COLUMBUS — Saturday’s matchup between arch-rivals Ohio and Michigan will be a game that pits an offense that has hit its stride behind a veteran leader against one still struggling to get on track amid uncertainties surrounding its running game and its own quarterbacks.
No. 9 (CFP) Ohio St. (9-2, 7-1 Big Ten) at Michigan (8-3, 5-3); Michigan Stadium; Ann Arbor. Mich. Sat. Nov. 25 (Noon/FOX)
The Buckeyes’ J.T. Barrett will start his last regular-season game after his five years of extreme highs and lows in Columbus, during which time he has proved that he is undeniably a winner.
Statistically, he’s the best quarterback to ever play at Ohio State. And he’s got a chance to get the Buckeyes to the College Football playoff again if he can beat the Wolverines and then No. 5 Wisconsin in the conference championship game.
Michigan, meanwhile, has failed to run the ball effectively against teams with winning records this season, leading to three setbacks.
The Wolverines averaged just 88 yards rushing in losses to Wisconsin, Penn State and Michigan State.
In wins over eight teams with losing records, they ran for 234 yards on average.
That doesn’t seem to bode well for them against OSU, especially because they may be relegated to putting their third-best option, John O’Korn, at quarterback.