No. 12 Michigan Battles Minnesota for the Little Brown Jug

Michigan|Kalel Mullings — © Junfu Han-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The No. 12 Michigan Wolverines (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten Conference) will take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-2, 0-1) in a battle for the Little Brown Jug trophy on Sept. 28 at noon EST in Ann Arbor, Mich. The Wolverines have dominated the rivalry recently, winning four-straight. Minnesota will be seeking a huge upset as the two collide on Saturday.

What's at Stake?

The Wolverines pulled out a crucial win against No. 13 USC (2-1, 0-1) in their last outing. The victory helped keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive after suffering a blowout loss to No. 1 Texas (4-0) early in the year. Head coach Sherrone Moore will look to build off that momentum against a dangerous Minnesota team.

Minnesota was solid in the first half against Iowa on Sept. 21. They would go into the break up 14-7. In the second half, Iowa opened the floodgates on the ground. They scored 24 unanswered in the road win. Head coach PJ Fleck pointed to himself for the subpar performance. He also pointed to simple defensive mistakes that allowed Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson to heat up. He was contained early before exploding in the second half, finishing with 206 yards and 3 touchdowns. Minnesota will look to address those issues and keep the Michigan rushing offense under control as they try to stay afloat in the Big Ten standings.

Key Players for Michigan

Offense: Running Back Kalel Mullings

Mullings has taken over as the primary back for Michigan. Veteran Donovan Edwards struggled heavily through two games, leading to more opportunities for Mullings. He quickly took advantage of his increased snaps. He really broke out against USC, rushing for 159 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was the key on offense in the hard-fought victory. His usage will surely continue against the Golden Gophers.

Defense: Defensive End Josaiah Stewart

Stewart has been the main threat of the Michigan pass rush. He currently has 4 sacks, securing two against the Trojans. He also forced a fumble in that matchup. He is proving to be a game-wrecking level player. The Minnesota passing attack will need to account for him each play. If they don't, he's liable to turn the momentum in favor of the Wolverines at any moment.

Key Players for Minnesota

Offense: Running Back Darius Taylor

Taylor is the focal point of the offense, being one of the most productive players in the Big Ten. He has 222 yards on the ground and 98 yards as a receiver this season. His 4 total touchdowns lead the team outside of quarterback Max Brosmer. Taylor has an impressive mix of power and speed and is a constant threat with the ball in his hands. The defense's strategy will likely be to make someone else beat them. Taylor could still produce, but containing him enough to slow down the offense will be the key to success for Michigan.

Defense: Linebacker Cody Lindenberg

Lindenberg will be anchoring the defense that will attempt to slow down the powerful Michigan run game. He is second on the team in total tackles with 26. He also has 2 pass deflections and a single sack on the year. Slowing down the run will be a team effort as they try to prevent the almost inevitable explosive run. Lindenberg will be right in the middle of the fire all game.

Trends to Watch

It is no secret Michigan's offense is going to heavily rely on their run game. Everyone in the country knows that at this point. Alex Orji took over as the starting quarterback last week, but attempted just 12 total passes and gained only 32 yards through the air. He did, however, add 43 yards on the ground. The Wolverine rushers gained a total of 290 yards on the day. Minnesota knows they will have to load the box on defense and try to force Orji to move the ball through the air. Accomplishing that task is far easier said than done.