The final week of the college football regular season has arrived. While this chapter is closing, the pursuit of a national championship is just beginning. This season has flown by, and now only one round of games remains, which will determine the teams heading to all four major conference title games. No conference title is yet secured, and while Ohio State is in a strong position to make the Big Ten title game, they must first defeat Michigan in The Game. It’s rivalry week between Ohio State and Michigan, and the stakes are high.
The Game is the ultimate rivalry. The intense animosity between Michigan and Ohio State always results in thrilling matchups. The Buckeyes haven’t defeated the Wolverines since 2019, but they enter this weekend as heavy favorites. Can they finally break their losing streak, or will Michigan play spoiler?
Before diving into the matchup between Donovan Edwards and predictions for the game, let’s take a closer look at both teams.
Michigan’s Struggles This Season
Michigan, the reigning national champions from January, has had a disappointing season, sitting at 6-5 with no hope for a major bowl. Although they’ll likely end up in a mid-tier bowl, a win over Ohio State would go a long way in salvaging their tough year.
This is Sherrone Moore’s first year as Michigan’s head coach, and it’s clear he didn’t inherit much from last season’s squad. The Wolverines have lost much of the talent from their championship team, and it has shown on the field.
Despite the struggles, Michigan has managed to win all three of their rivalry games. They defeated Minnesota to retain the Little Brown Jug, beat Michigan State to keep the Paul Bunyan Trophy, and topped Northwestern to hold onto the George Jewett Trophy. However, their upcoming game against Ohio State will be unlike those.
The Pressure on Ryan Day and Ohio State
Ryan Day has been impressive in the Big Ten since taking over at Ohio State—except for against Michigan. He’s lost the last three meetings with the Wolverines, and if he can’t reverse that trend this season, Buckeye fans will be extremely upset.
The situation couldn’t be set up better for Day this year. Michigan has lost most of its star players, has a new head coach and staff, and will be playing in Columbus. It’s as favorable a scenario as Day could have hoped for.
Although Ohio State is favored, rivalry games like this often defy the records. Even in years when Michigan was struggling, like during the Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke eras, the matchups were still closely contested. There were even tight games when Michigan had a good year, but Ohio State was down. The rivalry always brings drama.
Though the stakes aren’t as high as in some other seasons, The Game remains a must-watch. If Michigan is to win, they will need a huge performance from senior captain Donovan Edwards. Here are three predictions for his role in the game:
Donovan Edwards Will Score a Touchdown
For Michigan to have any chance of winning, they’ll need another standout game from Donovan Edwards. Edwards has a history of delivering in big games, and while he may not replicate his massive performance in Columbus from 2022, he will certainly find the end zone in this one.
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