It’s one of the Big Ten’s big mysteries over the last couple of seasons … how the league’s most aggressive team, one that led the conference in sacks and tackles for loss the last two years behind two of the best front sevens, has drawn exactly two holding penalties in the last two Big Ten seasons.

Two. As in, none last year and two this year. Toronto Sun columnist John Kryk did a study and shared it on twitter.

We asked Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh midway through the season, when the trend became obvious, his thoughts. He gave the standard “I don’t have the data in front of me” answer before responding, “it’s a good question.”

Sophomore defensive end Rashan Gary did his best to be diplomatic, but he did appear frustrated on Monday night’s Inside Michigan radio show.

“No comment on that. All I'm going to say, when it comes to things like that, you've got to go to the film and watch play-by-play and see who's getting held,” he said. “I'm going to say there need to be more flags thrown, but it's not my place.”

Michigan has the most sacks and tackles-for-loss in conference over the last two years, but opponents have only been called for two holding penalties on passing downs twice. Ohio State opponents have been called for 8 penalties on passing downs, and Penn State and Wisconsin opponents seven in the same span.

The Wolverines didn’t say anything about the officiating in the Ohio State game, but the national media did. Six times during Saturday’s broadcast, Joel Klatt questioned calls that benefited the Buckeyes (to none for U-M):

• Sophomore linebacker Khaleke Hudson was flagged for defensive holding on a second and 10 play in the second quarter, a late flag thrown after the play.

“That certainly wasn’t a hold, maybe one they’d like back,” Klatt said.

Instead of third and seven at the Michigan 28, OSU was awarded a first down and scored on the drive.

• Sophomore offensive lineman Ben Bredeson was flagged for holding on first and 10 from the Michigan 15, a late flag thrown from the secondary after the play.

“The flag came from way deep in the secondary,” Klatt said. “… Boy, I don’t know. That’s a couple of holding calls against Michigan that could easily have stayed in the pockets of the officials, first on defense that led to a touchdown, and then there. That’s a big one on first down, puts them way behind the chains.”

U-M picked up a first down anyway, but punted later in the drive.

• Fifth-year senior quarterback John O’Korn clearly picked up a first down near midfield after extending the ball past the marker on third down, but officials marked him a yard short and the call stood upon review.

“That’s an interesting spot … it certainly looked like it was up near the first down marker… they spot that all the way back at the 42, looked like it should have been much closer to the 43,” Klatt said.

“They’re going to change the spot. It’s just a matter of where they put it.”

The call stood.

“I certainly don’t agree with that,” Klatt said, though he said he wasn’t sure it would be marked a first down.

Michigan would have been at the 43 with 29 seconds remaining, but punted instead.

• On third and eight near midfield in the third quarter, frosh Donovan Peoples-Jones about had his jersey ripped off on a comeback route.

“That’s not the kind of contact they’re trying to let them get away with. That jersey comes out, it is a defensive hold, it is certainly missed,” Klatt said. “That should have been an automatic first down, no question about it.”

Michigan punted instead of having first down at the OSU 47.

• Back to back plays in the third quarter, on the same drive. O’Korn rolled out and threw a strike down the sideline to sophomore Eddie McDoom, who was wrapped up by the defensive back.

“There’s [Jordan] Fuller all over him, and that was really accurately thrown,” Klatt said.

U-M would have had the ball on OSU’s side of the field approaching field goal range, down 21-20.

On the next play, senior left tackle Mason Cole is called for holding when Nick Bosa bull rushes him and Cole pushes his helmet into the ground. O’Korn fumbled,

“I didn’t think that that was a hold. Certainly didn’t drag him down or throw him down on the ground He was going down on his own and his just juped on top of him," Klatt said.

Michigan punted and wouldn't score again.

National analyst Mark May saw enough one-sidedness to call it "embarrassing."

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