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In the Midwest — and arguably in American college sports — it does not get any bigger than this.
Michigan vs. Ohio State. Ohio State vs. Michigan.
We could site statistics ad infinitum about how many Big Ten titles these two schools have won or how many times they have gone to the Rose Bowl or how mad certain parts of each fan base remain about some previous meeting that ruined a national championship dream.
But this week’s tale from OSU offensive lineman Wyatt Davis and what happened to all of his blue clothes sums up the heat level in this rivalry of rivalries quite nicely.
And because this rivalry often turns on individual performances, we’re focusing on one individual for OSU fans to look out for this Saturday in Ann Arbor.
Wolverines quarterback Shea Patterson.
That’s the matchup for Ohio State fans to watch as their team aims for a perfect 12-0 regular season: The Buckeyes secondary vs. Patterson and his receivers.
Shea Patterson vs. OSU pass defense
Sure, Michigan has the No. 4 total defense and the No. 4 passing defense in the nation. And a look at the season’s statistics don’t tell a tale of a threatening offense: UM is 50th in passing offense, 40th in team passing efficiency and 69th in total offense.
But to only read those numbers would be to ignore what Patterson, a senior in his second season as Michigan’s starter, has done lately.
On Nov. 16 against Michigan State, Patterson passed for 384 yards, his first 300-yard performance in 23 games wearing maize and blue, and 4 touchdowns. He hadn’t passed for 300 yards since he was starting for Mississippi in fall 2017, before transferring to coach Jim Harbaugh’s program.
Last week against Indiana, Patterson did it again. The senior threw for 366 yards against the Hoosiers and tied a career-high with 5 touchdown passes. His only other 5-TD performance was for Ole Miss against Tennessee-Martin in 2017.
So often over the past two seasons, the Michigan offense sputtered to a halt as critics and fans alike wondered what was going on with Patterson.
But in the past few weeks and especially the last two games, Michigan’s offense has been clicking and Patterson has been key.
“We’re riding him,” Harbaugh said after the Indiana game. “His play has just been outstanding.”
Ronnie Bell was Patterson’s top target against Michigan State, catching 9 passes for 150 yards, both career highs. Against Indiana, Nico Collins was the target to take a star turn with 6 catches — including 3 TDs — for 165 yards.
So how does OSU counter all of this?
With the top total defense, top scoring defense and top pass defense in the nation.
Michigan has quite a few weapons on the outside including the explosive Donovan Peoples-Jones, but OSU counters with Jim Thorpe Award candidate Jeff Okudah, safety Jordan Fuller, plus Damon Arnette, Shaun Wade and Sevyn Banks in the secondary.
And of course OSU’s pass defense really starts up front with its pass rush, featuring record-breaking sack artist and multiple national award candidate Chase Young at defensive end.
So, will the hot hand at quarterback for Michigan prevail Saturday in the Big House, or will it be the steady, season-long defensive power of the Buckeyes prevailing to cap a perfect regular season?
This rivalry has had many legendary moments through the years. Count on either Patterson or somebody in the OSU defensive backfield to make some more to settle the latest edition of The Game.
Longtime newspaper veteran Jim Tomlin is a writer and editor for saturdaytradition.com and saturdaydownsouth.com.