ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Former Ohio State coach Woody Hayes suspected spies in his orbit. Ohio State coach Ryan Day learned during the Connor Stalions scandal that Hayes had good reason.

For 120 years, Buckeyes and Wolverines have searched for a secret winning ingredient. They’ve hatched trick plays, invented practice periods and, in some cases, filmed play-calling signals from the game-day bleachers.

But until Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia saved Day’s gold pants seat during Saturday’s 27-9 win over Michigan, nobody used a tool that predates the rivalry: A No. 2 pencil.

Patricia carries ol’ reliable everywhere, sort of like his defense carried Day’s Buckeyes in Ann Arbor. Despite a familiar batch of nervous, run-heavy play-calling this weekend, the Buckeyes snapped their fou

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