Michigan receiver A.J. Henning (3) scores a touchdown and celebrates with offensive lineman Andrew Vastardis (68) against Ohio State. Junfu Han/Detroit Free Press / USA TODAY NETWORK

No. 5 Michigan topples rival No. 2 Ohio State, vaults into CFP contention

The No. 5 Michigan Wolverines beat the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes, 42-47, on Saturday and are now well-positioned to go to the College Football Playoff for the first time.

Michigan bulldozed through Ohio State with a run-heavy offensive attack led by running back Hassan Haskins, who finished with 169 rushing yards and five touchdowns. The Wolverines led 14-13 at halftime, but they  took over in the third quarter with 81- and 78-yard touchdown drives.

"I just feel so great for the players, they prepared so well for this game," Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said on Fox after the game. "They went out and executed pretty much thoroughly. It was great."

The win was Harbaugh's first against Ohio State since he was hired as Michigan's head coach in December 2014. The Wolverines' last win against their biggest rival came in 2011.

Michigan will undoubtedly climb into one of the top four spots in the College Football Playoff rankings and will play in the Big Ten Championship next week. Their opponent in that game will either be the Iowa Hawkeyes or Wisconsin Badgers, and the Wolverines would likely advance to the Playoff for the first time with a victory.

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