Written by Garin Turner
It’s “The Game” between the #4 Michigan Wolverines (10-1, 8-0 Big Ten against the #10 Ohio State Buckeyes (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten) at 12 PM EST on Fox. For the Wolverines, a win today followed by a win in the Big Ten Championship game against Northwestern could put them in the college football playoffs.
Most consider them a lock if they win out but there is a change the Big Ten might get left out yet again. Alabama is in regardless it seems. Clemson is also in if it wins out. Notre Dame is in if they win today. The issue becomes cloudy if in the SEC championship game, Georgia defeats Alabama in a close game. Would the committee put two SEC teams in again or would they award Michigan?
For Ohio State, a win would go a long way for them as they’ve struggled throughout the year and will most likely need a lot of help to even be considered for the college football playoffs. The upset loss to Purdue won’t help and close wins against a rebuilding Nebraska and a Maryland team that’s in the middle of a controversial situation won’t help their case. Ohio State has had their own problems this year with head coach Urban Meyer suspended for the first three games of the year. Questions about his health and motivation have also come into question this year. There’s speculation that this might be Meyer’s last year.
We all know when it comes to these two teams none of this matters. The hatetred between these two teams goes deep. Michigan goes as far as refusing to call the Buckeyes by its proper name. Only referring to them as Ohio. Also, for practice instead of scarlet jerseys for the quarterbacks so they don’t get hit, the Wolverines uses their own maize color. On the flip side, Ohio State players have gotten tattoos displaying their recent dominance over the Wolverines and in practice for the hitting drills they put Wolverine jerseys on the dummies.
This is the 115th meeting between the two teams. Michigan holds the advantage 58-50-6 but Ohio State has won 13 out of the last 14. Ohio State will have to play a lot better on defense than they have in recent weeks. Michigan has Shea Patterson who can throw and run. Patterson has 18 touchdowns with just four interceptions for 2,177 yards. Karan Higdon comes into the game with 1,106 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. With Michigan it’s no secret, they want to run the ball and then take shots down the field with play action. Donovan Peoples-Jones, Zach Gentry, and Nico Collins all have over 400 yards receiving.
Michigan has had a lead in the past two meetings but couldn’t finish. They’ve called this the revenge tour beating Penn State, and Michigan State and now look to beat the Buckeyes. To do that, they’ll have to slow down Dwayne Haskins and the Buckeyes passing attack. Haskins has 36 touchdowns to seven interceptions. Haskins has been a departure to the past dual threat quarterback system Meyer usually employs. The running game is led by J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber (a former Wolverine commit.) Dobbins has 915 yards and eight touchdowns and Weber has four touchdowns and 711 yards. They’ll have to deal with Rashan Gary and Chase Winovich who comes into the game a little banged up but will play.
The winner goes on to play Northwestern who already clenched a spot in the Big Ten Championship game three weeks ago. The Wolverines or the Buckeyes need to win out to have any shot for the Big Ten.
