Ohio State vs Michigan: 5 reasons Wolverines defeat Buckeyes

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 28: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes and head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines after the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 28, 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ohio State defeated Michigan 42-13. (Photo by Andrew Weber/Getty Images) /

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Nov 28, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Amara Darboh (82) receives congratulations from wide receiver Jehu Chesson (86) in the third quarter at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Experience matters

Given how great Ohio State has been, it’s easy to forget that they’re a very young team. Two of their most important players, J.T. Barrett and Raekwon McMillan, are juniors but on the whole, Ohio State has 46 freshmen.

By contrast, Michigan has 43 seniors on their roster, and experience matters in a game like this. Jim Harbaugh was brought in to make Michigan football great again, and for the most part, he has. But if there’s one loss on his record that sticks out like a sore thumb, it’s his first meeting with Ohio State, which ended in a 42-13 blowout for the Buckeyes.

Most of Michigan’s starters have played against the Buckeyes, and were part of that team last year that got embarrassed. They know this will be their last chance playing Ohio State, and they will be extra motivated to come out on top.

And for the most part, it’s Michigan’s most experienced players that have been the key to their success so far. De’Veon Smith is an extremely gifted power runner, and their pass-catching trio of Amara Darboh, Jehu Chesson, and Jake Butt are all NFL receivers. Chris Wormley and Taco Charlton anchor Michigan’s explosive pass-rush, while Jourdan Lewis is one of the best defensive backs in the country.

I’m not suggesting that Ohio State’s freshmen don’t know the magnitude of this rivalry, they do. And Urban Meyer is the prefect coach to get them prepared for this type of game. But Michigan’s seniors have been the x-factor for them all season, and their experience playing the Buckeyes might just put them over the top.

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