The Michigan Wolverines host the arch rival Ohio State Buckeyes in The Game on Saturday at noon at the Big House. With bragging rights, legacies and playoff implications on the line in the annual matchup,
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore detailed the intensity of the rivalry, keys to victory, postseason ramifications, Ohio State’s offense and more on Monday.
“This rivalry is just different. It’s a feeling that you can’t really describe. It’s an intensity and there’s an aura about it that you can’t describe until you’re out there on the field,” Moore told the media. “It’s just awesome to be a part of it. I think it’s the best rivalry in all of sports in my opinion, so it’s just fun to be a part of that. It’s competitive and there’s nothing like it.”
There is always a lot at stake when the bitter rivals square off in the final game of the regular season but Michigan’s postseason destiny is hanging in the balance so this matchup is even more pivotal. A win over Ohio State would likely vault the Wolverines into the College Football Playoff – and possibly the Big Ten title game – for a fourth time in the last five years.
“We understand the importance of this game. It’s different than last year. You’re playing for something big and that’s what you want,” Moore said. “We talked about playing for a spot, possibly in the playoff and even in the Big Ten championship. Our kids deserve to know they’re in that position so we’ll talk about it but at the end of the day, we have to go prepare.”
Ohio State possesses one of the nation’s most prolific passing attacks, ranking second in the Big Ten in passing yards per game (270.1) and passing touchdowns (26). Not only do the Buckeyes create big plays in the passing game, but quarterback Julian Sayin also takes care of the ball at an impressive rate, throwing the least amount of interceptions (4) in the Big Ten.
Sayin’s accuracy and arm strength obviously play a major role in the passing offense being so difficult to slow down, but All-Big Ten wide receivers Jeremiah Smith (tied for Big Ten-best 10 receiving touchdowns) and Carnell Tate are just as important. With all that said, it will be a high priority for Michigan to hold the Buckeyes’ passing offense below their normal standard.
Moore looked ahead to defending Ohio State’s offense, specifically what makes the passing game so dangerous.
“It’s potent. It’s one of the best in the country,” Moore said. “The receivers are elite. Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss are elite. The tight end Max Klare is a really good player as well and the quarterback is elite. They have elite players everywhere on the field from a skill position stand point. It will be a challenge that I know our defense is ready to take on.”
In addition to having an explosive offense, Ohio State owns the nation’s best defense. The Buckeyes lead the country by a wide margin in total yards allowed per game (206.6), yards per play (3.76) and touchdowns allowed (9). No other power conference team allows less than 4.0 yards per play, so Michigan’s offense will certainly have their work cut out for them.
“They play really well together. There are so many different coverages, front variations, blitz variations,” Moore explained. “There’s a story in each game and how they call each game. It’s not just by formation or by personnel, it’s game by game, so we have to do a good job of identifying that early in the game and figuring out how to play like that through all four quarters.”
In order to pull off an upset, Michigan must keep Ohio State’s high-powered passing attack in check, limit turnovers and win the always-important battle on the line of scrimmage. It won’t be easy to defeat the nation’s top ranked team, but the Wolverines have proven they have what it takes over the past four years, and Moore emphasized the keys to victory.
“You have to win the line of scrimmage. You always have to do that,” Moore said. “You can’t let outside noise control the preparation, progress and process of what we’re doing because there’s a lot going on. But at the end of the day, we have to channel our focus on the preparation. That’s how you win. Prepare the way that we’ve prepared the last few games.”
Michigan has won four straight games against the Buckeyes, which is the longest winning streak since the Wolverines won four in a row from 1988-1991. If Michigan is able to shock the college football world again and clinch a fifth straight win in The Game, it would be the Wolverines’ longest winning streak over Ohio State since claiming six in a row from 1922-1927.
“Being a part of rivalries, the other games don’t matter. Whatever happened in the past doesn’t matter,” Moore said. “All we can do is focus on now. This is a new team, staff, players, coaches, and environment. We understand what this is about but we can’t predicate this game on what has happened in the past. All we can do is work to be successful on Saturday.”
