Ohio State vs. Michigan: Complete Game Preview

On Saturday afternoon in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the college football playoff rankings, gripes about play-calling and the stunning loss to Michigan State will fade as one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports is set to renew between No. 8 Ohio State and No. 12 Michigan.

The Buckeyes (10-1) are likely out of the playoff race, as they'll need a Spartans loss to Penn State next Saturday to even have a chance of making the Big Ten title game. But Urban Meyer's squad has bigger concerns as they're traveling to face the Wolverines (9-2) and a defense that is even stingier than the one that Michigan State fielded last Saturday. 

Can Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh disrupt Ohio State's dominance over Michigan, or will Meyer improve to 4-0 over the Buckeyes' top rival?

Viewing Information

Date: Saturday, Nov. 28

Time: Noon ET

Place: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

TV: ABC

Radio: Ohio State Football Radio Network, Michigan Football Broadcast Information

Spread: Michigan (-2.5), via Odds Shark 

Ohio State Keys to Victory

Bradley Leeb/Associated Press

Feed Zeke

Ohio State mysteriously excluded Ezekiel Elliott from the game plan against the Spartans, giving him just two carries in the second half (and 12 total) in its 17-14 loss. Elliott blasted the coaching staff after the game and was clearly upset that he didn't get more work against the Spartans.

"What happened today, it was kind of like a bad, bad dream. Offense had a rough day, and I'm disappointed," Elliott said, according to Austin Ward of ESPN.com. "I'm disappointed in the play calling, I'm disappointed in the situations we were put in, and I wish it all played out differently."

Michigan State exposed a lot of warts in Ohio State's offense, but that didn't excuse offensive coordinator Tim Beck's refusal to feature Elliott. The Buckeyes can't afford to make the same mistake against Michigan.

Get Downfield

Ohio State's pass offense is broken.

The Spartans loaded the box and dared Ohio State to throw, but the Buckeyes failed to stretch the field, and for most of the night, they didn't even try. J.T. Barrett completed just nine of 16 passes for 46 yards with a long of 16 yards—the result of a dump down to a slashing Jalin Marshall. 

A similar effort against the Wolverines will result in a certain loss for the Buckeyes.

Ohio State has to find a way to get so many defenders out of the box. The only way to do that is to work the ball down the field, and when that happens, Elliott will have bigger lanes to run through.

Michigan Keys to Victory

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

Ride Jake Rudock

Jim Harbaugh-led teams have traditionally been power-run offenses that get smart, efficient play from the quarterback position, but this year's Michigan squad has ridden the strong and surprisingly effective arm of Jake Rudock.

Through 11 games, Rudock is completing 64.4 percent of his passes for 2,476 yards and 16 touchdowns against nine interceptions. But he's really hit his groove in November as he's averaging 344.3 passing yards per game to complement 11 total touchdowns (10 passing, 1 rushing) and two interceptions. He's completed nearly 70 percent of his passes in Michigan's last three outings.

The Wolverines will need Rudock to be at his best, though, because Ohio State is tied for fifth nationally in pass defense, allowing an average of 164.3 yards per game. 

Attack the Run

Michigan State laid the blueprint for beating Ohio State, and the Wolverines would be foolish not to follow it this Saturday.

The Spartans consistently loaded the box with seven or eight defenders, and Ohio State stubbornly ran directly into that stacked front all night long. The result was a historically low output for an Urban Meyer-coached team, which netted just 132 total yards and five first downs with eight punts.

Statistically, Michigan's run defense is superior to Michigan State's, ranking fourth in the country compared to the Spartans' No. 15 ranking. Harbaugh should go after Ohio State's deflated attack. 

Ohio State Players to Watch

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

Michael Thomas

The Buckeyes need to find some semblance of a passing attack against the Wolverines, and in the receiving corps, the onus falls on Michael Thomas.

The redshirt junior leads the Buckeyes in receptions (47), receiving yards (659) and touchdowns (eight), but he's coming off his worst performance of the season. Last Saturday against Michigan State, Thomas was held to just two receptions for a season-low eight yards, and he dropped a couple of easy passes as well.

Thomas will be lining up against fantastic cornerback Jourdan Lewis for most of the afternoon, so he'll need to have a huge bounce-back performance for Ohio State to win. 

Joey Bosa

Ohio State will have to disrupt a passing attack that is really starting to click for the Wolverines, so it'll need a big game from defensive end Joey Bosa.

The standout junior has seen a big dip in his numbers after breaking out for 13.5 sacks in 2014. With opposing teams double- and triple-teaming him, Bosa has registered just four sacks. That attention has opened up some huge opportunities for Ohio State's other pass-rushers, though, as the Buckeyes rank 14th nationally in team sacks.

But Bosa is coming off a bad performance against Michigan State last week, when he registered four tackles, no tackles for loss and three bad offside penalties. He has the ability to singlehandedly knock a passing attack out of rhythm, which the Buckeyes could use against Jake Rudock and the surging Wolverines. 

Michigan Player to Watch

Tony Ding/Associated Press

Amara Darboh

Jake Butt is one of the most consistent and dangerous tight ends in the country, but Michigan's passing attack is most lethal when Amara Darboh is at his best. 

The senior is looking to put the finishing touches on a breakout season as he leads the Wolverines with 52 receptions for 635 yards. He's come on strong as Jake Rudock has surged in November, averaging six catches for 76.7 yards and a touchdown in Michigan's last three games.

Ohio State cornerbacks Eli Apple and Gareon Conley have been sensational all season, and they'll likely rotate in coverage of Darboh.

Jabrill Peppers

Safety Jabrill Peppers is Michigan's biggest X-factor. 

The true sophomore safety does it all for the Wolverines, from his outstanding coverage skills and run-supporting ability to his work as a situational offensive playmaker and returner. 

That workload would spread a lot of good football players too thin, but Peppers is a special talent, and Michigan is benefiting because of it.

"The unique thing about Jabrill Peppers is athletic ability and instincts at a very, very high level," Jim Harbaugh said, according to Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press. "He's very intelligent, he memorizes things easily and well."

What They're Saying

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Urban Meyer talked about bouncing back after a tough loss, via Eric Seger of Eleven Warriors. 

"

I've been down this road before, where you do good. I just love the group of guys down there. And we have to do better. Yeah, I do. I do. A lot of different perspective maybe had several years back, you lost a game, you're pissed off, you go do the best you can, go to work tomorrow.

"

Michigan tight end Jake Butt is excited to renew a great rivalry, via Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press. 

"

That rivalry just means everything. It is the greatest rivalry in all of sports. ... We haven't been where we're at right now so it's going to mean even a lot more. ... It's going to mean a lot for both teams. We don't want to lose to them, they don't want to lose to us. It's one of those situations where we're going to be at our best, they're going to be at their best and you're going to probably see a great game.

"

Prediction

Jim O'Connor-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State will get back on track with a win over Michigan, but it won't be easy. 

The Wolverines will come out hot, scoring the game's first 10 points and igniting the home crowd. Jake Rudock will connect on his first seven passes, highlighted by a 25-yard touchdown to Jake Butt down the seam. 

The Buckeyes will answer with a five-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to open the second quarter, capped by a 40-yard touchdown pass to Braxton Miller. The Wolverines will add two field goals, and the Buckeyes will get one as Jim Harbaugh's squad takes a 16-10 lead into the break.

Ohio State will surge to open the third, and a 55-yard touchdown run from Ezekiel Elliott will put the Buckeyes on top. They'll add to that lead with a 35-yard field goal from Sean Nuernberger—an advantage they'll maintain until Jabrill Peppers rips off a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown at the beginning of the fourth.

Time will fade fast as both defenses settle in, but Ohio State will end the game with a 10-play, 70-yard touchdown drive that's keyed by J.T. Barrett on the ground. He'll run the zone read to perfection, dashing for 10 yards on the go-ahead touchdown.

Ohio State 27, Michigan 23