Before every game, we provide a preview of Ohio State football’s opponent for the upcoming week. It’s only originally an eight-game slate to the regular season, but we’ve seen the coronavirus wreak havoc on that as well, so the best OSU can do is six-games. Still, there’s plenty to talk about, especially since The Game is on the doorstep.
We try to refrain from typing the name of that team that shall not be mentioned, but it’s an article and our journalistic integrity says we have to type it from time to time. Nevertheless, we toss all of that aside and can at least cross out all the m‘s in this piece.
So, if you want to impress your friends while watching The Game, we’ve got your cheat code right here. We do the research, you drop nuggets. You win on Saturdays. It’s as simple as that.
Ohio State’s sixth (we hope) game of the year is against a That Team Up North, a team that looked pretty impressive in a blowout win over Minnesota in Week 1, but since then has remembered it is indeed the Michigan program of today.
Here’s all you need to know about Michigan, the sad but true 2020 version.
Next … Michigan all-time vitals
Michigan Record
(2-4 overall); (2-4 Big Ten): Idle last week because of coronavirus
All-Time Record vs. Ohio State
58-51-6 (.530)
All-Time Vitals
Record: 964-350-36 (.727), No. 5 All-Time (No. 1 in total wins)
National Championships: 11, No. 2 All-Time
Conference Championships: 42, No. 3 All-Time
Bowl Games: 48, No. 11 All-Time
Bowl Record: 21-27-0, No. 67 All-Time
Consensus All-Americans: 83, No. 3 All-Time
Heisman Winners: 3, No. 5 All-Time
NFL Draft Picks: 379, No. 5 All-Time
Two of the most historic college football programs are scheduled to face off this weekend 🤩🤩 pic.twitter.com/Rn7tVKhbJW
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 8, 2020
NEXT … Michigan’s Best All-Time Season
Best All-Time Michigan Season
#PlayOfTheDay (1997): Charles Woodson's punt return beats Ohio State and seals Michigan's perfect regular season pic.twitter.com/dJMyDHOJoL
— Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) May 9, 2016
1997 – Sorry, we refuse to go back to the days of leather helmets, so we’ll cherry-pick the last time Michigan won a national title. That was when Charles Woodson was stomping around the secondary and winning himself a Heisman Trophy.
The Wolverines weren’t expected to be nearly as good as they were, but as the season wore on, it was clear this team was one that was as good as any in the country. It won some games convincingly but used an attacking defense to win other close ballgames on its way to an undefeated record going into The Game against Ohio State.
The Wolverines jumped out early against the Buckeyes before denying them a comeback for the ages. Michigan won The Game 20-14 in large part to a Woodson punt return touchdown, and went into the Rose Bowl where it disposed of the Washington State Cougars 21-16. The win catapulted Michigan to a share of the national championship with Nebraska.
Next … Michigan’s Best Player Of All-Time
Best Michigan Player Of All-Time
November 22, 1997:
Charles Woodson runs back a 77-yard punt return for a touchdown against Ohio State.That year Michigan beat state and Charles Woodson won the Heisman Trophy….I know you remember that game. pic.twitter.com/GpQfhpUuRW
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@AmazingBlue58) November 22, 2019
Charles Woodson, CB, 1995-1997 – You know this guy right? An Ohio native, Woodson left his home state to play for Michigan, and boy did he make an impact. He was good enough his freshman and sophomore seasons, but is one of the most iconic players in college football history for what he did his senior year.
He was a lockdown corner with rare athletic gifts and was used on offense and punt returns as well, many of his Heisman moments coming because of his impact on the offensive end. He’s in Michigan lore, and the Wolverines don’t win that 1997 matchup without his contributions. That year, Woodson was named the Big Ten Player of the Year and won the Walter Camp, Bronco Nagurski, Chuck Bednarik, and Jim Thorpe Awards.
Next … Head coach, offensive and defensive styles
Current Head Coach
Jim Harbaugh – 107-49 overall, 49-22 at Michigan
Offensive Style
You used to be able to count on a Jim Harbaugh team using a pro-style that leaned on a rough and tumble type of running game, with the play-action pass mixed in. Those days are now gone as he has finally relented and tried to go with a more spread-out attack.
Harbaugh lured Josh Gattis away from Alabama last year to install and implement more up-tempo 21st-century offense. You’ll now see the Wolverines spread the field more and would love to get the QB out in space. The offense is geared to getting the skill position players out in matchups to win, but it hasn’t worked out so well in 2020, especially with dual-threat Joe Milton having an inconsistent year and losing the starting job. It remains to be seen who will quarterback the team against the Buckeyes because of injury, COVID-19, and poor play.
Ohio State should have little problem in diagnosing and stopping an attack that has been less than explosive this year, but I guess that’s why they play the games on the field and not on paper.
Defensive Style
Dan Brown is still in charge and he’s tried to make some adjustments after the Wolverine defense got lit up by both speedy and athletic teams like Ohio State and Florida at at times. Brown is still a man-to-man 4-3 base guy, but the defense has used a ton more zone coverages over the last couple of years to mixed results. In fact, it’s been quite the disaster in 2020.
The defense will still attack downhill with blitz packages designed to stop the run and get pressure on the quarterback, but the Wolverines are a little lighter and faster now in the second level to be more flexible against those crossing pass schemes they got burned on in past years. It has not ended well and the Wolverine program is now one that can get pushed around by more physical teams.
Pick your poison against Ohio State Mr. Brown.
Next … Player to watch and the Wolverine’s chances
Michigan player to watch
Hassan Haskins with the 4-yard scamper!
What a drive.
MICHIGAN leads, 28-17. https://t.co/ESsxlBAwcK
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) October 25, 2020
Hassan Haskins, RB — Haskins has been a bright spot for Michigan in an otherwise disappointing offensive campaign. He leads the team in rushing and is averaging 6.1 yards per carry, to go along with six touchdowns.
Early on in the season, the running game took a bit of a backseat to the ball being thrown around the field, but there’s been more of a concerted effort to let Haskins try to wiggle free on the ground. And, as you likely know, the team that wins the rushing battle in The Game, usually comes out on top in late November. It’ll be no different in early December.
If the Wolverines have designs of shocking the world in this one, Haskins will have to have a big, big day.
Michigan Can Win The Game If …
It can somehow control the clock with the ground and pound.
We’ve already touched on it, but Michigan has to get back to its roots and somehow find a way to break the code of running the ball against an Ohio State run defense that is only allowing 95 yards per game.
And that’s just the start. If the Wolverines can find a way to keep the chains moving, have long possessions, and limit Ohio State’s offensive touches, they then have to find a way to frustrate the Buckeye offense and get it off the field on third-downs, then fight and claw on the next possession.
From there, rinse and repeat.
Michigan is simply not equipped to outscore and out-athlete the Buckeyes, so it has to win via root canal vs. a laser light show. It’ll be a tough task.
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