Saturday Spotlight
(1) Ohio State Buckeyes at (15) Michigan Wolverines
Ohio State (11-0):
This is the best Ohio State team I’ve seen in quite some time. They are balanced offensively and can attack a defense with either the passing game or a downhill running attack. I could talk all day about their skill weapons if given the opportunity. Jeremiah Smith is, by far, the best non-quarterback in the country on offense, and they also have two other quality receivers in Carnell Tate and Brandon Innis. One thing about this program is that they consistently develop wide receivers; at one point, this team had Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson, and Chris Olave all on the same depth chart—and look at what those three have become at the next level. I also want to highlight the quarterback, Julian Sayin. You never know what a first-year quarterback is going to bring out of the gate, which is why I always give first-year starters some grace. I’ve seen him improve month by month, and he’s thrown 25 touchdown passes with only four interceptions. Then, of course, you have the best defense in the country—it’s not even close to me. They play with a nasty streak and are always hunting for the football. Here’s how good this Buckeyes defense has been: they’ve allowed only 84 total points all season, with the most points in a single game being 16 against the Illinois Fighting Illini. A stingy defense always makes me smile. Today, they look to snap a losing streak to their archrivals in Ann Arbor.
Michigan (9-2):
Last season was an adjustment period for them. Jim Harbaugh returned to the NFL to coach the Los Angeles Chargers after winning the National Championship he had long coveted. Michigan also lost a large chunk of the roster that won the 2023 championship, including Blake Corum, J.J. McCarthy, and Colston Loveland, to name a few. This year has been an improvement, but there’s still work to do. Realistically, though, they’ve been much better than they were in 2024. Entering the season, the talk was about incoming freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood. In the few times I’ve seen him play, he’s been just okay—but let me explain before anyone gets upset. I’ve often criticized Michigan’s play-calling for being too conservative with the quarterback. How can he grow as a player if you’re bottling him up? This year, Sherrone Moore has reverted to the basics, emphasizing the run game, and I can’t say enough about the tandem of Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall. One thing that remains consistent is Michigan’s defense—they’ve always been stingy, and that hasn’t changed. After a letdown against USC in Southern California, this team has shown resilience and bounced back well. Now it’s rivalry week, and they’ll look to extend their winning streak against the defending national champions to five.
Ohio State X-Factor: Caleb Downs
Games like this are why players like Caleb Downs exist. Michigan must know where number 2 is at all times because he can single-handedly tilt a football game with just one or two plays. Caleb is Ohio State’s best defensive playmaker, creating momentum-shifting plays through key tackles, pass breakups, or turnovers. He’s excellent against the run, which is crucial against a Michigan team that identifies as run-first. Watch how he gets downhill—pun intended.
Michigan X-Factor: Derrick Moore
Rivalry games are often won in the trenches, and Derrick Moore is the tone-setter for Michigan. At 6’3″ and 260 pounds, he is explosive off the edge and disruptive in one-on-one matchups. Watching Ohio State this year, I’ve noticed that Julian Sayin’s jersey has been far too clean. If Derrick can apply pressure, force hurried throws, and even hit the quarterback, it could completely change the game. He has the skill set and motor to disrupt an Ohio State offense that relies heavily on rhythm.
Final Thoughts:
Here we are—“Game Day”—and I’m thrilled to preview the best rivalry in college football, which I often refer to as the “Duke vs. North Carolina” of college footbal. The storylines are classic: the last two national champions, and Michigan has dominated this rivalry since 2021, winning the last four meetings, including a shocking victory in Columbus nobody expected. Ohio State has been on cruise control since beating Texas in Week 1, while Michigan has shown glimpses of its potential. The Buckeyes enter with immense pressure after losing the last four meetings. They must continue their defensive dominance, especially against the run, against a Wolverines team that ranks 10th nationally in yards per attempt and yards per game. Offensively, they need to dictate the game. Last season, Michigan baited Ohio State into running between the tackles while dropping extra defenders into coverage. Ohio State should do what has worked all year: throw the ball downfield aggressively. The final key: start quickly. Slow starts have plagued Ohio State in the last two meetings, allowing Michigan to build early leads. For Michigan, winning in the trenches is vital—they must prevent the Buckeyes from establishing their running game. Winning the turnover battle is also crucial, as both quarterbacks are relatively inexperienced. Finally, red-zone efficiency will likely determine the outcome; Ohio State is the best in the country defensively in the red zone, while Michigan scores 78% of the time when inside it. This is another edition of the greatest rivalry in our sport.
