By Darin 
The stakes were impossibly high. In the pantheon of college football rivalries, few matchups carry the weight and fury of “The Game,” but the 2016 clash amplified the drama. It pitted the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes against the No. 3 Michigan Wolverines in a contest where a national championship berth was on the line. What unfolded at a deafening Ohio Stadium on November 26, 2016, was arguably the most intense double-overtime battle in the history of this legendary series.
Early in the contest, it appeared the weight of the rivalry and the pressure of the moment might favor the Wolverines. Michigan’s dominant defense built a significant 17-7 lead deep into the third quarter, stifling the high-powered Buckeye offense. However, fueled by their home crowd and the necessity of preserving their playoff dreams, the Buckeyes mounted a fierce comeback. The tension climaxed in the final seconds of regulation when an Ohio State field goal split the uprights, tying the score at 17 and sending the stadium into an absolute frenzy, forcing overtime.
The teams traded blows in the first overtime, setting the stage for one of the most memorable conclusions in college football history. The real controversy and drama arrived in the second overtime. Facing a critical fourth-and-one deep in Michigan territory, Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett plunged forward. The resulting spot was fiercely debated and remains a source of discussion among fans, but the ruling on the field stood: first down, Buckeyes.
On the very next play, dynamic running back Curtis Samuel took the handoff, swept left, and burst through the collapsing defense. He raced into the endzone for a stunning 15-yard touchdown run, securing the 30-27 victory. The dramatic finish crushed Michigan’s playoff aspirations and sealed Ohio State’s fifth straight win against their bitter archrivals.
The 2016 double-overtime epic will forever define the modern intensity of the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry. It was a contest of inches, guts, and game-changing plays that left both teams emotionally exhausted and millions of fans breathless. More than just a win, the 30-27 finish was a powerful statement about the Buckeyes’ resilience, instantly securing its place as a cornerstone memory of “The Game.”
Article from Nov 27, 2016 The Bay City Times (Bay City, Michigan)