Keys to the Game: Michigan football vs. Ohio State 

Once again, Ohio State comes into The Game as a favorite over Michigan, a loaded team with very few weaknesses. The Wolverines, meanwhile, continue to rebuild after winning a National Championship under Jim Harbaugh in 2023, and they’re making progress. 

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U-M still has a chance to accomplish all its goals, including playoff, Big Ten title, and yes, even national title (even if it’s a longshot), while the Buckeyes are the favorite to win it all. Both these teams, though, have a lot to prove against the best of the best, having drawn the longer scheduling straws this year. 

But you can only play who’s in front of you. For the Wolverines, they failed in their two biggest games — at Oklahoma and USC — and OSU figures to be better than either of them. They get the Buckeyes at home, though, and head coach Sherrone Moore believes that can help make a difference. 

“Be the loudest, most ravenous, craziest, energetic environment that we’ve had in Michigan Stadium, ever,” he said when asked what his message was for the fans. “That’s what we want it to be — the loudest place it’s ever been. I don’t know what the decibels have been or what they could be, but we need them to reach peak on Saturday.”

All the pressure is on Ohio State coach Ryan Day to prove he’s not the John Cooper (2-10-1) of his era, though several have already made up their minds (he is). He’s been elite against everyone else but can’t beat Michigan … each year that goes by, the compression ramps up. 

U-M, meanwhile, has everything to gain and nothing to lose, a heavy underdog at home. Here are the keys to beating the Buckeyes (again) on what’s expected to be a cold and snowy day in Ann Arbor. 

Michigan Key No. 1 — Stop the run  

We know what you’re thinking … the passing offense is this Ohio State team’s bread and butter, and you’re right. Quarterback Julian Sayin isn’t a Heisman candidate for the way he hands off. We get it. 

But … if the Buckeyes are able to run the ball on this Michigan defense and get to third and short, leaving the Wolverines guessing on third down, it’s going to be a long day. This OSU team is outstanding in third and long, too, but we’d rather have that than third and two or three all day long. 

This U-M interior line isn’t like those of the last four years. It’s good, but not as good. The Wolverines need Rayshaun Benny to have his best game — he’s had a lot of big plays in this game over the last several years — and others to elevate their play. 

They also need to stick with the starters and guys playing well for longer periods of time. This isn’t the game to substitute freely to lesser players, especially on defense. No freebies.

Key No. 2 — Offensive line play needs to be at its best

Physically, this Michigan offensive line isn’t where it’s going to be in a couple years — heck, even next year — when the three freshman-eligible starters will be stronger. It’s almost literally men vs. boys in body type, even though the U-M line has been very good run blocking this year. 

The No. 1 way to ensure frosh quarterback Bryce Underwood won’t be comfortable is to let him get hit early. We’ve seen him bail from the pocket early at times when he had one, expecting the worst even when the blocking was fine because of breakdowns earlier in the game. 

Michigan redshirt frosh running back Jordan Marshall is going to bring it. Open holes for him, protect Underwood and give him a chance to throw, and they will at least have a chance to move the ball. 

Michigan key No. 3 — No short fields, hold the Buckeyes to field goals

We don’t feel good about the Wolverines’ special teams, though better with frosh Andrew Marsh returning punts and kicks. Punter Hudson Hollenbeck needs to have his best game, and the Wolverines can’t have him punting from deep in his own territory. If they start drives from midfield, the Buckeyes are going to get points.

The receivers are going to be a problem for the Michigan secondary, one that was a bit suspect against Maryland. They can’t let the ball over their heads or give up easy scores. Keep everything in front, and when they get to the red zone, make the Buckeyes settle for three. On the other end, veteran kicker Dominic Zvada is going to have to make his kicks, too. We’re glad he saw one go through the uprights last week, at least.

Michigan vs. Ohio State — The Breakdown 

Michigan isn’t guaranteed a playoff berth even with a win over the Buckeyes, but if they get by OSU, you know they’ll be watching the Washington – Oregon game intently. They’d very likely play Indiana in the Big Ten title game again if that were to happen, and while we haven’t yet booked our reservations for St. Elmo’s in Indianapolis … well, stranger things have happened. 

Last year, for one. Nobody would have picked the Wolverines in that one, but the interior defensive line essentially won the game for Michigan in Columbus. Unlike last season, though, there’s not one area you can point to and say, “Michigan has an advantage there” over the Buckeyes.

But there is plenty of talent on this U-M team, albeit young. They’ll need every man to play above his head (see: safety Makari Paige last year) and to plant some doubt in a team that’s lost four straight to the Wolverines, even if every year is different. 

“I just know that being a part of rivalries, the other games don’t matter,” Moore said. “Whatever happened in the past doesn’t matter. “So, all we can do is focus on now. This is a new team, new staff, new players, new coaches, new environment … different. All we can do is focus on today, and that’s it.”

Keep it close into the fourth quarter, and we like Michigan’s chances to pull one out. This OSU team is built differently, though — this will be a tough one for the Wolverines.