Michigan vs. Ohio State: The 120th edition of “The Game” is set to unfold this week during “Big Noon Saturday,” as the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes welcome the Michigan Wolverines (12 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app).
This historic rivalry has often influenced College Football Playoff standings, but the stakes feel different this season. The Buckeyes, with a solid cushion in the 12-team playoff format, are positioned well, while the Wolverines find themselves unranked at 6-5. This season marks a transitional phase for Michigan, as they navigate their first full year under head coach Sherrone Moore after Jim Harbaugh’s departure to the Los Angeles Chargers following a perfect 15-0 season that led to a national championship.
Despite the current dynamics, this matchup remains the centerpiece of Big Ten rivalries and is among the most celebrated in college football. Anything can happen when these two teams clash at Ohio Stadium.
Here’s Michigan-Ohio State by the numbers:
1: Ohio State’s defense has been a force this season, leading the Big Ten in opponent passing yards (151.7), total yards (241.7), and points allowed (10.7) per game.
2: Michigan defensive back Will Johnson, projected as a potential top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, has made headlines with two pick-sixes this season.
3: Michigan has achieved three consecutive victories against Ohio State, leaving Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day with a 1-3 record in this storied rivalry.
3: This number also highlights the three quarterbacks Michigan has utilized this season: Davis Warren, Jack Tuttle, and Alex Orji.
4: Both Ohio State and Michigan are facing new challenges this season with the addition of UCLA, USC, Oregon, and Washington to the Big Ten. In their combined four games against these newcomers, both teams have struggled, with a 1-3 record. Michigan’s sole victory came against USC.
4: Four of Michigan’s five losses this season have come by margins of at least two scores.
6: Ohio State has managed to restrict opponents to single-digit scores in six of their ten victories, including two shutouts. Notably, four of these games were within the conference.
7: This matchup marks the first time in seven years that neither Michigan nor Ohio State holds a ranking. The last instance was in 2017 when No. 8 Ohio State defeated unranked Michigan, 31-20, in Ann Arbor.
8: Eight of the Buckeyes’ ten victories this season have been by three or more scores. Their two closest games were a 21-17 win over Nebraska and a narrow 20-13 victory against now-No. 4 Penn State.
9: Ohio State boasts two wide receivers, Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka, who each lead the conference with nine receiving touchdowns. Smith has recorded 52 catches for 899 yards, while Egbuka has 56 receptions for 692 yards.
16: Ohio State’s first victory over Michigan came during their 16th encounter, winning 13-3 in Ann Arbor in 1919 after a long struggle that included 13 losses and 10 shutouts.
17: Michigan currently ranks 17th out of 18 teams in the Big Ten for total yards, averaging 299.7 yards per game. This is a stark contrast to the previous season when they ranked second in points and fifth in total yards.
17: In the 21st century, the Buckeyes have triumphed over the Wolverines 17 times, holding a 17-5 record in this period (the teams did not compete in 2020 due to COVID-19).
50: In Week 13, Michigan scored 50 points against Northwestern, marking their highest point total since a 52-7 victory over Indiana last season.
61: Michigan leads the all-time series against Ohio State with a record of 61-52-6.
700: Ohio State running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson have both exceeded 700 rushing yards this season, with Judkins at 759 yards and Henderson at 730 yards, showcasing their effectiveness on the field.
950: Across their storied history, Ohio State and Michigan have produced a remarkable 945 NFL draft picks, with 512 from Ohio State and 438 from Michigan.
1,000: Davis Warren stands out as the only quarterback on Michigan’s roster who has surpassed 1,000 passing yards this season, with a total of 1,064 yards.
