Game Preview: Ohio State vs Michigan

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Ohio State versus Michigan.
 
Buckeyes against the Wolverines.
 
The Game.
 
We finally made it to the last game of the regular season and these two teams are both undefeated for the second straight season heading into the game, and both ranked 2nd and 3rd respectively, just like last year.
 
What is not like last year is that Jim Harbaugh will not be on the Michigan sideline due to the suspension handed down by the Big Ten.
 
The anticipation is palpable, and not even Thanksgiving can fulfill the appetite each team has on trying to win, and have a chance to win a Big Ten Championship next week against Iowa, and keep College Football Playoff aspirations alive.
 
In a lot of ways, this might be one of, if not the, biggest game in the rivalry as it will be the final year before the 12 team playoff, and the Big Ten removing divisions for its conference game next season. 
 
For Ohio State, this is a must win after losing the past two years, and trying to prove that they can beat the Wolverines to reclaim top dog of the conference. A chance to make the final 4 Team Playoff after making the first one would be a good send off to the subjective committee on ranking the “best” teams. 
 
For Michigan, they will have the pressure of not having their head coach on the sideline, and trying to prove they can beat Ohio State without the shadow of Connor Stallions sign stealing that is taking over the program.

Know the Opponent:

Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh* (9th season)
2023 Record: 11-0
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Conference: Big Ten

Ohio State Preview

Since Tressel took over in 2001, the Buckeyes have dominated the rivalry game but the narrative has changed with who the top team is in the Big Ten after losing to Michigan two years in a row, and the Buckeyes are aiming to put that narrative to an end. This year though has been about taking care of business on the field, and not allowing big plays, which the Buckeye defense has made leaps and bounds improvement since last season, and are giving that side of the ball more confidence about the outcome of the game. 
 
“We’re still confident,” Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer said. “I think that’s our motto is playing confident and being stingy and trying to get turnovers and just playing as aggressive as we can on the field. If we do that good things will happen.”
 
Every Buckeye who is younger than a 5th year senior does not have a pair of gold pants, so a win would be a huge send off for the seniors and juniors who will be playing their 3rd match up against the Wolverines since the 2020 game was cancelled.
 
A lot of the worry has been on Ryan Day, and how he is handling going into the game. Last season, after focusing solely on being “though” the Buckeyes played too tight and Day took ownership of that on how he approached the week. This year, the focus is still there on getting a win, but Day was a little more lose, and I think that will translate for this Buckeye team in playing within themselves. We all saw what a month of a difference made for Day against Georgia, and I am wondering if we will see that side of him come back out in this game. 
 
Kyle McCord has thrown for 2899 yards with 22 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, completing 66% of his passes. Against Minnesota, he had some throws that I am sure he would have liked back, but Michigan State was a big confidence game for him. Devin Brown is back, and could make an appearance back in some redzone packages should the Buckeyes have problems moving the ball. 
 
TreVeyon Henderson is the healthiest he has been in this series, and is looking to continue his momentum. He has 794 yards on 118 carries, and 10 touchdowns, Chip Trayanum is second on the team with 79 carries for 336 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was the starting running back last year against the Wolverines after having played linebacker that season, but we might see him get in some packages for this one to keep the Wolverine defense on their heels. Dallan Hayden should play some snaps in this game also, since it will be his 4th game, and he wont have to burn a redshirt. He has 19 carries for 110 yards and a touchdown on the season.
 
Most of the focus in the passing game will be on Marvin Harrison Jr, who will likely go against Michigan cornerback Will Johnson throughout the game. The Biletnikoff semi-finalisthas 62 catches for 1093 yards and 13 touchdowns. Cade Stover will be playing in his final Michigan game, and is second on the team with 38 catches for 534 yards and 5 touchdowns. Emeka Egbuka looks to be back in form and has 32 catches for 457 yards and 3 touchdowns now on the year. 

 

(Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

Michigan Preview

This season for Michigan has gone as unexpected as possible when it comes to off the field issues. Jim Harbaugh imposed a self-suspension at the beginning of the season for 3 games against an NCAA investigation for a recruiting incident, and then lying about it. Now, he is suspended for 3 more games at the end of the regular season due to the Big Ten stepping in and imposing a punishment after information was leaked about sign stealing operation that the conference and NCAA are investigating. Despite being out for almost half the season, the Wolverines have still remained undefeated, aided by a backloaded schedule for competition. For the first 8 games, the starters were being pulled in the 4th quarter as the Wolverines were blowing teams out (and knowing what signs a team uses might be a reason why)
 
At one point, they have looked like the most complete team in the country, but the last two games, even though they controlled the game against Penn State, the Wolverines have shown they have some vulnerabilities, especially in the pass defense. Even with everything going on, the message is that this team is bonded, and taking on a “Michigan vs Everybody” mantra after feeling like they are being attacked from the rest of the country, including the media. 
 
Part of this added spotlight is due to their recent success of making the College Football Playoff two years in a row thanks in large part due to a weak Big Ten West, as well has defeating Ohio State two years in a row. Michigan has turned things around in the series, which dates to 1897, with two straight wins after losing a school-record eight consecutive games to Ohio State.
 
“Being able to get on top of that rivalry this last two years has been huge,” McCarthy said in an interview with The Associated Press. “And, we don’t plan on being on the other side of that at all anymore.”
 
JJ McCarthy, a one time Heisman candidate, leads this team with 2335 passing yards with 18 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. He also has added some damage on the ground with 47 carries for 164 yards and 3 touchdown. Something that you will get annoyed with for sure is the amount of times the coverage will mention that JJ McCarthy grew up an Ohio State fan, but was picked over by Kly McCord. The over under is equal to the amount of wins for both teams – 11. 
 
Blake Corum is the focal point of the offense for a second straight year, and leads the team in rushing with 180 carries for 888 yards and 20 touchdowns. He was hurt in last years game, and only played a few snaps, so he will be looking to stay healthy in this game. Production wise, he has taken a step back with his explosive plays, and it will be interesting to watch how the Buckeye defense will game plan with Michigans “heavy package”m when they put in 8 or more lineman. Donovan Edwards has started to be used more this second half of the season, and has rushed for 323 yards on 95 carries, and 3 touchdowns. He exploded against the Buckeyes last season, but the Buckeyes have only given up 1 playoff of over 40 yards, and that was a trick play by Rutgers. 
 
Their leading receiver Roman Wilson was injured against Maryland last week, but reports are saying he is expected to be back in the game. He has 37 catches for 612 yards and 10 touchdowns. Cornelius Johnson, who brok a long touchdown last year against the Buckeyes, has been McCarthy’s second favorite target with 29 catches for 470. yards and 1 touchdown. Tight End Colston Loveland will likely be matched up against Sonny Styles in this game, and his the third leading receiver with 32 catches for 462 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Buckeye Spotlight

TreVeyon Henderson. The junior running back is finally healthy, and has been having a sort of Ezekial Elliott 2014 emrgence as a running back who can break the game wide open. His long run against Notre Dame, and his 75 yard run agianst Minnesota show how he can be a home run hitter for the Buckeyes to try and take some of the pressure off of McCord. 

(Photo Credit: Steven King/Icon Sportswire)

Wolverine Spotlight

JJ McCarthy. The junior quarterback will have his third and likely final chance against the Buckeyes, but the offensive line is not the same as it was last year, so the Wolverines might have to stray from their running game to try and get anything going. With a 73.8% completion rate in passing, McCarty is one of the more accurate quarterbacks in the country in short to intermediate distance throws, and will be going against one of the best secondaries in the country.

(Photo Credit: Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Water Cooler Stat of the Game

7 – 4 – 1. This will be the 13th time both teams have met when ranked in the top 5, and Ohio State has an edge of 7 wins in that time, with their last victory in 2016, which went in double overtime.

(Photo Credit: USAToday)

Prediction

This is not the same Ohio State team tha last two season who have had major flaws on offense that their high-powered offense could disguise. Michigan is still playing to its identity of a physical team in the trenches on both sides of the ball. I think this will be a game where both teams defense will show up, but like Penn State, one team has Marvin Harrison Jr, and the other does not. Add the fact that you have a healthy TreVeyon Henderson for the first time in the rivalry game, the running game should help extend drives and keep the ball out of the hands of JJ McCarthy, who has still not passed for a touchdown in the month of November. I think the edge Ohio State has with a head coach who has been envisioning a win now for the past two years, and a defense that can give their offense a chance, I like the Buckeyes winning in Ann Arbor and punching a ticket to Indianapolis next week.

Ohio State 20 – Michigan 14

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