Big Ten Report: Michigan in need of a history lesson

Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier has been one of the few freshmen to make an impact in the Big Ten this season. (Icon SMI)

It seems all but assured that for the second straight year the Wolverines will be home for the holidays. At 5-6 Michigan must beat Ohio State on Saturday to become bowl eligible. Yep, the same Ohio State team that sits No. 10 in the most recent AP poll, and the one that has beaten Michigan in seven of the last eight meetings.

 

It’s an unthinkable task, even in a game to be played in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines are young and undisciplined; the Buckeyes have a talent rich roster that’s been tested by some of the best schools in the country.

 

But Michigan has a chance, albeit slight. All that its players have to do is visit the annals of their school’s history to find similar games in which Ohio State was deemed to be the better team.

 

• In 1939, the Buckeyes had registered five shutouts under Francis Schmidt and were ranked sixth heading into the season finale. They lost to the unranked Wolverines, 21-14.

 

• The 1950 meeting pitted Bennie Oosterbaan’s unranked club against a Wes Fesler Buckeyes squad that was one week removed from the No. 1 spot in the polls, and had won six of its last seven. No matter, Michigan won 9-3.

 

• In 1993, with Ohio State ranked No. 5 thanks to a 9-0-1 mark, the unranked Wolverines turned the tables and shut out the Buckeyes, 28-0.

 

Can miracles happen? Absolutely. But it takes faith, and it takes perfect execution. The Wolverines need both and a little luck to repeat history this weekend.

 

 

 

• Michigan has gotten inside of the red zone more than any other Big Ten team this year. One reason for the team’s woes could be their failure to finish those drives. In 45 red zone trips, Michigan has scored 31 times (24 touchdowns). At just 68.9 percent, the Wolverines success rating is the lowest in the conference.

• Few freshmen offensive players have made an impact in the conference this year. In fact, of skill position players, only Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier, and Iowa running backs Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher rank among the top 10 in the conference for total yards at their respective positions. Of them, only Robinson ranks among the top five.

 

• Minnesota’s bowl qualifying win over South Dakota State was about as ugly as winning gets. The Gophers set a season high with 48 rushes in the contest, but managed just 2.9 yards per carry. And the passing game was no better: 10 of 21 for 94 yards.

 

Saturday, Nov. 21

 

Ohio State at Michigan, 11 a.m.

Minnesota at Iowa, 11 a.m.
Wisconsin at Northwestern, 2:30 p.m.

Purdue at Indiana, 2:30 p.m.

Penn State at Michigan State, 2:30 p.m.
**all times CT

 

 

QB Mike Kafka, Northwestern

Michigan’s passing game was far more successful against Wisconsin than its running game was. Perhaps Kafka’s arm will be able to spark a Wildcats club looking for its third straight conference win. Kafka ranks third in the Big Ten in passing yards (2,572) but last among starters in touchdown passes (10). The Badgers, meanwhile, have allowed the fourth most touchdown passes (16) of any school in the conference.

 

Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier emphasizing the importance of this Saturday’s game against Ohio State: “If I have to spend 10 hours this week watching film, I’m going to do that. We’re going to get the seniors to a bowl game. We’re going to come out and do what we need to do to beat Ohio State.”