Overview
- No. 1 Ohio State (11-0) visits No. 18 Michigan (9-2) next Saturday, with an OSU win securing a Big Ten title-game berth and preserving an unbeaten season, while a Michigan win would strengthen its College Football Playoff case.
- FanDuel posted Ohio State -11.5 with a 44.5 total, and DraftKings listed the Buckeyes -12.5 shortly after lines opened.
- Michigan is monitoring several health concerns: RB Justice Haynes is expected to miss, S Rod Moore has been out for weeks, LB Ernest Hausmann missed the Maryland game, RB Jordan Marshall was a game-time decision and sat, and TE Max Bredeson left with an injury that “doesn’t look good,” per Sherrone Moore.
- Ohio State coach Ryan Day said WRs Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, both sidelined against Rutgers, are day-to-day entering game week.
- Both coaches emphasized The Game as the season’s priority; Michigan points to a late-season surge with four straight 200-yard rushing games and cleaner passing, while Ohio State cites a process-driven approach reinforced by a summer reading program focused on daily discipline.