The surprising win over No. 2 Ohio State won’t get old anytime soon. After years of excuses from the Buckeyes, there’s not much to say about losing 13-10 at home to a Michigan team that’s barely over .500.

Michigan’s coaching staff relied largely on experienced players for The Game. But with Colston Loveland injured, freshman tight end Hogan Hansen proved how valuable he will be to this program in the future. On Michigan’s second drive of the game, he came up big with a nine-yard reception and could have scored a huge touchdown if Davis Warren hadn’t thrown an interception instead.

Here’s a look at who had the chance to play as a true freshman this season. An asterisk

• indicates they saw playing time against Ohio State:
• QB Jadyn Davis (1 game)
• RB Micah Ka’apana (1 game)
• RB Jordan Marshall (4 games)*
• WR Channing Goodwin (3 games)*
• OL Andrew Sprague (3 games)
• OL Jake Guarnera (4 games)
• TE Hogan Hansen (9 games)*
• LB Cole Sullivan (11 games)*
• Edge Dominic Nichols (4 games)
• DL Manuel Beigel (1 game)
• DB Mason Curtis (8 games)*
• DB Jo’ziah Edmond (7 games)

DB Jacob Oden (3 games)

It wasn’t necessarily an impressive game for running back Jordan Marshall, but he wasn’t needed much either as Kalel Mullings scored 32 runs. Marshall had just one carry for three yards and one kick return for 11 yards. The experience he gained this season will help the Wolverines in rushing attack next year when Marshall becomes a more significant contributor on offense.

Wide receiver Channing Goodwin only came into the game for one play. With Semaj Morgan back in the lineup, the number of receivers wasn’t nearly as low as it had been in previous weeks, so Goodwin didn’t need much either.

The only two other true freshmen to see playing time in The Game were Mason Curtis and Cole Sullivan, both of whom took the field on special teams. Even if they didn’t play defense, they’ve already put together some impressive performances this season and will likely see the field in the bowl game even more in 2025.

Also of note, tight end Brady Prieskorn reportedly suffered an injury during pregame warmups. Prieskorn was one of Michigan State’s top players as a recruit and didn’t play at all as a freshman. Hopefully he is doing well and can get well again soon.