head, he intercepts and underthrown pass. But he has no clue where the ball is. We allow a fucking jump-pass conversion, Ransom doesn't pick up TE who is somehow way behind him when the pass is thrown. Another 3rd down, this is 3rd and 3 - UM converts when McCallister gets taken out by the TE, Hickman too slow to fill.
Quarter end; everyone deflated and nervous at this point because UM is getting ready to score.
