No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Michigan to meet with much at stake

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — One of many best rivalries in sports activities appears arrange for one more traditional.

What You Want To Know

• No. 2 Buckeyes (11-0) face No. 3 Michigan (11-0) in season finale subsequent week
• Winner advances to Huge Ten championship sport and possible spot in School Soccer Playoff
• Buckeyes misplaced to Michigan final season after successful the prior eight conferences

No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Michigan will each be undefeated for the twentieth time after they meet Saturday on the Horseshoe in what’s often known as The Sport.

The winner will earn a visit to the Huge Ten championship sport and a possible spot within the School Soccer Playoff.

“That is what we have been striving for all yr, 11-0, and now to play The Sport,” Michigan receiver Ronnie Bell mentioned. “That is all we wished.”

The Wolverines are coming off a uncommon win within the sequence. Till Jim Harbaugh lastly beat the Buckyes final yr at residence, they’d received a school-record eight straight and 15 of 16 in opposition to Michigan.

What has it been like for coach Ryan Day to have a complete yr to consider that loss to the Wolverines?

“That has not been straightforward, hasn’t been good,” Day mentioned. “We’ll most likely discuss it extra this week, however wanting ahead to the preparation. Our guys have been targeted on all of it offseason. And through the season, it’s all the time been behind our minds.

“We work it daily of the yr. And so, the week is formally right here.”

The Buckeyes have been ready for 2 years to beat their rivals at residence, lacking out on the final alternative in 2020 through the pandemic-shortened season when the matchup was canceled due to a COVID-19 outbreak throughout the Wolverines’ program.

Michigan has not received at Ohio State since 2000, which can also be the final yr it received a second straight sport within the sequence.

The Buckeyes haven’t misplaced a sport since Hassan Haskins matched a faculty report with 5 dashing touchdowns and Aidan Hutchinson had three sacks in final yr’s win for Michigan.

“Coming off of that sport, we have been extremely motivated this season to get again to the place we’re proper now,” Day mentioned.

After dominating convention opponents for a lot of the season, each powerhouse applications struggled to earn their eleventh win.

Slumping Illinois led Michigan for a number of minutes within the first half and was forward from late within the third quarter till Jake Moody made a go-ahead, 35-yard area objective with 9 seconds left.

Harbaugh, who has each coached and performed within the rivalry, wasn’t within the temper to stay up for dealing with the Buckeyes after surviving a scare within the sport and with operating again Blake Corum.

“I simply wish to take pleasure in this one,” Harbaugh mentioned.

Ohio State trailed at Maryland from late within the second quarter till early within the third and led by simply three factors within the ultimate minutes earlier than pulling away.

Each groups have banged-up backfields.

Ohio State operating again TreVeyon Henderson returned in opposition to Maryland after lacking two video games with an damage. He did catch a 31-yard landing go from C.J. Stroud however had simply 19 yards dashing on 11 carries.

The Buckeyes are hopeful that operating again Miyan Williams will face Michigan after leaving final weekend’s sport with a leg damage.

Corum grabbed his left knee after being tackled late within the first half and pulled himself out of the sport after one carry and one pass-blocking project early within the third quarter in opposition to the Preventing Illini. His backup, dual-threat Donovan Edwards, didn’t play due to an undisclosed damage.

Michigan has relied on its operating sport, however it may need to lean extra on its inconsistent passing sport that has missed many alternatives with excessive throws and dropped balls.

“A number of the meat continues to be on the bone and it’s prepared to return off subsequent Saturday,” quarterback J.J. McCarthy mentioned.