Ohio State vs. Michigan: Game Grades, Analysis for Buckeyes and Wolverines

The first meeting between Urban Meyer and Jim Harbaugh was a laughable blowout as the No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1) routed the No. 10 Michigan Wolverines (9-3), 42-13, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Saturday afternoon.

The Buckeyes won the battle in the trenches on both sides of the ball, leading to a 312-yard rushing differential. That set the tone for a dominant performance from Ohio State, which has beaten Michigan in each of the last four seasons.

Here's how both teams graded out from the latest edition of "The Game."

Positional Unit	First-Half Grade	Final Grade
Pass Offense	C	B
Run Offense	A+	A+
Pass Defense	C-	C
Run Defense	A+	A+
Special Teams	B	C
Coaching	A+	A+

Pass Offense

Quarterback J.T. Barrett started slow, completing just three of six passes for 18 yards in the first half as the Buckeyes leaned heavily on the run early. Meyer opened things up to start the second though, when Barrett threw a beautiful 25-yard touchdown pass to Jalin Marshall. He finished with 113 yards on 9-of-15 passing with a touchdown and no interceptions.

Run Offense

Running back Ezekiel Elliott made it clear after Ohio State's loss to the Michigan State Spartans that he wanted more carries against the Wolverines, and Meyer heard him loud and clear and got him involved early. Elliott had 99 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries in the first half, and the Buckeyes had 171 rushing yards before the break overall. They finished with an incredible 369 rushing yards on 54 carries and Elliott tallied 214 in his regular-season finale. 

Pass Defense

Michigan's ground game has sputtered in Harbaugh's first year, but the passing attack has thrived with quarterback Jake Rudock under center. He was hot in the first half, throwing for 174 yards and a touchdown while converting on eight of 11 third downs. Rudock was knocked out of the game in the fourth quarter and Michigan finished with 307 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Run Defense

Michigan's rushing attack was absolutely shut down by Ohio State's front seven. The Wolverines gained just 57 yards on 25 carries, averaging a meager 2.3 yards per attempt. Running back De'Veon Smith only managed 23 yards on 10 carries, and Michigan's longest run went for just eight yards. 

Special Teams

It was a quiet and unspectacular day for Ohio State's special teams unit, as it didn't attempt a field goal and only punted twice. One of those punts was blocked in the fourth quarter, but it was too late and the Buckeyes' lead was too big for it to make any difference. 

Coaching

Meyer thoroughly outcoached Harbaugh in this one, and it started with the offensive staff and the decision to move co-offensive coordinator Ed Warinner up to the booth to call plays alongside fellow co-offensive coordinator Tim Beck. With that move, the Buckeyes bounced back from their horrendous effort against Michigan State and torched a defense that was even better than the one they faced last week. 

Positional Unit	First-Half Grade	Final Grade
Pass Offense	A	B
Run Offense	F	F
Pass Defense	A	C
Run Defense	F	F
Special Teams	C	C
Coaching	C	F

Pass Offense

Michigan needed a big performance from Rudock if it was to beat Ohio State, and it looked like he was delivering that in the first half when he threw for 174 yards and a touchdown. The game was 14-10 at the break, but the Wolverines couldn't keep pace with the runaway Buckeyes in the second half. Michigan finished with 307 passing yards, but it only led to the one first-half score to wide receiver Jehu Chesson, who hauled in eight passes for 111 yards.

Run Offense

The Wolverines' rushing attack has been pedestrian all season, but it was completely stifled by Ohio State's front seven on Saturday. Michigan mustered 57 yards on 25 carries, averaging a miserable 2.3 yards per carry. Safety Jabrill Peppers mixed things up early, but Smith never gained any traction, gaining 23 yards on 10 carries.

Pass Defense

Michigan's pass defense didn't have to work that hard in the first half as Barrett attempted just six passes, completing three of them for 18 yards. But with the success of the running game, play action opened up and Barrett had big passes of 25 and 38 yards in the second half to keep the Wolverines off balance. The Buckeyes only gained 113 yards through the air, but that's all they needed in the 29-point rout.

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Run Defense

Michigan came into the game with the fourth-best run defense in the country, allowing 100.2 yards per game, but it was gashed by Elliott and the Ohio State rushing attack. The Buckeyes ran for 171 yards in the first half and 369 total, and Elliott accounted for 214 of that Saturday afternoon. Michigan had given up just five red-zone rushing touchdowns all season, but Ohio State equalled that total Saturday. 

Special Teams

Jourdan Lewis was fantastic on kickoff returns and nearly broke a couple free, and kicker Kenny Allen drilled both of his field-goal attempts from 25 and 27 yards. Punter Blake O'Neill had a decent day, averaging a hair under 40 yards on four punts. The Wolverines broke free and blocked a punt in the second half, but they were flagged for a roughing-the-punter penalty in the first quarter that allowed Ohio State to score a touchdown and take a lead it would never surrender.

Coaching

Much was made of Harbaugh's first meeting with Meyer, but he was thoroughly outcoached by the Ohio State staff Saturday. The Wolverines did some good things early to keep it close in the first half, specifically with the usage of Peppers on offense. But nothing Michigan did could keep it in the game as the Buckeyes ran away with another victory in this storied rivalry.

David Regimbal is the Ohio State football Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.