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Michigan is fresh off a 39-14 win over Indiana last week. This week has more substance and grit as they take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in the annual rivalry game that the Buckeyes have had control of for the past 15 years, with Michigan getting just one win within that time frame.

Michigan is 9-2 with another chance for a 10 win season once again, as a win would be Harbaugh’s fourth season with at least 10 wins at Michigan. Michigan needs to do everything it can to pull off this upset as the Buckeyes are coming in undefeated and the best version that Harbaugh has ever seen in the past four games. If Michigan wants to ruin anyone’s season, it’s Ohio State’s and their opportunity is right in front of them.

Check out my main three things to watch this week against Ohio State.

1. Is containing Chase Young possible?

Michigan’s offensive line has its biggest challenge this year as they are going up against Ohio State defensive end Chase Young. Young is having a phenomenal year, getting 38 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles, and one pass deflection. Michigan hasn’t played any defensive ends like Young all year long.

He will bring a challenge to not only the offensive line, but the tight ends and they will need to help the tackles in making sure Young can’t get past them and in the backfield. If Michigan is able to even keep Young somewhat out of the game, that’s a big win for them. He came off his two-game suspension by getting nine total tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks, and two forced fumbles.

Young is out for blood after the suspension and with the Wolverines up next he’s going to want his best game of the season against them. Michigan State was the only team to really quiet Young down this year, holding him to four tackles, one for loss and a half a sack. The Wolverines need to find out what MSU did and do something similar to that in order to keep him on a leash. If Michigan can’t control Young, he will be feasting on them all day long.

2. Michigan’s receivers vs. Ohio State’s secondary

The most interesting battle for this game is the matchup between the Michigan wide receivers and the Ohio State secondary. Ohio State has the number one overall defense and when it comes to their passing defense they are number one in that category as well. They’ve allowed 1,388 yards, six touchdowns, and have 14 interceptions. They allow an average 126.2 yards a game and the completion percentage of opposing quarterbacks is 51.9 percent.

Michigan’s wide receivers might be a problem for the Buckeyes secondary as it could be the best group they’ve matched up with all season long. You have Nico Collins who wins a majority of the 50/50 balls and is a huge deep threat for the Wolverines, Ronnie Bell who can quickly get open and get past the defenders, Donovan Peoples-Jones who can make some tough contested catches, and Tarik Black who can hurt you deep or short.

That isn’t all though. There are three freshman wide receivers who’ve had an impact on the offense. Cornelius Johnson can beat you deep with his speed, or make you miss a tackle or two. Mike Sainristil has been making low catches, high catches, almost everything near his direction he has a chance at catching, and Giles Jackson who could be the fastest offensive player on the team as he can be lined up in the slot, out wide, or even at running back, and run right by everyone.

Ohio State has some cornerbacks that are projected to get drafted in the NFL this year and that will certainly be the toughest secondary the Wolverines have gone up against all season long. Will the receivers still be able to get open? Will the secondary struggle against the depth of the Wolverines? That won’t be decided until the game kicks off.

3. Which Shea Patterson will show up?

Michigan starting quarterback Shea Patterson has had an impressive career in his two years at Michigan. Last year, Patterson struggled in his debut against Notre Dame, but then fixed his mistakes and played well up until Ohio State and Florida in the bowl game.

This year the struggles weren’t just for a game to start the year, on the first play of the season Patterson scrambled and fumbled the football, along with injuring his oblique. Patterson did fine in the first half of the season. Fine though, was just that. He was horrendous when holding onto the football, fumbling six times in the first six games, losing four of them. He was able to pass the ball with some success, but not many passes were thrown deep and he never threw for over 300 yards.

Then once the second half of the season started against Penn State, the first half was tough for Patterson, but in the second half he and the rest of the team found their groove and since then the fumbling issues have subsided. Patterson has fumbled the ball four times, three times against Notre Dame in a downpour. Patterson hasn’t had much fumble issues, when the weather is fine, in the second half of the season. Patterson also started taking shots downfield, using his legs more to run, throwing for over 300 yards in two straight games, and setting new records at Michigan.

So going up against Ohio State, what version of Patterson will we see? The one that could still produce and score for the team, but coughed up the football and gave the defense more chances to win, and wasn’t using his receivers to their full potential? Or will he play like he has since that loss to Penn State, like a man on a mission who has found the answers to the questions he had earlier in the year and has the comfortable playstyle to do what he wants?

This game could define his legacy in Ann Arbor, and with an undefeated record at home, Patterson could leave the Big House for the final time without ever losing in front of the Wolverine fans.