ESPN College Football

Originally Published: November 15, 2007

Battle in trenches one to watch in Ohio State-Michigan

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By Mel Kiper Jr.
ESPN.com
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No. 7 Ohio State at No. 21 Michigan
The big matchup in this game is Michigan left tackle Jake Long going against Ohio State's defensive ends: junior Vernon Gholston and Cameron Heyward, a true freshman and a star of the not-too-distant future. Hayward has great ability with 8½ tackles for loss and 2½ sacks, but has the chance to be a 10- to 15-sack a season guy later in his career.

The running game of Michigan is led by Mike Hart, who's been bothered by an ankle injury. He'll be facing a team in Ohio State which is tied for the fourth-best run defense in the nation. Spearheading that defense is junior middle linebacker James Laurinaitis, who posted 97 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, five sacks and two interceptions.

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