Tag: Ohio State vs. Michigan

WATCH: Ohio State football drops the highly anticipated Michigan trailer

The Michigan trailer is live. Watch! #GoBucks

We wait for these every Thursday, but we’re especially thankful for the trailer that the Ohio State creative team just dropped on this Thanksgiving Thursday. You know why. It’s because it’s Michigan week, and that means we get a Hollywood-level trailer and cinematic masterpiece that will give get your heart and adrenaline pumping so you can prepare for “The Game” on Saturday.

All of these trailers are worth a watch, but the Michigan one always dials things up just a bit. Ohio State has worked for this game 365 days a year, and now it’s finally here after losing out on what many believe is a cultural phenomenon.

We know it doesn’t take much to get Buckeye Nation up for a game against anything Maize and Blue, but this will light the fire for you if you’re not there yet. So, click on the below thanks to the Ohio State Football Twitter account and get in the mood.

Ohio State travels to Ann Arbor to kick things off at Noon Saturday. Fox has the broadcast.

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Ryan Day doesn’t have anything nice to say about Michigan in fun round of questions

If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

The Big Ten Network decided to get in on the fun early in the week of “The Game” by asking both Jim Harbaugh and Ryan Day to say something nice about the rival university on a given topic. While Harbaugh managed to say a few respectable lines, Day refused to play along.

When asked about each other’s iconic stadiums, Harbaugh stammered for a few seconds then said, “Uhh, it’s big, it’s loud, it’s an iconic stadium.” Well, he’s not wrong.

When the Ohio State head coach was asked the same thing, he gave a one-word answer… “Nope.”

Michigan defensive end, Aidan Hutchinson, was also in on the action and was asked about Ohio Stadium, mascot Brutus Buckeye, and the OSU school colors, scarlet and gray. Hutchinson also obliged somewhat begrudgingly saying “Umm, their fans are committed. I don’t have a lot of good things to say about Brutus, umm, his head is pretty dimensionally sound. Those were my high school colors.”

Day was given one more chance to say something nice, this time about UM’s school colors but simply replied “Probably not.”

Clearly, Day is adhering to mom’s advice that if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

The Buckeyes and Wolverines square off on Saturday where there won’t be many pleasantries shared once toe meets leather at high noon. Sometimes silence speaks louder than actual words, right Ryan?

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Michigan and Jim Harbaugh are treating the Ohio State game differently, but will the results be different?

Michigan has started to take a page or two out of the Ohio State way of placing emphasis on “The Game.” but will it matter in the end?

If you’ve been following anything coming out of Ann Arbor this season, you’ve probably noticed a bit of a change in how the Michigan coaches and players are treating The Game vs. Ohio State. There’s no doubt there is an increased amount of energy and focus placed on one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports.

That is, of course, nothing new from the OSU sideline. Over the last couple of decades, Jim Tressel, then Urban Meyer, and now Ryan Day have embraced the rivalry and work on it year-round in some way, shape, or form. It has resulted in the Buckeyes winning 15 of the last 16 matchups and frankly, resetting expectations and a level of tolerance up at Michigan.

Even though Jim Harbaugh was brought in to swing the pendulum the other way, it hasn’t happened so far. Harbaugh has coached the Wolverines to 0-5 during his tenure, and the lack of success against his rivals led to some loud calls for a change to be made. However, instead of going in a different direction. the Michigan brass significantly restructured the new contract of Harbaugh, significantly downgrading the salary and buyout.

It was a message being sent without paying the ultimate price of losing his job, but it seems as though Harbaugh has taken it to heart, hiring a younger coaching staff and changing how the Wolverine program treats the rivalry game against Ohio State.

There’s now a sign in the Michigan weight room that says “What are you doing today to beat Ohio State?” The coaching staff instituted the “Beat Ohio drill,” one that has apparently been in place since the start of spring.

“It’s a run drill, Harbaugh explained. “Run drill and a run-stopping drill. All runs, all runs are between the tackles. Physicality, emphasis, and emphasis on Ohio State and keeping them on our minds every day of practice.”

Well, that’s new. Wolverine fans have long claimed real estate in OSU players and fans heads because the Buckeyes sleep, eat, and dream about beating Michigan. There’s a countdown clock in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center counting down to the Michigan game. Players punch bags with the block M on them in drills. It’s the way it’s been in Columbus for a long, long time.

Now, it appears that same mentality is starting to permeate practices, culture, and talk up in Ann Arbor. After all, maybe the way to beat Ohio State is to take a page out of the game plan and mentality when it comes to “The Game.”

But will it matter?

It seems like Michigan is trying nearly everything to try and get the OSU monkey off its back. After eight straight losses, fans, players, and coaches don’t care any longer if Ohio State seems obsessed with the game, because they themselves have become obsessed with losing to their neighbors to the south.

At the end of the day, it’s probably something that’s needed for Michigan. If the Buckeyes are focusing on the game more than the Wolverines are, then how can you possibly keep up? History would say that you simply can’t.

Still, it won’t matter if Michigan comes out on Saturday and lays another egg in a big game — in fact the biggest of games — against Darth Vader on national television. Ohio State still has more skill, more speed, but maybe, just maybe, a new mentality will help even the playing field.

We shall see. All of the changes with how Michigan men are treating this game should add a little color to everything, but we still like scarlet and gray topping maize and blue on Saturday.

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Five things to know about this year’s Michigan team

Five things to know about this year’s Michigan team that has gone into the success we’ve seen on the field.

As an Ohio State football fan, we’re sure you follow the Michigan program well. After all, both teams typically look to see what the other is doing throughout the course of the season because of the historical rivalry between the two college football behemoths.

However, as of late, the Wolverine program has been declawed to an extent, even after Jim Harbaugh was hired to walk on Lake Michigan and come turn water into wine. Instead, he’s turned victories into “whine.”

But this year feels different in a way. And frankly, it is cut from a different cloth compared to recent seasons for the Wolverines. They are having quite the year up in Ann Arbor, winning every challenge before them aside from a three-point loss to rival Michigan State that should have probably gone in the win column.

So yeah, it’s been quite the turnaround from the last couple of seasons, and that means there are some things to digest as to why this Michigan team has been able to be an improved bunch with a lot of big goals still out in front of it. We’ll do our best to highlight five things that have gone into TTUN turning “The Game” into one that has a lot at stake in 2021for both teams.

What Jim Harbaugh said about Ohio State leading into ‘The Game’

Get a look at everything Jim Harbaugh said about Ohio State in his weekly press conference. It’s Michigan Week! #GoBucks

Every week, all the Big Ten football head coaches have their standing weekly press conferences for the local and national media. There are generally some good nuggets that come out of those, but we’re extremely interested in comments this week for Ohio State and Michigan because — well, it’s that week — Michigan week!

Wolverine head coach Jim Harbaugh’s press conferences can be a little awkward at times, but there’s no denying how entertaining they can be. I’m actually a big fan of watching them.

Well then, Harbaugh had his media appearance on Tuesday, and of course, the topic of Ohio State came up. We’re bringing you all of the comments at his presser thanks to our friends (yes, we can like Michigan men) at Wolverines Wire. By the way, follow Isaiah Hole and his team over there for more great content on “The Game,” especially how things look from the opposite sideline.

Here is everything Harbaugh said in his weekly press conference previewing Ohio State.

Ohio State listed as an 8.5 favorite over Michigan in early lines

‘The Game’ is almost upon us. In the early betting lines, Ohio State is a modest favorite over Michigan. It should be one whale of a game.

It’s finally Michigan week, and the came couldn’t be much bigger. Both teams figure to be ranked in the top five when the newest College Football Playoff Rankings come out Tuesday evening. More than that, the winner will be the representative for the East Division in the Big Ten Championship game in Indianapolis. There are also College Football Playoff implications at stake.

Ohio State has been on an absolute roll offensively over the last couple of weeks, but Michigan is also improving and becoming a very complete football team in all phases of the game. Of course, the big question is whether or not the very good Wolverine defense can slow down the Buckeyes’ No. 1 ranked offense. Who would you favor in this matchup?

According to the oddsmakers in Vegas, they are favoring Ohio State, but not by as much as you might think. In fact, according to Tipico, the Buckeyes are just an 8.5 favorite. That would be a big line for an NFL game, but not from what we’ve seen in the college game.

There are likely a couple of things that play into this early line. First, the game is in Ann Arbor, giving Michigan an advantage with the emotion of the crowd and all that goes with trying to get a long, long losing streak in “The Game” off their back. Secondly, the Wolverines have played every game close, losing just the one to Michigan State by three points. The defense has been solid, and TTUN has the personnel and physicality to control the tempo of the game if it all works by design.

We’ll give you our predictions a little later in the week, but let’s just tease it by saying we’re probably taking the over on that line.

All Betting Lines are Courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook.

Visit our free to play game lobby at Daily Ticket, Powered by Tipico Sportsbook

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Ohio State vs. Michigan football preview and prediction

We get you ready for The Game with our complete preview and prediction of OSU vs. Michigan. #GoBucks

It’s Michigan week! And The Game means a little more this year as Ohio State and the Wolverines will play for a spot in the Big Ten Championship and to keep hopes alive for a College Football Playoff berth.

Scarlet and gray vs the maize and blue for all the conference marbles is the way we want it to be. The two teams have combined for 76 Big Ten titles in the conference’s 122-year history. While there would still be one more step after this game, it just feels right that the division crown comes down to this.

So let’s get ready! It’s game week for the best rivalry in all of sports.

NEXT … Records and broadcast information

ESPN College GameDay to be at Ohio State vs. Michigan

What is greater? FOX Big Noon or ESPN College GameDay?

For the second-straight week, ESPN’s College GameDay will be broadcasting from an Ohio State football game. Last week, the team that includes former Buckeye quarterback Kirk Herbstreit was on hand in Columbus for OSU’s complete dismantling of the Michigan State Spartans. It was a top-ten matchup that did not quite live up to the billing.

And now … according to a release from ESPN, the crew will be headed to Ann Arbor for “The Game” between what is sure to be two top ten — and maybe top-five — opponents (We’ll see how the CFP Rankings shake out) this coming Saturday.

There have been many huge clashes between OSU and Michigan over the course of the years, but they’ve been few and far between lately because of the slide the Wolverines have been on over the last couple of decades. However, Jim Harbaugh and his crew did come into the ‘Shoe in 2016 with both teams ranked in the top ten, but J.T. Barrett and his earned “spot” got the job done and sent Ohio State to the College Football Playoff.

There’s just as much on the line in this one. The winner of the contest at high Noon EST on Saturday will be the representative of the East Division and head to Indy for the Big Ten Championship game. That team also keeps its College Football Playoff hopes alive and well.

Ohio State has dominated the series as teams on both sides of the rivalry know. The Buckeyes have won 15 of the last 16 and are looking to stake their claim to their fifth-straight appearance in Indianapolis.

Meanwhile, the loser gets relegated to what will most assuredly be a consolation New Year’s Six game. It’ll all happen with Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Rece Davis, Desmond Howard, and David Pollack on-site for all the festivities.

 

LOOK: Justin Fields still slyly trolling Michigan week of another rivalry between Bears and Packers

Justin Fields is still trolling Michigan! #GoBucks

Former Ohio State and current Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields is about to get a taste of one of the best rivalries in the NFL when the Bears host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.  I’m a firm believer that some of the best drop-the-mic moments are short, concise, and as true as the day is long. Apparently, Fields is cut from the same cloth.

After all, it won’t be Fields’ first experience in an iconic rivalry. At Ohio State, he took part in an absolute sacking of the Michigan Wolverines in 2019 by a score of 56-27. It would be the only year Fields got to emphasize the “blue” in maize and blue because of the cancellation of The Game in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but his quotes about the Wolverines are legendary.

Field famously said that he couldn’t wait to “beat the brakes” off Michigan before the 2020 season, and even dove head-in, embracing the rivalry when he first transferred to Ohio State. He’s done the same in Chicago when it comes to Green Bay.

But now that he’s on the doorstep of his first game against the Packers, the local media in Chicago tried to compare the Ohio State vs. Michigan rivalry to the Bears and Packers. Fields was asked this week when holding the two up to the light together what he enjoyed most about the Buckeyes and Wolverines rivalry. His answer was short, sweet, and probably cut like a knife to anyone reading this that has their ringtone set to “Hail to the Victors.”

You love to see it. Fields has always been a guy that gets what it takes to endear himself to the fanbase, and we have no doubt he’ll continue to do the same in the Windy City.

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WATCH: Fox’s Mark Titus, Charlotte Wilder ask Ohio State fans to say something nice about Michigan

Can you say anything nice about Michigan?

It’s one of the few rivalries that live on all year long. Ohio State vs. Michigan transcends the game of college football itself as a way of life for many, even though many Buckeye fans have no idea what it means to not have the upper hand over the Wolverines.

Former Ohio State basketball walk-on Mark Titus and his Fox Ultimate College Football Road Trip co-host Charlotte Wilder dipped their toes into the rivalry when they were on campus for the Oregon game, and the video is quite amusing.

In it, the duo tries to get several Ohio State fans to say something nice about Michigan, and well, let’s just say it would be harder to get the Hatfields and McCoys to throw a block party together.

Most of the answers are a simple, one-word “no,” but leave it to a Georgia fan that is somehow, unexplainably at the game to find something somewhat nice to say. There are a couple of OSU fans that are able to gnash their teeth and let something out, but we’re not really sure that it can be considered anything “nice.”

Have a look for yourself by watching the short video below thanks to Fox’s College Football Ultimate Roadtrip sponsored by Dos Equis.

We are still a couple of months away from The Game taking place up in Ann Arbor, but the shots and barbs fly 365 days of the year.

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