ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Almost always in The Game, the team that runs for more yards wins. That’s been the case going back to 2001, with the 2000 game being the last time that the victor between Michigan and Ohio State was decided by the team that had not won the rushing battle.
The Wolverines pride themselves on running the ball but the Buckeyes have been more consistent with it in 2024. However, the two teams are neck and neck defensively when it comes to stopping the run, with OSU coming in ranked No. 3 in rushing yards allowed per game while Michigan is No. 4. So for the maize and blue defense, though Ryan Day has tended to want to pass the ball downfield, the name of The Game on Saturday is to stop the run.
“That’s been our motto the whole year, especially as a defense,” senior edge rusher Josaiah Stewart said. “We like to keep teams one-dimensional. Once we stop their run, they can’t get into a flow as an offense and give their players the ball in space — play-action, boots, and things like that. But once we stop that run, we know what to expect.”
“That’s how you get to the passing downs,” junior defensive tackle Kenneth Grant said. “We always say stop the run first so we could rush the passer on passing downs. So, whatever we do is always stop to run first.”
Ohio State will have some limitations up front, but it hasn’t let it be a crutch. Two starting offensive linemen are out for the season and injuries have consistently piled up. And, according to PFF, Michigan boasts the best run defense (No. 3) as well as pass rush (No. 1) that the Buckeyes will have seen all season.
Still, Grant knows that they’ll bring their best on Saturday, Michigan just has to be ready.
“Oh, they’re a good unit, work together,” Grant said. “There’s no drop off for me, it’s Ohio State. So they’re always going to come (hard). So, I mean, just got to take it to their face.”
As far as the backs are concerned, Ole Miss transfer Quinshon Judkins (who leads OSU with 759 yards on 135 carries) is the more consistent back, while stalwart TreVeyon Henderson — who has struggled against Michigan in his career — is the big-play threat with 730 yards on 98 carries.
Stewart broke down what he’s seen from each on film and what challenges they present.
“No. 1 (Judkins) — a lot more elusive, I feel like,” Stewart said. “We played against 32 (Henderson) last year. Same back, powerful, more inside the tackles. He’s not afraid to block. But No. 1, a lot more in space, make moves.”
OSU’s season low as 64 yards on 31 carries against Nebraska earlier in the year, while its run defense held Western Michigan to 28 yards. Michigan was held to just 69 yards against Indiana but the defense held Fresno State in Week 1 to nine yards rushing and held Northwestern to just 10 yards this past week.
Michigan and Ohio State will kick off in Columbus at noon EST with the game nationally broadcast on Fox.