The #20 Michigan Wolverines travel to Columbus to face the #4 ranked and undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes for the 109th meeting between the two schools in the biggest rivalry in college football. Michigan has not defeated Ohio State in Columbus since 2000. The last four meetings in Columbus have seen the Buckeyes score 37, 42, 42 and 37 points. The Buckeyes are a 3 point favorite.

Urban Meyer has never defeated Michigan. Michigan defeated Ohio State in 1986 and 1987 when he was a graduate assistant in Columbus. In 1999, when he was a wide recievers coach at Notre Dame, the Wolverines triumphed. When he was in Florida with Tim Tebow, Michigan beat the Gators in Lloyd Carr's final game in the 2008 Capital One Bowl. Brady Hoke is 1-0 against the Buckeyes; he was 5-2 in the rivalry as a Michigan assistant, 1995-2001.

On offense, Ohio State is ranked #9 nationally in rushing offense averaging 245 yards per game. Sophomore Braxton Miller averages 110 yards per game, and has scored 13 TDs in 11 games. The Buckeye tailback is Junior Carlos Hyde; he averages 92 yards per game and has scored 15 TDs leading the conference in scoring. They also run Senior Captain Jordan Hall, Sophomore Rod Smith and Freshman Brionte Dunn. If the Wolverines are to be successful in Columbus, it will start with slowing down the Buckeye running train. We must take away the Buckeyes ability to run the ball with Miller, and make him beat us with his arm. Jake Ryan and Frank Clark will have to have big games holding the edge, creating pressure and containing Miller. He completes 57% of his throws and has thrown for 14 TDs. His favorite targets are Junior Corey Brown and Sophomore Devin Smith. Brown has 52 receptions and Smith has 28; they have 8 TDs between them. Sophomore Evan Spencer is their top backup. Miller likes to throw to the big tight ends, Senior Jake Stoneburner, Sophomore Jeff Heuerman and Freshman Nick Vannett; they have 32 receptions for 5 TDs between the three. The offense has a 43% 3rd down conversion percentage, and their passing offense, like ours, is ranked pretty low, 100th in the NCAA and 8th in the Big Ten, averaging 181 yards per game. Junior Kenny Guiton is the back up quarterback and holder for place kicks. The Buckeye offensive line is big, strong and gets great "push." They are led by Grosse Pointe Senior Reid Fragel, a converted tight end, at Right Tackle. Junior Jack Mewhort mans the Left Tackle. Juniors Corey Linsley, Andrew Norwell and Marcus Hall are the Center, Left and Right Guard.

On defense, Ohio State brings its usual tough hard-nosed group. The Buckeyes rank #17 in rushing defense, 3rd in the Big Ten. Sophomore Outside Linebacker Ryan Shazier has an incredible 110 tackles to lead the defense with 15 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 11 pass break ups, an interception, 3 forced fumbles and 3 quarterback hits. Yes, he is all over the field; he leads the conference in tackles for loss. Senior Captain Zach Boren is at MIKE Linebacker; Senior Storm Klein, reinstated to the team earlier in the season, has a disk problem in his back and has seen limited action. Freshman Joshua Perry is the other Outside Linebacker. Senior Captain Etienne Sabino will also see action at linebacker. The Nose Guard is Senior Captain Garrett Goebel. One defensive end is Nathan Williams. Dearborn Heights Junior Johnathan Hankins mans the defensive tackle; he is incredibly mobile for 322 lbs., and has 52 tackles on the season, 4 for loss with one sack and blocked a kick. The Buckeye big play lineman is Senior Captain annd Leo Defensive End Johnny Simon, he has 44 tackles, 15 for loss including 9 sacks, 4 tipped passes and a forced fumble; he leads the conference in sacks. Freshman Adolphus Washington will also see action. Their front will be difficult to block, and the Wolverines must play their best game to create a rushing attack and protect Gardner and Robinson in the pocket. When the Wolverines throw, the Buckeyes will have a tough, mobile group patroling the backfield. They are led by Sophomore Cornerback Bradley Roby who has 17 pass break ups and 2 intereptions. Senior Travis Howard is the other cornerback; he has 6 pass break ups and 4 interceptions. Both Jeremy Gallon and Roy Roundtree will need to have their best games of the year against these two. The Buckeye safeties are Juniors Christian Bryant and C.J. Barnett. Bryant is the second leading tackler on the defense with 66 stops, 10 pass break ups and an interception. Barnett has 51 tackles, 6 pass break ups and an interception. Senior Orhian Johnson may also see action. They have 71 pass break ups and 13 interceptions as a pass defense. By comparison, the Michigan pass defense which is ranked #1 in the Big Ten and NCAA has only 21 pass break ups and 7 interceptions; the Ohio State pass defense is ranked 84th nationally and 11th in the Big Ten allowing 250 yards per game. They will be tough to thrown on, and will be focused on creating turnovers. We must avoid negative plays and turnovers.

Top Individual Game Matchups

On special teams, Corey Brown is a dangerous punt returner; he averages nearly 14 yards per return. Both Rod and Devin Smith are the kickoff returners. Junior Drew Basil has hit 4 of 6 field goals with the longest being 35 yards, and has hit 54 of 55 extra points. Senior Ben Buchanan handles the punting; he has a 40.9 yard average in 56 punts with 14 downed inside the 20 and 23 fair catches. Buchanan also had one blocked. Senior Orhian Johnson is the Buckeye big play guy on special teams. Field position is always important in this matchup.

The Buckeyes toughest games this year were the overtime wins at Wisconsin and Purdue. The Boilermakers forced 4 Ohio State turnovers and held a 9 minute time of possession advantage; however, they were zero for 3 red zone opportunities. Still, the Buckeyes scored with 44 seconds to go and converted a 2 point conversion to send the game to overtime. Ohio State broke open a 7-7 game at Penn State with a 21 point 3rd quarter to win, 35-23. They also managed a 1 point win on the road in East Lansing, 17-16, and a 3 point win in Bloomington, 52-49.

If it were not for the Buckeyes being on probation and ineligible for a bowl game, they'd be playing for the right to play in the BCS title game with Notre Dame since they already defeated probable Big Ten Champ Nebraska, 63-38 after ovecoming a second quarter deficit, 7-21, in Columbus with 28 points, cruising to the victory.

Michigan has lost only to the #1 and #2 ranked football teams, Notre Dame and Alabama, who appear to have the inside track for the BCS title game; the only other loss was to Nebraska who look like the conference's Rose Bowl representative. All three losses to BCS Bowl Bound teams were on the road.

For Michigan to win, they must run the ball well enough to maintain a time of possession advantage. They must win the turnover battle. Since their offense is highly efficient on 3rd and 4th down conversions and the red zone, they must maintain their composure and poise in a rough atmosphere to do so. Obviously, on defense, they must manage and contain Braxton Miller and his ability to break big plays.

For Ohio State to win, they must stop Michigan's diverse, complex offensive attack with Devin Gardner and Denard Robinson running and throwing, and stymie the Wolverine run game. They must force turnovers and create points off turnover. They must establish their own running attack, and win the time of possession battle to keep Michigan's potent offense off the field as much as possible.

Who will execute the best?

Michigan comes into the game as the underdog, and is expected to lose in Columbus to what is considered a stronger, tougher Buckeye team who is hoping to gain revenge for their probation which forbids a Big Ten Championship and bowl game. This is the Buckeyes last game of the season, and the icing on their cake is capping it with an undefeated campaign. The role of spoiler is a good one in this affair. Michigan has ruined an undefeated Buckeye season five times in the past. Michigan plays their best game of the year, wins the turnover battle, controls the football and limits Buckeye running attack and scoring chances. The Wolverine's next stop is New Orleans with return trip to the Sugar Bowl for an SEC opponent! Hail to the Victors!

Michigan 31 Ohio State 27

This is the greatest rivalry in all of sports in the United States. They have played every year since 1918, and the game was moved to the last Saturday of the season in 1935. Even though Michigan holds an advantage with 58 wins in 108 games; since 1918, the advantage is 46 wins and 44 losses with 4 ties. Michigan's record at the Big House is 23-18-3 since 1918. The Buckeyes began calling this series the "Gold Pants" which began in 1934, and hold a 38-36-4 advantage. Ohio State takes pride in their record against Michigan since the Snow Bowl in 1950 when the Woody Hayes era began, it is 26-33-2 since 1951.

2011 Michigan 40 Ohio State 34

2003 Michigan 31 Ohio State 23 Part I Part II

2000 Michigan 38 Ohio State 26 Part I Part II

1999 Michigan 24 Ohio State 17 Part I Part II Part III

1997 Michigan 20 Ohio State 14 Part I Part II

1996 Michigan 13 Ohio State 9 Part I Part II

1995 Michigan 31 Ohio State 23 Part I Part II

1993 Michigan 28 Ohio State 0 Part I Part II

1991 Michigan 31 Ohio State 3 Part I Part II

1990 Michigan 16 Ohio State 13

1989 Michigan 28 Ohio State 18

1988 Michigan 34 Ohio State 31 Part I Part II

1986 Michigan 26 Ohio State 24

1985 Michigan 27 Ohio State 17

1983 Michigan 24 Ohio State 21

1980 Michigan 9 Ohio State 3

1978 Michigan 14 Ohio State 3

1977 Michigan 14 Ohio State 6

1976 Michigan 22 Ohio State 0

1973 Michigan 10 Ohio State 10

1971 Michigan 10 Ohio State 7

Bob Ufer Poem: Burying Michigan

1969 Michigan 24 Ohio State 12

1964 Michigan 10 Ohio State 0

1959 Michigan 23 Ohio State 14

1950 Michigan 9 Ohio State 3 (The Snow Bowl)

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