When neighboring states of Michigan and Ohio were fighting over the highly sought after Toledo Strip back in the 1800s, what they didn’t know was the sheer impact it would leave on the sports landscape for centuries to come. And yet, here we are, exactly 189 years later, preparing for one of the biggest games of the year—or what people fondly call The Game. 

On November 30, longtime rivals, the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes will meet for the 120th time at the Ohio Stadium. And both teams will have just one goal: Win or die…which is exactly what former Wolverines player Charles Woodson stated. But before we get to that…

The Buckeyes, with a beautiful spell of 10-1 this season, is projected to be “21.3 points better than Michigan on the same field in both teams’ current capacity” as per College Football Power Index (a computer prediction model that uses data points from both teams to simulate games 20,000 times to pick winners). As per Sports Illustrated, this puts Ohio State ahead in 91.9% of the computer’s most recent simulations of the matchup, with Michigan (6-5 this season) winning in just 8.1%.

But let’s not forget that in the last 119 meetings, the Wolverines have retained the upper hand with a cool 61-51. Six games have ended in a tie, and Ohio State’s 37-7 win in 2010 was vacated. Another pain point? Since HC Ryan Day took over Ohio State’s reigns, he is 1-3 against the Wolverines. So, this time, Day is fired up! “We’ve been training all year for this moment. Now we just need to do it again. They know what’s at stake. Focus on the process, focus on what we’ve done up to this point, the foundation that’s been built. And then go play with our hair on fire,” the coach said. But that doesn’t mean Michigan isn’t going to put everything on the line for that elusive win…

On the latest episode of The Triple Onion podcast (aired November 28), former Ohio State legend AJ Hawk and Michigan’s Heisman winner Woodson sat down for a detailed analysis of the upcoming clash. At one point, one of the hosts and sports commentator Urban Meyers pointed out:

“This week the Buckeyes are favored by 21 points. AJ, in 2004, the Wolverines were ranked seventh, Ohio state was unranked, and then Charles and you guys beat him. Charles, in 96, you guys had three losses and you were playing the No.2 Buckeyes…The minute you think the Wolverines don’t have great players, you’re dead run, you’re going to get hit right in the face and so the the point spreads don’t matter. Can you guys speak to playing in as an underdog like the Wolverines will be this weekend [Charles]?”

Coming off its most dominant win of the season in a 50-6 win over Northwestern, Sherrone Moore might have gotten over the blue of an underwhelming season, especially when they are facing a program they had a complete upper hand over for three consecutive years. Moore struggled a lot with his quarterback issues and garnered nothing but flak from all across the community. But, historically speaking, despite the lowest of lows, as per Woodson, “We never went into the Ohio State game thinking that we were the inferior team.”

In fact, for Michigan, the only goal they had was beating their fierce rivals. “Coming into that game, it was ingrained into us that, ‘Look, we expect to beat every team on our schedule especially within our conference, but if there’s one team that really matters…’. And, it was always beating Ohio State. So if throughout the year you allowed yourself to let your guard down in a game, we weren’t letting our guard down against Ohio State.”

So, in a way it’s almost as if the Wolverines have been in energy-saving mode, lurking patiently to hit at the right time on the right opponent. ”So this week, being a 21 points underdog has got to be pretty humbling…so I know those guys would be fired up because again we’ve been always taught that, if you went 0 and 10 and you got to this game and you won this game, then we ended on a good note, we look forward to next season. So the guys will be ready and I look forward to just watching the guys fight and compete,” the Michigan legend said while putting Ryan Day on serious notice.

But don’t worry. The Buckeyes’ QB Will Howard is “fired up” as well…

“This game is as big as they come, man. It’s the Michigan-Ohio State game. I’m sorry I just said that. It’s The Team Up North-Ohio State game. It’s everything. It doesn’t matter what their record is. I couldn’t care less. It means everything. I’m just so excited to go out there and to do this for my brothers, for Coach Day, for everyone out there in Buckeye Nation that’s been hurting. I just can’t wait.

“I want it for Coach Day. Shut up the haters and be able to go out there and say, ‘This is the Ohio State Buckeyes.’ This rivalry game means everything, man. We talk about it all the time, it’s all over the place in our building and I’m just honored to be able to be a part of it. I won’t take it lightly. This is the biggest game of our season, and I’m looking forward to it.”

In the team’s top-five matchups over the past month and a half (including the wins over Indiana and Penn State and loss at Oregon), Howard completed 77.6% of his passes for 709 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions. His superior form was on display especially against the Hoosiers, completing 85% of his passes—the most by an Ohio State starting quarterback since 2021.

But, on the other hand, Michigan’s motivation is legitimate, and they can very well capitalize on the rebounded momentum against Northwestern last week. However, Ryan Day is also not in a place to bear another Michigan loss under his belt.

Ryan Day has had enough from the Michigan Wolverines

Ever since Day took the chair of the Buckeyes’ head coach, he has done everything in his power to beat the Wolverines. Michigan didn’t get any edge before Ryan Day’s era. The Buckeyes only gave them a chance to pick up a victory in 2004, and that too under an interim coach. But everything has changed after Day took over. He has ended up with a three-game losing streaks from the arch-nemesis, and it’s as miserable as it sounds.

Day put in a wild effort to bounce back. While firing a defensive coordinator to hiring some quarterbacks, adding a sitting Power Four conference coach as offensive coordinator to stand in front of Michigan with a renewed offense, he still couldn’t get his way to date.

Describing the previous losses, Day said he had never faced something worse than that in his entire life. “We’ve felt what it’s like to not win this game. And it’s bad,” Day said. “It’s one of the worst things that’s happened to me in my life, quite honestly. Other than losing my father and a few other things — it’s quite honestly, for my family, the worst thing that’s happened. So, we can never have that happen again, ever. And that’s been the approach all season.” You surely feel the intensity of the claim. It’s that raw; it’s that personal.

So, one thing we can guarantee: Bulk yourself up for a thrilling clash this weekend!