Desmond Howard’s history in the Michigan vs Ohio State game
After scoring 23 touchdowns as a junior in 1991, averaging 15.5 yards each time he touched the ball, Howard won the Heisman Trophy and was a first-team All-American for the Wolverines.
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Howard’s dominance for Michigan’s offense and special teams continued in the Wolverines’ three matchups with Ohio State.
In Michigan’s 28-18 win against Ohio State in 1989, Howard’s only action was one 35-yard kickoff return.
Ahead of No. 2 Ohio State’s meeting with No. 3 Michigan Saturday, Howard made his opinion clear that he feels only one team will be left standing in the College Football Playoff race afterwards.
Desmond Howard made his three seasons at Michigan count.
Before joining ESPN’s “College GameDay” crew, the Wolverines wide receiver set or tied five NCAA and 12 Michigan football records from 1989-91, finishing with 2,146 receiving yards and 34 touchdowns on offense along with three special teams touchdowns as the team’s primary kickoff and punt returner.After scoring 23 touchdowns as a junior in 1991, averaging 15.5 yards each time he touched the ball, Howard won the Heisman Trophy and was a first-team All-American for the Wolverines.
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Howard ‘s 19 receiving touchdowns in 1991 remain a single-season record for Michigan . His 32 career touchdown receptions are third most in school history.
Howard ‘s dominance for Michigan ‘s offense and special teams continued in the Wolverines’ three matchups with Ohio State .
In three seasons, Howard never lost to the Buckeyes, with two games decided by double digits.
In Michigan ‘s 28-18 win against Ohio State in 1989, Howard ‘s only action was one 35-yard kickoff return. However, in 1990’s 16-13 Wolverines win, Howard was one of quarterback Elvis Grbac’s top targets, bringing in five catches for 73 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown reception. Howard ‘s Heisman moment came in 1991, capping off a 93-yard punt return against Ohio State with the famous Heisman pose, while adding three catches for 96 yards in Michigan ‘s 31-3 win.Ahead of No. 2 Ohio State ‘s meeting with No. 3 Michigan Saturday, Howard made his opinion clear that he feels only one team will be left standing in the College Football Playoff race afterwards. Howard said on ESPN’s “College GameDay” that this edition of “The Game” between the undefeated Buckeyes and undefeated Wolverines is an “elimination game.”
“If Michigan loses, Michigan ‘s out,” Howard said. “There’s no hope for Michigan .”
Howard also doesn’t see a “backdoor way” for the Buckeyes to get into the College Football Playoff if it loses to Michigan at home. Ohio State ‘s first loss to Michigan since 2011 came in Ann Arbor to end the 2021 regular season, keeping the Buckeyes out of the Big Ten championship game and the College Football Playoff .
