Bryce Underwood closes in on Michigan football history ahead of high-stakes clash with Ohio State
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The No. 15-ranked Michigan Wolverines and the No. 1-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes will square off for the 121st time, with the men in maize holding a 62-52-6 advantage all-time.
Coming into “The Game” on Saturday, Michigan holds a four-game winning streak over the Buckeyes, dating back to the 2021 season.
The winning streak of four consecutive games hasn’t been done since 1988-1991, and another victory would tie Michigan with the 1922-1927 teams, who’ve beaten the Buckeyes five times in a row.
The Buckeyes have an all-time losing record inside the Big House, as the Wolverines are 33-24-4 in Ann Arbor.
The Wolverines are 25-22-3 inside Michigan Stadium.
Bryce Underwood
Bryce Underwood is on the verge of making history as he could become the first true freshman quarterback to beat the Buckeyes in program history.
Underwood also has seven 200-yard passing games this season, matching Chad Henne’s freshman record, though Henne had three 300-yard games.
With another passing performance of such against Ohio State, Underwood could break Henne’s record on Saturday.
averages 4.7 yards per carry with four rushing touchdowns.
Adjusted for sacks, he averages 6.0 yards per carry.
Underwood has a 62.2% completion rate, 7.87 yards per attempt, and a 135.5 pass efficiency rating.
He has passed for 2,166 yards this year, second-most by a Michigan freshman quarterback.
Underwood comically told future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame forward Lebron James ‘It’s over for Ohio State,’ getting a chuckle out of the Ohio native during the offseason, so he has no choice but to ball out in the pivotal game.
Michigan offense
Michigan’s offense has tallied 55 plays of 20-plus yards through 11 weeks, including 35 receiving and 20 rushing plays.
Andrew Marsh leads the team with 16 such plays, 15 receiving and one rushing, plus six kickoff return plays.
The offensive line has helped pave the way for 32 rushing touchdowns this season, ranking sixth in FBS, while allowing 17 sacks.
The unit has used five different starting lineups due to injuries.
Michigan’s offense allows an average of 3.91 negative plays per game, ranking 14th nationally in tackles for loss allowed.
Ohio State’s defense averages 6.1 tackles for loss per game.
The Wolverines’ backfield depth is notable, with three different starters reaching 100 yards rushing this season.
Justice Haynes has six 100-yard games, Jordan Marshall four, and Bryson Kuzdzal one.
All three have also had three-touchdown games, a first for a Big Ten team this century.
Michigan has had a rusher with at least 100 yards and a touchdown in 10 of 11 games this year, except for a game when Haynes was injured at USC.
The team has 12 separate 100-yard rushing performances this season, the most since 2022.
The last time Michigan had four different rushers with 100-plus yard games in one season was 1998.
Michigan’s rushing attack ranks 10th in FBS, averaging 223.5 yards per game.
The Wolverines have rushed for over 200 yards in seven games and over 250 yards in four.
Ohio State’s defense allows just 80 rushing yards per game.
Michigan enters the weekend with four straight 200-yard rushing games, its longest streak since 2022.
Six different Michigan players have scored rushing touchdowns this year.
Marshall and Haynes lead the team with 10 rushing touchdowns each, tied for 35th nationally.
Marshall leads Haynes in rushing yards (871 to 857) and ranks fifth in the Big Ten despite missing time.
In conference play, Marshall is fourth in rushing yards and tied for third in touchdowns.
Marshall averages 6.1 yards per carry with only four yards lost on 143 carries.
He had three straight 100-yard games before missing a game at Maryland.
Michigan leads FBS in rushing plays of 50-plus yards with eight, six of which were touchdowns.
Haynes and Marshall are tied for third nationally among individual leaders in this category.
Ohio State has not allowed a 50-plus-yard run this year.
Marsh is Michigan’s most productive receiver with 41 catches for 611 yards in league play, ranking third in receiving yards.
His 12-catch, 189-yard game at Northwestern set single-game receiving records for true freshmen at Michigan.
Tight ends have combined for 44 catches and 508 yards this season, with five different players catching passes.
Michigan defense
Michigan’s defense has forced at least one turnover in 10 of 11 games, with multiple turnovers in five games.
Linebacker Cole Sullivan leads the team with four turnovers forced, including three interceptions.
He is one of nine Michigan linebackers with three or more interceptions in a season, the first since 1991.
Michigan ranks 17th in total defense, allowing 302.5 yards per game.
Ohio State leads the nation, allowing just 206.6 yards per game.
Nine different players have contributed to Michigan’s 12 interceptions this season.
Nineteen different players have recorded interceptions or pass breakups, including linebackers, defensive linemen, and defensive backs.
Zeke Berry leads with nine passes defended.
Michigan ranks second in the Big Ten in total pass breakups with 41.
The Wolverines’ pass rush averages 2.5 sacks per game, ranking 26th nationally.
Michigan has 28 sacks, fifth in the Big Ten, just one behind Ohio State.
The defense ranks 35th nationally in tackles for loss with 6.2 negative plays per game.
Derrick Moore leads with 9.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss.
Ohio State allows just 3.27 tackles for loss per game, tied for fourth-fewest nationally.
Moore ranks 10th nationally in sacks per game and second in the Big Ten, leading in conference play.
He is eighth all-time at Michigan with 20.5 career sacks.
Michigan’s defense limits big plays, allowing just 29 rushes of 10-plus yards, 11th-fewest nationally.
Ohio State ranks tied for sixth in this category.
Opponents have completed only one pass of 50-plus yards against Michigan, making the Wolverines one of four teams allowing one or fewer such plays this year.
Michigan’s rushing defense ranks 12th nationally, allowing 96.3 yards per game and 3.0 yards per carry.
Linebacker Ernest Hausmann leads the team with 68 tackles, followed by Jimmy Rolder with 57.
TJ Metcalf leads the secondary with 41 stops, and Rayshaun Benny leads the interior defensive linemen with 28 tackles.
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