Michigan vs Ohio State: What a Win Means for Both Teams

As the Michigan vs Ohio State game moves closer, we look at what is at stake for both teams on Saturday in one of the most important games of the 2022 season. 

The Game. Few, if any, rivalries can say they’re at the same level as Michigan vs Ohio State. In the past decade, the rivalry has been incredibly one-sided, with the Buckeyes owning the Wolverines. However, Michigan’s win last year skyrocketed them not just to a Big 10 championship and a playoff berth, but to legitimate respect at the national level.

Now, the two teams are back, and the stakes are higher than ever. Both teams are 11-0 and stand at #2 and #3 in the country. A win or loss will have program-altering implications for both teams. In one of the biggest games this rivalry has seen, here is what The Game means for each team.

Ohio State: A Return to Normalcy

For the Buckeyes, a win over Michigan football would reassert themselves as the team to beat in the Big 10 and one of few teams capable of competing for a national title. They largely are that team as is, Michigan has challenged that status recently. Last year’s loss turned what was otherwise a great season into a bit of an afterthought, and Ohio State needs to send the college football world a reminder that they are indeed the king of the north.

A win leaves no doubt about this. Michigan’s win last year could be deemed a one-off instance, and perhaps even a fluke. The Buckeyes get back to business as usual, focusing on one goal: winning a national championship. Not beating Michigan football, not winning the B1G, but competing and winning at the highest level.