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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Oct 29, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines linebacker Jabrill Peppers (5) walks off the field after a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Peppers is the key to all this

Every Michigan game has been must see TV this year because of Jabrill Peppers. Having played 12 different positions this season, there’s seemingly nothing he can’t do. It’s getting to the point where we’re running out of superlatives to describe him, and even though some people feel his legs will fall off by the time he gets to the NFL Draft, we should all enjoy what we’re seeing so far.

Because he’s so versatile and plays all over the football field, his stats in any department aren’t going to be overly impressive. Then again, seeing someone a linebacker get three rushing touchdowns should qualify as impressive. Even though he has yet to record an interception in his career, there’s hardly a game where he isn’t making an impact on defense. He’s averaging at least five tackles per game, and has 13 total TFL.

He’s played up to five different positions on defense alone, and in this game, he’ll likely be assigned to cover Curtis Samuel. Samuel is Ohio State’s most dynamic offensive weapon, and someone who is utilized both as a receiver and out of the backfield. Ohio State’s offense becomes somewhat stagnant when Samuel doesn’t get touches, so he’ll be doing his best to limit his productivity.

We haven’t seen much of Peppers on offense since the Rutgers game, but Harbaugh will be pulling out his full bag of tricks for this one. He’s a weapon that can be used out of the backfield, given that he has seven yards per carry. Although his most productive carries may be the ones where he’s used as a decoy. He’s also been utilized in some Wildcat formations, so don’t be surprised if he lines up under center.

And on special teams, Peppers is fourth in the country in punt return yards at 15.25. Throughout this season, Peppers has been compared to Charles Woodson – the last defensive player to win a Heisman. Woodson left his mark on The Game when he returned a 78-yard punt for a touchdown to seal the win and his Heisman. If Peppers wants to live up to that comparison, he’ll do everything he can to be the deciding factor in this game.

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