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Michigan vs Ohio State Preview: Will the Buckeyes End 1,829 Days of Waiting?

Originally posted on College Football News
By Pete Fiutak | Last updated Nov 27, 2024 3:07 AM ET

In the very strange and twisted world that is Ohio State football, all the wins, all the success, all the expectations, and all the fun that any normal program would be having doesn’t exist. And why?

Up until this Saturday, nothing has made sense for 1,829 days.

There’s a deep, empty void. Birds stopped chirping, flowers didn’t bloom, and maybe the sun came up once or twice, but who cares if it did?

Ohio State hasn’t beaten Michigan in college football since November 30, 2019, and for this school, that's a problem.

The Buckeyes played in a national championship (2020 season), came within a missed field goal of 99.9% winning it all (2022), and none of it mattered because TTUN - That Team Up North, for those of you living rich, fulfilling lives - is occupying every cubic inch of space rent-free in The Ohio State University’s head.

How bad is this? Ohio State will probably win, and segments of the base will still and forever be pretty far from okay.

Meanwhile, Michigan went from winning the national title to scraping by, needing a victory over Northwestern last week just to get bowl eligible.

Yeah, the Wolverines are a disappointing 6-5, but come up with one big day on Saturday and all will continue to be right with their world.

Michigan vs Ohio State: How to Watch and Game Preview

Date: Saturday, November 30, 2024
Game Time: 12:00 pm ET
How To Watch: FOX
Venue: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH
Teams: Ohio State (10-1), Michigan (6-5)
CFN Bluesky | CFN X | CFN FB
- Week 14 Schedule, Predictions

Why Michigan Will Win

There’s pressure, and then there’s this. Michigan is supposed to get obliterated.

Yeah, it’s never, ever okay to lose in this rivalry, but the Wolverines won a national title - they’re still grooving on the fumes.

This is one painfully-tight Buckeye team that plays like the world is going to implode with every play that isn’t somehow positive in a Beat Michigan sort of way.

This isn’t close to the Michigan team of the past few seasons, but the defense is still fantastic against the run, the team is 7-1 when the running game is barely mediocre - like, run for 115 yards - and for all the talent on the other side of the ball, the jaw-dropping performance against a strong team was …

Uhhhhh. Iowa? Yeah, okay, but even the good wins have been a struggle. But …

Why Ohio State Will Win

For all the pressure and all of the pain Ohio State has endured, several of the key parts - like QB Will Howard, and S Caleb Downs, and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, and RB Quinshon Junkins, and WR Jeremiah Smith - weren’t around for any of this.

Michigan is miserable on offense.

Don’t let the almost 400 yards put up on Northwestern fool you. There’s no downfield passing game whatsoever, and the ground game is hit-or-miss.

This Wolverine team has to bash away for at least 4.5 yards per carry in this, and be at least +2 in turnover margin, and own third downs on defense, and it’s not going to do any of those three.

Yes, the Ohio State offensive line is banged up, and yes, the still-strong Michigan defensive line will win its share of battles, but …

Michigan vs Ohio State: Who Will Win?

This one is on the Ohio State defense.

Last week I told you the Indiana win would be Will Howard’s day - 22-of-26 for 201 yards, two touchdowns, a not-his-fault-hit-target-in hands pick, and a whatever-you’re-into-smoking’s-out rushing TD.

Yeah, he’s going to throw two early picks.

Everyone will freak out, social media will melt down, and then the Ohio State defense will pitch an absolute gem after spotting the Wolverines a 10-0 lead.

Howard will settle in, the midrange passing game will work, and the Buckeyes will take a 14-10 lead into the locker room. And then the catharsis will kick in midway through the third quarter.

The second half domination by the Buckeye defense will be stunning.