COLUMBUS, Ohio — Every day, Ohio State linebacker Cody Simon walks past the countdown in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, a gentle reminder throughout the year of the matchup against Michigan and what’s to come in late November.

That reminder is no longer very gentle.

The Buckeyes matchup against the Wolverines on Saturday is set to take on a bit of a different tone than previous years, as 6-5 Michigan is looking to play spoiler over 10-1 Ohio State with a fourth-straight win over the Buckeyes.

But the countdown for Simon and other Ohio State seniors, more importantly, will reach 1,827 days on Saturday — the five-year stretch from Ohio State’s last win in the series in 2019 to its next potential win. It’s now the last chance for Simon, and for the entirety of the famed 2021 recruiting class, to get the job done.

“It’d just be everything,” Simon said of what a win would mean to him. “You can’t describe it with anything tangible. Just fulfillment in a lot of areas and joy for the team. And for all the seniors that came back, too.”

Senior receiver Emeka Egbuka knows exactly what he’d do after a win over Michigan, too.

“You come to Ohio State to beat The Team Up North, to win a pair of gold pants,” Egbuka said. “Just handing the gold pants to my mother is a memory I’m really looking forward to.”

That chance has never come, though. Ohio State has lost, in 2021, 2022 and 2023, to Michigan in equally deflating ways.

In 2021, it was because Michigan ran the ball at will right at, and through, Ohio State. In 2022, it was big plays allowed and three points scored in the second half that doomed the Buckeyes. And in 2023, Michigan played a mistake-free football game — with, once again, a ground-and-pound approach. Add in the sign-stealing scandal, and there’s a cloud over the last three years that no one can quite shake.

That, amongst other things, kept Egbuka and a bevy of other draft-eligible players from last year’s team on the fence about what to do with their futures. So when it came time to decide what to do for the 2024 season, the Michigan game certainly factored into the equation about nearly all of them returning for a last run.

“I think that we’re worried about what we got going on in our building,” Egbuka said. “We’re not too focused on the negative aspect of The Team Up North, but we’re focused on the positive energy and the love that we have for everybody in this building. So we’re going into that game ready to spill blood for each other because we love each other. Not necessarily going to war because we hate the other side.”

That hatred is certainly there, though. And it’s played out in part through coach Ryan Day, who has undergone the most criticism of anyone in the program since 2021.

“I think that he’s gone through a lot of things that a lot of people shouldn’t have to go through — all the scrutiny and all the stuff that people are saying about him,” Egbuka said. “But he’s a fantastic, great head coach and I wouldn’t have anybody else leading our team in the entire country. So we all have his back 100%, we’re rallying behind him and he says he wants to do this for us, but we also want to do it for him as well.”

Every player that has been around for a few years has come to the defense of Day, who has been at the center of it all — from the losses, to the sign-stealing scandal, to barbs from Michigan’s former head coach.

“He’s gone through so much, I don’t think he deserved any of that stuff he’s gone through,” Simon said. “He’s our leader, no matter he’s always standing in front of the team, and he’s taken all the heat. Taken all the bullets for everyone. If we can get this done for him, it would mean everything.”

It’s hard to encapsulate what “everything” would mean for the Buckeyes, but it also fits considering most players needed to take a beat when asked what the win would mean.

Ohio State is a program that hasn’t beaten its rival in almost 2,000 days. It has had to watch Michigan hoist a national title trophy and have the floor to make whatever comments they want.

Now, with a weakened rival and perhaps the best Ohio State team of the last four years, there’s one more chance — likely the best chance — for the Buckeye seniors to topple Michigan.

And when it comes to legacies for the Ohio State captains, beating Michigan is first on the list.

“It’s kind of hard to put into words,” Egbuka said of what playing in the rivalry is like. “I think over the last three years you kind of see the depths of the rivalry and how it affects people and all that type of stuff. So, for the most part, football is just a game, but this rivalry definitely runs deep. I think it’s hard to explain and put into words, but once you experience it, you kind of know.”

Doug Gottlieb had a lot to say about Ohio State.

Monday night, the first-year college coach brought his Green Bay Phoenix into Value City Arena and took a 102-69 loss. The Buckeyes never trailed, built a lead as high as 35 points and closed the game with a 44-18 run in the final 12:12 to improve to 5-1.

Stronger challenges lie just on the horizon for Ohio State, which hosts Pittsburgh on Friday to begin a home-and-home series before playing at Maryland and hosting Rutgers next week. First, though, was this game against Green Bay, and Gottlieb said there was plenty that concerned him about the Buckeyes.

It started on the defensive side of the ball.

Related article: Replay: Bruce Thornton leads high-powered Ohio State past Green Bay in blowout

“They don’t have any weaknesses defensively,” Gottlieb, a longtime sports broadcaster who played collegiately for Notre Dame and Oklahoma State. “Everybody else we’ve played, we try and attack the weak link. Usually it’s a five-man, and we thought when Sean Stewart played, ‘Oh, we have more of a traditional big, we can expose them a little bit by spacing them out,’ but he just recovers so quickly and plays so hard.”

Playing their fourth road game in their last five games, all in the span of 12 days, the Phoenix finished with their lowest adjusted offensive efficiency rating of the season. According to KenPom, Ohio State limited Green Bay to 94.8 points per 100 possessions despite starting 6-9, 220-pound Sean Stewart at center. Gottlieb credited the versatility of not just Stewart but starting power forward Devin Royal (6-6, 220) and primary rotation player Evan Mahaffey, a 6-6, 200-pound wing.

Ohio State Buckeyes: Join the Ohio State Sports Insider text group with Bill Rabinowitz, Joey Kaufman Adam Jardy

“Look, that’s a really well-coached team,” he said. “If you watch on tape and you look at the analytics, their defense is outstanding. Outstanding. It’s really, really connected, physical. We played Oklahoma State and they were physical, but it was kind of to the point of ridiculous where you could call a foul every time. They’re just physical but with really good intention.”

Ohio State committed a season-low 14 fouls against the Phoenix, out-rebounded Green Bay 37-23 and shot a season-best 64.9% from two-point range (24 for 37). Gottlieb credited that to Ohio State’s players buying into their specific roles under first-year coach Jake Diebler.

Ohio State basketball: 5 takeaways: Doug Gottlieb praises Bruce Thornton after Ohio State blasts Green Bay

“They’ve got (Evan Mahaffey) dialed in to, ‘All you’re going to do is rebound and defend and drive to the basket or cut to the basket,’ ” Gottlieb said. “They got Sean Stewart, ball screen roll or just be a big guy in the middle and they drive off him. They use him almost like a goalpost in the middle you’ve got to avoid. They are accepting their roles and they’re flourishing. Their perimeter players, all those guards can just go get buckets, and they’re allowed to take a couple chances defensively because they’ve got good anchors inside. They are elite, elite defensively.”

Gottlieb, who hosts a daily national sports talk show on Fox Sports Radio, saved his most effusive praise for junior guard Bruce Thornton, who had a season-high 25 points and nine assists in 29:36. Gottlieb described him as his favorite Ohio State point guard since Scoonie Penn or Jay Burson.

“Bruce was really the story,” he said. “Bruce and Meechie (Johnson Jr.), Meechie just with confidence and Bruce … he leads, shoots, scores, passes. He’s a big-time basketball player. The rest of the guys just defend and feed off his energy.”

ajardy@dispatch.com

@AdamJardy

Get more Ohio State basketball news by listening to our podcasts

The Ohio Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Nov. 25, 2024, results for each game:

Powerball

Powerball drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m.

05-35-45-60-63, Powerball: 12, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 3

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.

Midday: 3-9-2

Evening: 2-5-7

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 4

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.

Midday: 6-3-7-8

Evening: 3-0-9-9

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 5

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.

Midday: 5-8-3-9-5

Evening: 5-9-5-8-5

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Rolling Cash 5

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 7:05 p.m.

12-13-18-37-39

Check Rolling Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Classic Lotto

Drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, at approximately 7:05 p.m.

16-17-30-35-41-48, Kicker: 8-8-3-1-7-8

Check Classic Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Lucky For Life

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 10:35 p.m.

07-10-14-33-36, Lucky Ball: 01

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Enquirer digital news director. You can send feedback using this form.