Pete Thamel: Ohio State defenders Tommy Eichenberg, Mike Hall to return against Michigan

ESPN’s Pete Thamel is reporting Ohio State will have two key defenders return to the lineup for The Game on Saturday against Michigan.

According to Thamel, linebacker Tommy Eichenberg and defensive lineman Mike Hall are set to return against the Wolverines in Week 13. A big boost to the Buckeyes defense.

“Source: Ohio State will get two key defenders back today against Michigan,” Thamel reported. “Interior defensive lineman Mike Hall and star linebacker Tommy Eichenberg will both play against Michigan.”

That’s a huge boon for the Buckeyes defense, with two top players returning to their defensive lineup. It’ll be all hands on deck for one of the biggest college football games in recent memory.

All roads led to The Game all season long for Ohio State and Michigan. We’re only a few short hours away from seeing who gets a win in the epic showdown.

Paul Finebaum: Ohio State winning ‘would be justice’ for fans questioning Michigan success

Many, whether in Columbus or nationally, would like to see Michigan lose in the wake of the sign-stealing scandal in Ann Arbor. In all honesty, Paul Finebaum may be hoping for it too based on his feelings ahead of The Game.

Finebaum addressed the effect of the investigation of the Wolverines on this weekend’s matchup between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Michigan on ‘The Tim May Show’ on Thursday.

“I think if you’re true to your feelings? There’s no way you can look at what Michigan has done the last two years and feel good about those wins,” said Finebaum.

“I had a conversation with a former Heisman Trophy winner at Michigan a couple of days ago. He was telling me on TV about, ‘recruiting, all the great players’. Well, they have a lot of great players. But, you know what? So does Ohio State,” Finebaum said.

Now, because of the alleged actions of those in Michigan’s building and on their sideline, Finebaum sees this as the prime opportunity to prove that the Wolverines were, in fact, cheating. It would explain the last two games in the series and would be all the other fanbase’s way of feeling like they got their payback. against the Wolverines.

“There has to be a reason. There has to be an explanation of why Ohio State has looked so poor,” said Finebaum.

“It would be great. It would be justice if Ohio State went in there and did what we said a minute ago,” Finebaum said. “That would be the clearest indication of what I know a lot of your fans believe in Ohio – that Michigan cannot win this game honestly.”

It’s just as likely that Michigan wins inside The Big House this weekend, makes the Big Ten Championship, and returns to the College Football Playoff. However, with several people hoping to see the Wolverines get what they believe is coming to them, Finebaum doesn’t believe any payback would be much sweeter than a Buckeye win on Saturday.