Not only is the Ohio State Buckeyes' (8) rivalry game with the Michigan Wolverines (10) exciting this year, it will be a high stakes slugfest.
The quick revival to the premier rivalry in college football was due in no small part to Jim Harbaugh, who left his NFL job to helm the Wolverines. Harbaugh's eccentric approach and iron defense will be put to the test when the Buckeyes come to the Big House for both teams' regular season finale.
Click here to listen to the game live via TuneIn. You can also watch the game live via WatchESPN. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Harbaugh's Michigan defense is allowing 14.9 points, 100.2 rushing yards, and 162.9 passing yards per game, all of which are among the 10 best figures in the nation. Ohio State put up 38 on a tough Penn State defense, but Michigan represents a different challenge.
Not only will the Wolverines' defense look to stifle the Buckeyes' explosive playmakers, but the offense will try to keep their counterparts on the sideline. Tight end Jake Butt has caught touchdown passes in two consecutive weeks for Michigan and has seven games with an average catch per reception going for double-digit yards.
Ohio State cannot afford to leave him in favorable matchups in the red zone or on third-and-distance scenarios.
The winner of this game will be the Big Ten Eat champion, but only if Michigan State loses to Penn State (kickoff for that game is 3:30). "The Game" this year may finally have an intriguing coaching matchup, but it still comes down to the players on the field.
"I always say my reaction to the coach-versus-coach buildup is he's not going to be blocking anybody, he's not going to be tackling anybody," Harbaugh said in his weekly press conference. "I'm going to be over there standing on the sidelines blocking and tackling nobody."
(Team stats courtesy of ESPN. Rankings courtesy of the College Football Playoff.)
