Stop me if this sounds familiar.
The Buckeyes’ upcoming top-10 opponent boasts a nationally elite ground game led by a red-hot running back who’s been on a tear through Big Ten competition for the better part of the past two months. Through the air, its pass attack has been somewhat unremarkable, if efficient and functional enough for most of the season.
In terms of generalities, all the same things that were said about the Michigan State offense ahead of last week’s matchup with the Buckeyes more or less apply to what Michigan brings to the table as well. Wolverine quarterback Cade McNamara may say he’s unconcerned with what the Ohio State defense has in store on Saturday, but if Michigan follows the offensive recipe it's used this season against the Buckeyes, it could play right into the strengths of the scarlet and gray.
“I always say the run game is a window into the soul of any team,” Ohio State linebackers coach Al Washington said on 97.1 The Fan Wednesday. “How you run it and how you stop it. So, absolutely stop the run. They’ve got a great running attack. … They definitely pose a great challenge and we’re all excited for it, because that’s what it’s all about. The run game, assignment football and playing with low pads and playing with great intention in everything we do.”
A week ago, the Buckeyes were tasked with stopping Heisman Trophy candidate Kenneth Walker, and the efforts of the Ohio State defensive line surpassed most reasonable expectations. On just seven touches, Walker finished with 29 total yards for the Spartans, and just 25 on the ground.
No one Michigan running back has the same star power or name value of Walker, but the Wolverine run game has actually racked up more yards on average this season than even Michigan State had entering last week’s matchup.
“It's a different opponent, this is our rival,” Buckeye defensive tackle Haskell Garrett said Tuesday. “I wouldn’t say it’s the same approach. There’s a lot of feeling and a lot that goes into this game. We prepare for this game 365 days a year, so to say it’s the same approach as last year, it’s not. It’s rivalry week, and we know how important it is to get this win. And for the running backs, the running backs are very versatile. They’re great running backs in the backfield.”
Ranked 15th in the nation, Michigan is two yards shy of a 220-yard average rushing the ball in 2021, the highest mark of any team Ohio State has faced this season. Fourth-year running back Hassan Haskins has been the bellcow as of late, averaging more than 115 yards per game in the past six games with seven touchdowns during that stretch. Second-year back Blake Corum has done plenty of damage for the Wolverine offense as well, with 778 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season despite not playing in the past two games due to injury.
While the Wolverines have powered their way to 10 wins leaning on that run-heavy approach, Ohio State has made a habit of shutting down opposing ground games since starting uncharacteristically slow in that department in the first two games.
After a pair of big games from the likes of Minnesota’s Mohamed Ibrahim and Oregon’s C.J. Verdell in the opening two contests of the season, the Buckeye defensive line has tightened up to become the 11th-ranked rush defense in the country. Ohio State is allowing just 101.7 yards per game on the ground – 74.1 and just three touchdowns since Week 2 – and has given up only two 100-yard games since the Ducks ran for 269 in September.
“(Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson)’s the best in the business, I say that all the time,” Washington said. “What you have is a group that is capable and deep, but they’re all committed. From the oldest guy to the youngest guy there’s a standard there, and credit Coach Johnson on establishing that. He does a phenomenal job.”
Michigan has only seen one run defense ranked higher nationally than Ohio State’s, but the Wolverines had little trouble blowing out Wisconsin’s top-ranked unit by three touchdowns in October. The Badgers held Michigan to just 2.5 yards a carry in that game, but the Wolverines still topped the century mark with a 112-yard game and a score on the ground.
Those kind of numbers, should the run game be the strength of the Michigan offense on Saturday, won’t likely be enough to upset the Buckeyes. Ohio State has put up 115 points in the past two games, and even if the Wolverine defense is far superior to that of Michigan State or Purdue, Michigan will still have to put enough points on the board to beat a Buckeye offense that has been held under 40 on only three occasions.
Michigan’s pass attack ranks just 71st in the country with an average of 229.5 yards per game, but if there’s one area in which Ohio State has been exploited on defense since the second week of the season, it’s been through the air. The Buckeye pass defense ranks 98th in the nation, and only one team the Wolverines have played all season (Maryland) has a lower ranking in that category.
It was against the Terrapins this past weekend that Michigan had one of its best passing performances of the season, putting up 352 yards and three touchdowns on 29 of 40 attempts from McNamara and company. The Michigan passing game has been more productive in the final third of the regular season than it had been prior, as it enters the weekend averaging nearly 300 yards per game in the past four contests, with 11 touchdowns to just two interceptions in that stretch.
But Ohio State proved against Michigan State that it can be more than capable against the pass depending on the circumstance and matchup. The Spartan passing game had been more fruitful than Michigan’s throughout the season entering that contest, but the Buckeyes held Payton Thorne under a 40 percent completion rate with just 158 yards by the end of the game.
The results may be similar on Saturday, or the Wolverines could prove to be an altogether different challenge. Either way, the Buckeyes must prepare for a Michigan team that’s only been outscored by one opponent all season.
“The reality is, that team up north is a team that has a lot of pride, just like us. The ultimate respect needs to be paid when that ball is snapped,” Washington said. “And that’s what our mentality, our message is. You live it day in and day out, but it’s a slow build-up ‘til that foot hits the ball. Our mentality is just focused on our preparation, and it’s a huge game.”
