This Date in College Football Belt History – November 25

November 25, 1972 -3^rd ranked, 10-0 Michigan Wolverines of coach Bo Schembechler came to Columbus on a strong roll, having won 21 consecutive regular season games, to face coach Woody Hayes’ 9^th ranked Ohio State Buckeyes who stood 8-1 with their only loss had coming at Michigan State.  Ohio State had OT John Hicks to open holes for a freshman running back named Archie Griffin who rushed for 75 yards & a touchdown but it was the Buckeyes’ defense that saved the day with two goal line stands, 12 plays inside their 5-yard line, that secured a 14-11 Buckeyes’ victory & Ohio State’s first Belt championship.  The Wolverines took their only lead of the day in the 2^nd quarter when PK Mike Lantry connected on a 35-yard field goal.  Ohio State’s RB Champ Henson, the nation’s leading scorer, gave the Buckeyes a 7-3 halftime advantage with a 1-yard touchdown run but not before the Buckeyes’ defense withstood 4 plays from Michigan’s offense from the Ohio State 1-yard line.  The 2^nd half saw more of the hard-hitting defense before Griffin broke loose for a 30-yard touchdown run giving the Buckeyes a 14-3 lead.  Michigan rebounded with a 1-yard touchdown run by RB Ed Shuttlesworth.  The 2-point conversion, a pass from QB Dennis Franklin to WR Clint Haslerig, left the score at 14-11 as the 4^th quarter started.  Wolverines’ All-Big Ten S Randy Logan intercepted Ohio State’s QB Greg Hare at the Buckeyes’ 29-yard line set-up the second monumental goal line stand.  Again the Ohio State defense withstood the challenge as 4 tacklers brought down Franklin on 4^th & 1.  Michigan’s defense dominated the Buckeyes in the quarter while the Wolverines’ offense was able to move down the field but unable to get into the end zone as Ohio State held on for the victory.  Buckeyes’ All-Big Ten DT George Hasenohrl sacked Franklin at the Ohio State 41-yard line to end the final Wolverines’ drive.  Hare’s performance brought life to Hayes’ adage about passing.  Hare threw only 3 passes & 2 of the results were bad for the Buckeyes; he completed a 17-yard pass to Griffin, had an incomplete pass, & his third pass was intercepted.  Franklin threw for 160 yards in the losing cause.  The loss by Michigan ended the longest Belt champions’ reign to date at 8 games.  The Wolverines finished the season 10-1; Big Ten Co-Champs & ranked 6^th nationally while Ohio State finished the season 9-2, Big Ten Co-Champs & ranked 9^thnationally.  Michigan would play for The Belt again in 1975.

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