On Sunday, Michigan became the first team in the College Football Playoff era to open a season unranked in the AP poll and earn a spot in the final 4-team CFP field. The Wolverines are No. 2, set for an Orange Bowl date with No. 3 Georgia on New Year’s Eve.

The journey there has turned into a sprint in recent weeks. The Wolverines have won 5 straight and just blasted Iowa in the Big Ten championship, 42-3, to claim the program’s first outright conference title since 2003. A week ago, Michigan beat Ohio State for the first time since 2011, a rather one-sided 42-27 win at home.

Asked Sunday if there’s anything about Michigan’s run to the Playoff that has caught him by surprise, UM quarterback Cade McNamara couldn’t pass up one more opportunity to take a little dig at the Buckeyes.

“Honestly, maybe I was expecting the Ohio State to be a little closer, but other than that I think we’ve handled business well,” McNamara said, according to The Detroit News’ Angelique Chengelis. McNamara said he knew Michigan would be able to run on the Buckeyes but not “physically dominate them at that level.”

McNamara was mundane through the air that day. In the snow, he was 13-for-19 passing for 159 yards, no touchdowns, and a lone interception. It was Michigan’s run game that was unflappable. As a team, Michigan ran for 297 yards. The thunder and lightning duo in the backfield was again electric. Hassan Haskins had a program-record 5 touchdowns and 169 yards, and Blake Corum added 87 yards on just 6 carries.

The performance against Ohio State was the best by a Buckeye opponent all season in terms of yards per play (8.0), rushing yards (297), and rushing yards per play (7.2).