Michigan vs. Ohio State: Joel Klatt’s ‘Keys to The Recreation’

Saturday’s Huge Ten showdown between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Michigan would be the 117th version of The Recreation.

With each groups coming into the competition undefeated, there are many historic parts surrounding the matchup, in addition to large postseason implications. The winner will declare a spot in subsequent week’s Huge Ten Championship Recreation in Indianapolis and stay on observe to earn a School Soccer Playoff bid.

However even with out the improved stakes, this can be a rivalry between two groups which have dominated their convention over the previous half-century, combining to win 43 Huge Ten titles since 1973. Furthermore, 25 of the previous 50 matchups between these rivals have been determined by single-digit factors.

This 12 months’s model of The Recreation has all of the making of one other prompt basic, as it’s the first time the Buckeyes and Wolverines have met as unbeaten groups since 2006.

FOX Sports activities school soccer analyst Joel Klatt broke down his keys to the sport on a current episode of his podcast, “The Joel Klatt Present.”

Three keys to Michigan beating Ohio State:

Michigan Wolverines must do these three issues to beat Ohio State

Joel Klatt breaks down the three issues that the Michigan Wolverines must do to beat the Ohio State Buckeyes.

1. Outrush Ohio State

“They’ve acquired to run the ball. Not simply because that’s what their DNA is, however as a result of that’s the way you beat Ohio State. The final two instances we’ve seen Ohio State get beat, it was primarily as a result of the opposition was capable of management the phrases of the sport with their dashing assault. You’ve acquired to restrict the variety of snaps C.J. Stroud will get, and also you do this with a top quality dashing assault. That takes form with an excellent offensive line.”

2. Restrict explosive performs

“Tackling nicely and eliminating explosive performs is usually going to convey the yards per play for Ohio State’s offense below 7.5. In the event you can maintain them below 7.5 yards per play, you’ve acquired an opportunity.”

3. Drive them to kick area targets within the pink zone

“The groups that beat Ohio State often maintain them to a 66% landing share or decrease. There was just one group final 12 months that was capable of do all three of these items and nonetheless misplaced to Ohio State: Nebraska.

Three keys to Ohio State beating Michigan:

How Ohio State’s protection must play to tug out a win over Michigan

Joel Klatt breaks down what the Ohio State Buckeyes’ protection must do to achieve success in opposition to the Michigan Wolverines.

1. Protection must step up

“Ohio State acquired completely crushed bodily final 12 months, and it’s plenty of the identical guys. That is going to be private for the Ohio State protection, particularly for his or her entrance seven. These guys are going to should play very well as a result of that is completely one of the best offensive entrance they’ve confronted, and that is the largest check they’ve confronted.”

2. Be bodily

“They’ve acquired to reply the bell of enjoying bodily in opposition to Michigan as a result of proper now, Michigan’s gamers and roster are very assured they’ll go on the market and out-physical the Buckeyes. There are solely a handful of Michigan gamers which have really misplaced to Ohio State. There are even fewer which have really performed within the ‘Shoe. They don’t have a lot scar tissue.”

3. Execute within the pink zone

“The video games that they wrestle are at all times the video games they should accept area targets within the pink zone. It’s one of many causes they struggled in opposition to Penn State and it is one of many causes they misplaced final season to Oregon and to Michigan on this matchup.”

Learn extra:

Every week, FOX Sports activities school soccer analyst Joel Klatt dives into his High 10 groups, solutions questions and discusses the largest storylines in school soccer on his podcast. Download “The Joel Klatt Present” right here.

Get extra from School Soccer Observe your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra