Ohio State University (OSU) has recently sent a letter of gratitude to Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner for the sportsmanship after quarterback J.T. Barrett received an injury.

OSU faced long-time rivals - known as "the game" - Michigan at home last Saturday afternoon.

For most of the game, the game was tied. It seemed like neither team was eager to relinquish the game and give up the win in their team's biggest rivalry.

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By the end of the third quarter, OSU started to pull away by only one touchdown. Ezekiel Elliott ran for a 2-yard touchdown.

It was all OSU from then on, as they outscored their rivals and won the game by a 14 point deficit (42-28).

However, the win was bittersweet. On the first play of the fourth quarter, star redshirt freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett was tackled awkwardly from behind and suffered a fractured ankle.

"I heard him yell and I ran over to help him up,'' tight end Jeff Heuerman said. "When I went over I saw his ankle and it wasn't pretty. I just told him, 'Stay down, stay down.' It kind of hit me, 'Oh man.'''

Apart from his team though, Gardner was also one of those who came up to say words of encouragement to Barrett. When asked about it, he said that anybody hates to see players get hurt.

And for one brief moment during the heated rival-game, hatred and school spirit was put aside and compassion was shown on the field.

After Gardner's actions, OSU made sure to let him know how much they appreciated his gesture through a letter.

Gardner posted a picture of a letter that Dave Claborn, Director of Development and Community Relations at an Ohio State satellite campus, sent him. It thanked him for his class and for being an inspiration.

"You are an extraordinary young man and your example of sportsmanship and true humanity to thousands of young (and older) people this afternoon was, in my opinion, worth far more than any football statistics," the letter read.

TagsOSU, JT Barrett, Devin Gardner