That is the week that Michigan followers and Ohio State followers take into consideration for a greater a part of the yr, the ultimate week in November.
Whereas the annual matchup between Michigan and Ohio State often offers loads of intrigue whatever the circumstances surrounding it, this yr’s version carries lots of significance for a number of causes. A divisional championship, a visit to the convention championship recreation, a visit to the school soccer playoff, and even a possible journey to New York for the Heisman trophy ceremony are all on the desk when No. 3 Michigan and No. 2 Ohio State meet on Saturday.
For Michigan, the preparation for ‘The Recreation’ started way back to January.
“Every single day since January on, we all the time have them behind our thoughts,” mentioned offensive lineman Ryan Hayes. “All the pieces we’re doing is about them. It is about successful this recreation on the finish of the season. So I feel it simply begins from January on. All the time have them behind our heads. Do durations with them. We watch their movie just about weekly. So simply begin with that.”
For head coach Jim Harbaugh, maintaining a tally of Ohio State and planning for this second has been one thing he is carried out all yr.
“Conserving monitor of them,” Harbaugh mentioned on Monday. “There’s issues we do in apply to arrange for them. We all know Ohio State is our hardest, hardest competitors. This shall be our hardest take a look at up to now. I feel they seem to be a actually good staff, improved staff. It is a great staff. We’re very grateful to be on this place, to be taking part in on this recreation. Winner takes the East. Winner takes all proper there.”
Extra particularly, the Wolverines spend time every week engaged on the ‘Beat Ohio’ drill – a drill particularly named by head coach Jim Harbaugh himself. Previous to the sport in 2021, offensive lineman Trevor Keegan offered a little bit of perception into what occurs throughout the drill.
“Years prior we have referred to as it 9 on seven – which is what the drill is – however this yr we have modified it to the ‘Beat Ohio Drill,’ mentioned offensive lineman Trevor Keegan. “We’re blasting music, ya know…smelling salts, all the things. It is a fairly bodily interval, we adore it.”
On Monday, Mike Sainristil (veteran large receiver turned defensive again) confirmed the drill continues to be very a lot part of weekly apply.
The ‘beat Ohio’ interval, fairly certain you guys had been launched to that final yr by coach. We nonetheless we nonetheless do this. After which simply movie on them, simply who they’re. They’re good within the run recreation this yr. So we’re additionally getting run protection. However it’s simply gonna be two good groups going at it.
No. 3 Michigan and No. 2 Ohio State are set to kickoff from Columbus at midday on FOX.
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