Michigan's slim chances of beating Ohio State take another hit

Michigan’s chances of upsetting No. 2 Ohio State in "The Game" at "The Horseshoe" in Columbus took another hit Friday.

According to Pete Thamel of ESPN.com, Michigan cornerback Will Johnson (6-foot-2, 202 pounds) is not expected to play against the Buckeyes. He has not played since Oct. 19, when he left a game against Illinois with a toe injury.

Johnson is the Wolverines' top NFL prospect, with Pro Football Focus ranking him the second-best cornerback behind Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter.

Per FanDuel, as of Friday, Michigan — which has won three straight in the series — is an 18.5-point underdog. The losing streak to Michigan led Ohio State to go all-in on the transfer portal with an NIL war chest of $20M after the 2023 season, per ESPN.com.

Under first-year head coach Sherrone Moore, the defending national champion Wolverines (6-5) have underwhelmed this season. Among Michigan's losses are a 31-12 defeat to No. 3 Texas and a 20-15 loss to No. 10 Indiana.

Meanwhile, with a win over Michigan, Ohio State (10-1) can clinch a bid in the Big Ten title game against No. 1 Oregon, the only team to beat the Buckeyes this season.

Should Ohio State lose to Michigan, it could lead to Penn State (10-1) or Indiana (10-1) playing Oregon (11-0) in the Big Ten title game, per The Sporting News. 

If Johnson doesn't play Saturday, his college career may be over.

With six wins, Michigan has qualified for a bowl game, but it won't be of the top-tier variety it has been accustomed to in recent seasons. There's no reason for Johnson to play in a meaningless bowl.

This is a disappointing season for Michigan and its star cornerback — one that could get much worse following a losing result, as expected, in "The Game."