Ohio State gives tackling dummies a MI makeover

For that reason, it wouldn’t be accurate to say we’re waiting and preparing for just another installment of Michigan-Ohio State. As for this rivalry, That Team Up North wins the battle as Michigan Stadium has a seating capacity of 107,601, beating out Ohio Stadium by 2,657 seats. The high-powered Thundering Herd was held to a season-low scoring night while the Buckeyes tied a Value City Arena single-game scoring record, set two others for rebounds and came one shy of another for made field goals in a game. He was still an National Football League player the last time the Wolverines won in Columbus, back in 2000.

Because they’ll be looking to hit them Wolverines every chance they get on Saturday, they’ve done up their tackling dummies in a Michigan Wolverines motif. He lost his final three meetings to “Ohio”, as he called it.

Most of those answers will become clear Saturday afternoon after No. 2 Ohio (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten) State and No. 3 MI (10-1, 7-1) tangle in Ohio Stadium in the 2016 version of the storied rivalry. The streak ended with last week’s loss to Colorado. I have that perspective from the other side.

How you beat Ohio State: Whether it’s by a shutdown secondary, bad weather or sometimes just good fortune, if an opponent can contain Ohio State’s passing attack, it has a chance to win. The players who proudly wore winged helmets or sported buckeye leaves that November day in 2006 will be watching Saturday as the rivalry climbs back to that height once again.

A “D” to die for: Only one defense has yielded fewer points than Alabama’s.

On the day, MI outrushed IN 225-64, as running back De’Veon Smith hit the 100-yard mark for the second time IN the last three games. Quarterbacks have posted a 94.2 rating against MI, second-lowest in the nation to … If Michigan wins in Indianapolis, the school is a lock to go to the CFP, but the Big Ten would be far less likely to send a second school (various Big Ten Championship game scenarios to follow this column).

“It’s very important”, cornerback Jourdan Lewis said. Since Carr retired, Rich Rodriguez (0-3), Brady Hoke (1-3) and Jim Harbaugh (0-1) have combined to go 1-7 against the Buckeyes. Everyone understands No. 10 Oklahoma State (9-2) should really be 10-1, as it was denied a September victory over Central Michigan because of an errant call, so a win over Oklahoma on December 3 could catapult the Cowboys in. And last year’s loss might have been the toughest to take.

No. 2 Ohio State is preparing to face the best defense it’s seen all season in No. 3 MI on Saturday, with terrific linebacker/defensive back Jabrill Peppers, a game-changer who has to be accounted for on every play, and perhaps the nation’s best secondary.

To this day, many who played in it agree, as the contest somehow outperformed the season-long anticipation in Ohio State’s nerve-rattling 42-39 victory at Ohio Stadium. “Took away our pride”.

Speight was reportedly out for the season, but Harbaugh was coy this week, possibly leaving the door open that he may play Saturday. Their defense recovered from a hiccup at IN to limit Rutgers to 87 yards last week.

No word yet on what weird thing Jim Harbaugh is nearly certainly doing in preparation of one of the biggest games of the season.

Peppers put it like this: “Everything is coming out of the bag this week”. “Ohio State is going to have a little something with a running quarterback, J.T. Barrett”. Hes rushed for over 100 yards in four of the last five games. When his receivers and line are cooperating, he can beat you two ways.

Ohio State: Keita Bates-Diop sat the bench with an ankle injury for the second straight game. “Which will it be Saturday?” Whether it’s Wilton Speight or John O’Korn that gets the start for MI on Saturday, yards through the air will be touch to come by.

Last week against IN, when the Wolverines’ passing game was bogged down behind backup quarterback John O’Korn, it was Smith who wore down the Hoosiers. I think youll see both guys.”. “We got a lot of experience on our side”.

First, let’s review the 2017 draft preview this game will provide.

Ohio State and MI enter this Saturday as two of the top three teams in the College Football Playoff rankings, but only one will survive this showdown. MI hasn’t won a conference title since 2004.