ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan players have been thinking about Ohio State and working to prepare for this game since the start of the year.
And now it comes to this, one of those most-anticipated games of the year.
Both teams are undefeated and play Saturday at Ohio State for the Big Ten East Division title, a spot in the Big Ten championship game, and likely inclusion in the four-team national playoff. In other words, this game means everything.
Ohio State (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) is No. 2 in the last week’s College Football Playoff rankings and Michigan (11-0, 8-0) is No. 3. The new CFP rankings will be released Tuesday night.
“If we don't win this game, what does the season really mean?” Michigan left tackle Ryan Hayes said on Monday.
Michigan won last year’s game at Michigan Stadium, snapping an eight-game losing streak, and this will be the first time the teams have played in Columbus since 2018, after a COVID-19 outbreak forced Michigan to cancel the 2020 game. Last year’s victory led to the Wolverines’ first Big Ten title since 2004 and its first appearance in the national semifinals.
"We know they've got every motivation to come and put what we did (last season) to rest," nose tackle Mazi Smith said. "We've got every intention and motivation to come out and keep the roll going."
The status of the Wolverines’ leading rusher, Blake Corum, who injured his left knee just before the end of the first half last Saturday against Illinois, is unclear, and Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said he did not have an update Monday.
Corum returned in the second half and ran the ball one time before sitting the rest of the game. He was in Ypsilanti on Sunday delivering turkeys he purchased as part of his second “Giving Back 2 Give Thanks”. Running back Donovan Edwards did not play in the last game, as well as tight end Luke Schoonmaker, left guard Trevor Keegan and receiver/returner A.J. Henning.
Harbaugh typically does not share injury updates, and during his weekly news conference, he focused his attention on the regular-season finale against Ohio State.
“I think they’re a really good team, improved team,” Harbaugh said “It’s a tremendous team. We’re very grateful to be in this position to be playing in this game. Winner takes the East. Winner takes all right there. Strong opponent. It’s the kind of situation that gives you the opportunity to display how strong our team is.
“There’s no need to hate. Be grateful for the opponent. It’s like superheroes — it’s through a strong opponent you get to find out who you are. They have a lot of players that are really good. They’ve got great players, we’ve got great players. They have great coaches, we have great coaches. They have players with Heisman habits, we have players with Heisman habits. Congratulations. Be grateful to have an opportunity to play in this kind of big game.”
Harbaugh, in his eighth season coaching his alma mater, has spoken this season of being “joyous” and having “happy warriors” on his team. He described playing in the upcoming Michigan-Ohio State game as “a real honor.”
The Buckeyes are led by quarterback C.J. Stroud, a Heisman Trophy candidate who has led them to the nation’s No. 2 scoring offense, averaging 46.5 points a game. Michigan has the top-ranked defense, yielding an average of 241.3 yards a game and the No. 2 scoring defense, allowing an average of 11.7 points per game.
“It’s like two superheroes going at each other,” Harbaugh said. “And that's why we're so excited about being tested to find out what we're made of.”
Hayes said the team has been preparing for this moment since January. The Wolverines incorporated a “Beat Ohio” drill last season in practice and that has carried on this year.
“We always have them in the back of our mind,” Hayes said. “Everything we're doing is about them. It's about winning this game at the end of the season. It just starts from January and we always have them in the back of our heads. Do periods (in practice) with them. We watch their film pretty much weekly. So, just starts with that.”
Smith said the OSU focus never steered the Wolverines from getting the job done each week during the regular season leading to this point.
"It's the players' job to stay where their feet at," Smith said. (But) the coaches put little things around the building (regarding Ohio State), plant seeds in our heads, letting us know what we're really preparing for. But, they're also always telling us to be right where our feet are and make sure we're handling business right now, because if we don't handle that business right now, we won't be able to later."
Without question, Ohio State will be Michigan’s biggest challenge of the season.
“It's a real honor to be in this position to be able to test yourself physically, mentally emotionally,” Harbaugh said. “We know it's our toughest test of the year. And I think I think we're gonna find that we're made of the right stuff.”
Harbaugh referenced the Wolverines having the “right stuff” several times on Monday.
“Got a great group of players who are happy warriors, and they're on a happy mission,” he said. “It's a tight-knit team that has paid the price. They have taken on every challenge to this date, and they've attacked it and been ready to play every single game for 60 minutes.
“I love this team. They're made of the right stuff.”
Now it's about maintaining the focus the Wolverines have had all season.
"I know our 11-0 (record) doesn’t really mean anything now," Harbaugh said. "It’s all about going 1-0 (this week)."
