After months of waiting, The Game is finally here.
While the 2017 edition of the Ohio State vs. Michigan rivalry doesn't quite have the implications of the 2016 game, there is still plenty for both programs to play for.
For the Buckeyes, a chance to make the College Football Playoff remains on the line, as does a winning streak against Michigan that dates back to 2012, Urban Meyer's first year as coach.
On the other side, Jim Harbaugh is 0-2 against Ohio State since taking over a Michigan program that has now lost three games in each of his first three seasons. The Wolverines come into the game against the Buckeyes fresh off of a 24-10 loss to Wisconsin, a game in which starting quarterback Brandon Peters left with a head injury.
While it is uncertain who Michigan's signal-caller will be on Saturday, the rest of the Wolverine roster has been consistent this season, for better or for worse.
Offense (Pro)
Quarterback: John O'Korn (No. 8) 6-foot-4, 211 pounds, redshirt senior
Strengths:
- O'Korn brings experience to the Michigan offense, having seen playing time as both a Wolverine and his time at Houston.
Weaknesses:
- Not mobile. O'Korn isn't a threat to make many plays with his feet.
- Poor pocket awareness. O'Korn has a tendency to hold the ball too long in the pocket, and doesn't anticipate pressure well.
Running backs: Karan Higdon (No. 22) 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, junior / Chris Evans (No. 12) 5-foot-11, 206 pounds, sophomore / Ty Isaac (No. 32) 6-foot-3, 228 pounds, redshirt senior / Fullback Khalid Hill (No. 80) 6-foot-2, 265 pounds, redshirt senior
Strengths:
- Higdon and Evans give Michigan a speed element to its offense, while Isaac, who has missed time this season with injury, gives the Wolverines more of a power running look.
- Khalid Hill is a threat out of the backfield. Has shown good hands and power running ability in short yardage situations. Scored two touchdowns against Ohio State last season.
Weaknesses:
- Inconsistency. When Michigan has played well this season, it has been because of this group. When the Wolverines struggle, it usually means this group has been stifled.
Wide receivers: Grant Perry (No. 88) 6-foot, 191 pounds, junior / Donovan Peoples-Jones (No. 9) 6-foot-2, 199 pounds, freshman / Eddie McDoom (No. 13) 6-foot-1, 181 pounds, sophomore / Tight ends: Sean McKeon (No. 84) 6-foot-5, 248 pounds, sophomore / Zach Gentry (No. 83) 6-foot-7, 248 pounds, junior
Strengths:
- Peoples-Jones is the most athletic of this group. Despite just 16 receptions this season, his frame and speed makes him a downfield threat.
- Peoples-Jones is also a threat to run the ball. He has three carries this season which have come on designed reverses.
- McKeon and Gentry have accounted for 40 receptions and four touchdowns this season. Both have good size and are dual-threats as blockers and receivers.
Weaknesses:
- Michigan lost promising freshman Tarik Black early in the season to injury. Black is expected to miss the rest of the season, but showed flashes of being a possible No. 1 receiver for the Wolverines early on.
- This group has struggled to get behind defenses without Black. A Michigan wide receiver has not caught a touchdown pass since a Sept. 9 win over Cincinnati. All receiving touchdowns since (just five) have come from the tight ends or running backs.
Offensive line: LT Mason Cole (No. 52) 6-foot-5, 297 pounds, senior / LG Ben Bredeson (No. 74) 6-foot-5, 308 pounds, sophomore / C Patrick Kugler (No. 57) 6-foot-5, 296 pounds, redshirt senior / RG Cesar Ruiz (No. 51) 6-foot-4, 316 pounds, freshman / RT Juwann Bushell-Beatty (No. 76) 6-foot-6, 315 pounds, senior
Strengths:
- Rushing offense. Much like Ohio State, good things are usually happening for the Wolverines when the Michigan run game is working. UM averages 194.2 yards per game on the ground this season, good for third in the Big Ten.
- Experience at both tackle and center positions helps a pair of young guards in the middle.
Weaknesses:
- Pass protection. Although some of its struggles have been due to inconsistent quarterback play, the Michigan front like has struggled to keep its signal-callers upright. Michigan quarterbacks have been sacked 29 times this season, second-most in the Big Ten behind only Illinois (38).
Overall analysis: The Michigan offense, like many before it, is predicated on running the football. Much of this, however, is due to the fact that the Wolverines have started three different quarterbacks this season. Wilton Speight has yet to recover from a back injury suffered against Purdue in the Wolverines' Big Ten opener, while John O'Korn's struggles led to a benching and opened the door for freshman Brandon Peters.
Peters' injury against Wisconsin last week likely means O'Korn will get the nod against Ohio State. O'Korn has struggled this season, throwing just one touchdown pass to five interceptions. If the Buckeyes can contain Michigan's running attack, the Wolverines will likely have a difficult time beating Ohio State through the air.
Defense (Multiple)
Defensive line: DE Chase Winovich (No. 15) 6-foot-3, 253 pounds, senior / DT Maurice Hurst (No. 73) 6-foot-2, 280 pounds, redshirt senior / DT Aubrey Solomon (No. 5) 6-foot-3, 297 pounds, freshman / DE Rashan Gary (No. 3) 6-foot-5, 281 pounds, sophomore
Strengths:
- Pass-rush. The Michigan front seven has been all over opposing quarterbacks this season, collecting 36 sacks, second-most in the Big Ten.
- Winovich is Michigan's leading pass-rusher this season, is tied for the team lead with seven sacks and leads the team in tackles for loss with 16.
- Rashan Gary is perhaps the most physically imposing of the defensive linemen for Michigan. His speed at his size makes him a threat on any play to make a stop in the backfield.
Weaknesses:
- Run defense. While the eye test may support the contrary, Michigan's run defense has struggled recently. The Wolverines surrendered 180 yards on the ground against both Wisconsin and Maryland, while Penn State scorched them for 224 yards and five touchdowns on the ground in late October.
- Depth. Unlike Ohio State's defensive line, the Wolverines don't rotate much up front, which could give them problems late in the game.
Linebackers: OLB Khaleke Hudson (No. 7) 6-foot, 205 pounds, sophomore / MLB Mike McCray (No. 9) 6-foot-4, 242 pounds, redshirt senior / OLB Devin Bush (No. 10) 5-foot-11, 222 pounds, sophomore
Strengths:
- Hudson is a threat to come on a multitude of blitzes. He is tied with Winovich for the team lead in sacks and has good speed off the edge. While he is listed as a defensive back, he plays in the box most of the time, a role played last season by Jabrill Peppers.
- McCray is a veteran linebacker in the middle and the leader of the Michigan defense. He has plenty of playing experience as a two-year starter for the Wolverines.
- Bush leads the team in tackles, with 87 this season, and plays well in space.
Weaknesses:
- Hudson is a solid tackler, who ranks second on the team in stops, but is undersized for his position.
- This unit is asked to do a lot at the second level, which could force them to wear down late in the game.
Defensive backs: CB Lavert Hill (No. 24) 5-foot-11, 177 pounds, sophomore / SS Josh Metellus (No. 14) 6-foot, 199 pounds, sophomore / FS Tyree Kinnel (No. 23) 5-foot-11, 201 pounds, junior / CB David Long (No. 22) 5-foot-11, 187 pounds, sophomore
Strengths:
- This group has been consistent all season, allowing just one team to throw for more than 200 yards all year (Penn State, 282).
Weaknesses:
- This is a young group. With both Peppers and Jourdan Lewis gone to the NFL, most of these players have yet to pay significant reps in The Game.
- Hill is Michigan's top cornerback, but he missed the game against Wisconsin due to a concussion. If he cannot return, his likely replacement is senior Brandon Watson.
- None of Michigan's corners are physically imposing, which could result in the Wolverines allowing some 50/50 balls downfield.
Overall analysis: Michigan's defense has prided itself on run defense, but the Wolverines have been gashed on the ground against solid opponents this season. Michigan State, Penn State, Maryland and Wisconsin all rushed for 150 yards or more against the Wolverines, three of which resulted in losses for UM.
The Michigan secondary has not been tested much this season outside of a game against Penn State. To their credit, though, the Wolverines have remained consistent in the back end, and could pose a threat to the Buckeye passing offense.
Special Teams
Kicker: Quinn Nordin (No. 3) 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, sophomore
Punter: Brad Robbins (No. 3) 6-foot-2, 181 pounds, freshman
Analysis: Nordin started the season a solid 14-for-16 on field goal attempts, but has missed three of his last four attempts and a pair of extra points. His long on the season is 55 yards, making him a threat to hit a deep one.
Robbins, a Columbus product out of Westerville South High School, took over the punting duties for Michigan early in the season. He is averaging about 41 yards per boot and has pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 16 times. Don't let the fact that he is a punter fool you, though. Robbins is extremely athletic and has good speed, which could make him a threat for a fake if Ohio State isn't ready.
