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The buildup to The Game has officially reached that time of year when everyone starts talking about Ohio State versus Michigan. Ryan Day’s Buckeyes are undefeated at 9-0 and ranked No. 1 in the country. And the Wolverines sit at 7-2 and are looking to defend their four-game winning streak in the rivalry. Ohio State comes into Ann Arbor as the heavy favorite. But according to one prominent Michigan figure, all that dominance might not mean as much as everyone thinks. Isaiah Hole from Locked On Wolverines dropped an intriguing tidbit on his podcast that has been making waves in both fan bases. “They talk about Ohio State, but I will say that one name that I’d say 75 percent of you know, they told me, ‘I don’t really think they’re that great like that.'” Hole revealed, keeping the source anonymous but making it clear this isn’t just some random fan talking. “I mean, I don’t know if that counts for something, because that could also mean that Michigan’s underestimating him. But it’s a pretty prominent person.” It’s a fascinating thing to say. Because the numbers are the polar opposite of that claim. Ryan Day’s coaching has been absolutely dominant this season. Yet someone close to the Michigan program doesn’t buy into the hype. The identity of this “prominent person” is the million-dollar question. And Hole deliberately left it vague enough to fuel speculation. Whoever it is, they clearly carry enough weight in Ann Arbor for Hole to mention it on his podcast. And he knew full well it would generate attention. Here’s the thing, though. The statistics don’t exactly support the “Ohio State isn’t that great” narrative. Through nine games as of November 8, the Buckeyes are averaging 36.3 points per game while allowing just 7.2, ranking No. 1 in the country in scoring defense. Ohio State’s offense is putting up 6.99 yards per play and has scored 327 points in nine games. The defense has been even more suffocating, holding opponents to 3.79 yards per play and forcing five interceptions while allowing only three rushing touchdowns all season. Meanwhile, Michigan averages 28.1 points per game while allowing 17.2 points per game. The Wolverines’ passing game has been a question mark, with Bryce Underwood completing 60.91% of his passes for 1,671 yards and seven touchdowns. Michigan’s defense has been respectable, allowing just 3.05 yards per rushing attempt and forcing 11 interceptions. But they’ve also given up 1,834 passing yards and ten passing touchdowns. Ryan Day’s team holds advantages in nearly every meaningful category. The Buckeyes have defeated two ranked opponents this season, including a 38-14 victory over Penn State, while Michigan has lost both of its games against ranked teams, falling 24-13 to Oklahoma and 31-13 to USC. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports Interestingly, this year’s The Game is scheduled for November 29, coinciding with Jeremiah Smith’s 20th birthday. The Ohio State sophomore wide receiver has been an absolute monster this season. If Smith has the birthday performance that his talent suggests he’s capable of, Michigan’s “prominent person” might want to reconsider their assessment of Ohio State’s greatness. Whether Hole’s source is onto something legitimate or simply setting up Michigan for embarrassment will be decided in Ann Arbor on Smith’s birthday. But the gap between these two programs, at least statistically, looks pretty damn wide right now. Ohio State has the better offense, defense, quarterback play, and resume. If Michigan is going to pull off the upset and extend its winning streak to five in the rivalry, the team will need more than just one person’s belief that the Buckeyes “aren’t that great.” They’ll need to play the game of their lives. The only crack in the armor For all of Ohio State’s dominance this season, there’s one area where the Buckeyes look disturbingly vulnerable. And it’s exactly the weakness that could get exposed in Ann Arbor. David Pollack didn’t mince words after Ohio State’s 34-10 win over Purdue, issuing a warning that should make Buckeyes fans nervous. “You’re going to play a team up north soon, and you’re going to travel to their place, and the team that wins the rushing battle wins that game,” Pollack said. “And you’re going to have to be physical enough to win up front because the weather’s going to suck. You won’t be able to rely on Tate. You won’t be able to rely on Smith to win and throw deep balls if snow’s coming down like crazy. So, you got to have that physicality.” The problem is that Ohio State’s rushing offense ranks 69th nationally, averaging just 155.11 yards per game through nine contests and 4.55 yards per carry. These numbers look okay until you realize they’ve been feasting on inferior competition for much of the season. Against Purdue, they managed 170 rushing yards, but that came against a Boilermakers defense that’s given up plenty all year. Bo Jackson has been solid with 538 rushing yards on 81 carries (6.6 yards per attempt). But beyond Jackson, the depth chart gets shaky fast. Pollack’s weather concerns aren’t hypothetical either. Late November in Ann Arbor is brutal. There’s a 53 percent chance of precipitation with a 28.2 percent chance of snow on November 29. When you’re dealing with freezing rain, sleet, or snow accumulating on the field, the passing game that Ohio State has relied on all season becomes significantly less effective. So, Ohio State’s ground game is the one glaring crack in an otherwise impenetrable armor.
