Few rivalries in college football can rival the intensity of “The Game” between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines. The two storied programs will face off once again on Saturday. No. 2 Ohio State is riding high after a decisive 38-15 victory over No. 5 Indiana, marking Curt Cignetti’s first loss of the season and extending the Buckeyes’ dominance over the Hoosiers to 29 straight wins.
Michigan, meanwhile, has faced challenges in 2024 following their national championship triumph over Washington in 2023. After a stellar 15-win season, the Wolverines are just 6-5 heading into this weekend. The offseason departure of Jim Harbaugh to the NFL has left Sherrone Moore, the former offensive coordinator, at the helm in Ann Arbor.
Ohio State opened the season with five consecutive wins but stumbled in a narrow 32-31 loss to Oregon. However, the Buckeyes have rebounded strongly, winning their last five games. Historically, Michigan leads the rivalry with a 61-51-6 record and is currently on a three-game win streak against the Buckeyes. However, ESPN SP+ predicts that Ohio State will end that streak this year with a commanding 36-10 victory, giving the Buckeyes a 94% chance of winning.
This year’s edition of The Game” carries extra weight for Ohio State, as the Buckeyes sit in second place in the Big Ten standings and aim to solidify their position in the postseason race.