Word to Triple H- It’s time to play The Game! The latest iteration of the fabled rivalry between the Michigan Wolverines (6-5) and Ohio State Buckeyes (10-1) is upon us. Two schools in the upper echelons of CFB in terms of stature, but not current status. The circumstances aren’t quite ideal for those of a Wolverine persuasion. The team’s travel to Columbus comes with a rather macabre backdrop.

Michigan fans are in dire straits right now. They’re fearful of their worst nightmares coming to life on Saturday. The Wolverines have won 3 straight against their nemesis. During this run, they’ve rightfully run their mouths up and shoved their faces into the Buckeyes’ fans. However, karma comes for everyone, and it’s arrived at Sherrone Moore’s doorstep. Ohio State is a behemoth in its current form that is prepared for vengeance. By all accounts, Ryan Day will have his get-back and more. Even the most ardent Wolverine fans are pessimistic about their prospects of entering enemy territory. An enemy with some financial ammo they didn’t deploy to the same extent prior.

Detroit-based reporter and Michigan fan Derick Hutchinson broke down his feelings heading into Saturday. Safe to say he isn’t very confident. He took to the Detroit Sports + podcast to talk about how recent success is coming back to bite them. “[With] Ohio State, like if you can imagine being a team that has had the most obnoxious fan base in the country just laying it on you for three years in a row and then you get them at home when they’re bad. If that doesn’t motivate you to win the game, they need to blow it all up. They also pay for the biggest team money can buy… but yeah. I’m not really feeling Michigan’s chances this weekend…there will be blood”, Hutchinson said.

Amidst the concern, Hutchinson couldn’t help but take a subtle dig at the foe. Ryan Day has built the most expensive roster in the country in terms of NIL money paid. The stacked roster cost the tune of $20 Million. The discrepancy in quality between the two sets of players is apparent. Hutchinson used an analogy to drive home the money aspect, as well as make a sensational claim.

“Ryan Day is like the kid that Michigan’s been shoving in a locker for three years. Then he just went out this summer and got, like, a bunch of big friends. Now he’s coming back and it’s time to pay the price. So I think if Michigan wins, it would be probably the most surprising result of a Michigan football game in my entire lifetime”, Hutchinson said. He’s not the only one who thinks this is an unprecedented challenge. 

Michigan will need to achieve a historic feat to overcome Ohio State

The oddsmakers seem to agree with the lopsided nature of this matchup. The Michigan Wolverines opened as a massive 23.5-point underdog in Columbus. This is the biggest underdog Michigan has ever been in a football game in recorded history. At least if you remove the 2020 game against Ohio State which never got played.

The previous record was 17 points, also against Ohio State, on two occasions. There is a theme here. Michigan is never really facing quite an “insurmountable” challenge unless it’s their arch-rivals. Ironically, Michigan outright won both those games.

So will lightning strike for a 3rd time? Perhaps only on an “Anything can happen on any given Saturday” basis. The tangible benefits all side with Ohio State in this game. Ryan Day’s team have more on the line. A win would take them to the B1G Championship game. They have more strength in depth across the field. The Michigan Wolverines have locked up 6 wins and are only really playing for pride. The stakes this year aren’t as high as last season’s game. However, when these two teams take the field it is always a spectacle.