Ohio State Vs Michigan 2023: At A Glance

 This is one of, if not THE most anticipated rivalry games in the history of sports. There are so many storylines heading into this one. We have THE GAME in and of itself. Then we have the Michigan cheating scandal, the fact they hired a racist, and hired a pedophile just this season alone. You have Harbaugh not being on the sidelines and potentially could be suspended for most of next season, or he could just skip to the NFL where he wants to be anyways. You have the Buckeyes having lost to the Wolverines in back-to-back years after dominating the series for the better part of a decade plus. Then you have the winner heading to the Big Ten title game to face Iowa, and a spot in the College Football Playoffs. I think if things fell into the right place the Buckeyes could still sneak into the College Football Playoffs with a close loss at Michigan. However, I don’t think the Wolverines have that same luxury. Their quality wins and schedule are just too weak and all the other STUFF that is looming would really scare voters away with a loss on the board. 

 The Buckeyes have the far superior skill players, minus the Quarterback position. Just like the last two years, if UM is going to make it three in a row against OSU they are going to have to win the game in the trenches. Michigan needs a phone booth game even more so than the previous two games, because the Buckeyes are SIGNIFICANTLY better inside and on the defensive side of the ball than they were the previous two years.  

 Regardless it is always extremely difficult to win in Ann Arbor no matter what is going on and no matter how mediocre a University of Michigan football team is. The Buckeyes will need to play their best game of the season to win this rivalry game, and Michigan will have to play their best game BY A LOT to win this one again. The winner heads to Indianapolis to represent the Big Ten East in the Big Ten Championship game where they will play the Iowa Hawkeyes who secured their spot this week by coming from behind to defeat Illinois 15-13 in the most Iowa Hawkeye game you could imagine that started out 3-2 after the first quarter. I think everyone can agree that the winner of Michigan vs Ohio State will beat up on Iowa in the title game and walk into the College Football Playoffs.