Scarlet and Game
Fansided

Ohio State Football: Is this the biggest version of The Game?

By Ryan Stano

COLUMBUS, OHIO - NOVEMBER 26: Lathan Ransom #12 of the Ohio State Buckeyes breaks up a pass intended for Cornelius Johnson #6 of the Michigan Wolverines during the fourth quarter of a game at Ohio Stadium on November 26, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - NOVEMBER 26: Lathan Ransom #12 of the Ohio State Buckeyes breaks up a pass intended for Cornelius Johnson #6 of the Michigan Wolverines during the fourth quarter of a game at Ohio Stadium on November 26, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Ohio State football team is preparing for the biggest game of the season. We all know that The Game is big this season, with the winner punching their ticket into the Big Ten Championship Game and more than likely the College Football Playoff.

Ohio State is ranked second by the CFP while Michigan is ranked third. Yet, the Buckeyes and Wolverines have played while both teams are higher ranked. Those matchups are the ones you tend to think about when discussing the biggest iterations of this game.

Right now, the #1 vs. #2 matchup in 2006 looms as the biggest version of The Game. The winner of that game was playing for a national championship. Heck, there were even discussions about a rematch in the title game. But has this year’s version of the game surpassed that?

The stakes are still large, as I listed at the top. But the reason why this question has to be asked is because of everything swirling around off the field around these two programs. Michigan is caught up in one of the biggest on-field scandals we’ve seen in collegiate athletics.

Ohio State football fans are convinced that Jim Harbaugh knew and should get a full-season suspension and that wins should be vacated. Michigan fans are (wrongly) convinced that Ryan Day had something to do with this investigation getting started by getting a PI firm that his brother is involved in to illegally obtain evidence in this investigation.

There is just hate spewing from both fanbases. Both teams will be as juiced as ever to play this game. TTUN wants to win one for their coach, who in their minds, has been wrongly accused of malfeasance. Ohio State wants to win to prove that the only reason TTUN won the last two years is because they cheated.

There is so much at stake in this year’s version of The Game that I have to say it might be the biggest version of it yet. I’m as nervous as I’ve ever been about it despite thinking the Buckeyes will still win. But I too have hatred towards TTUN and their fans for the lies they have spewed over the last few weeks.

Next. Three bold predictions for The Game. dark

Honestly, I just can’t wait until Saturday when all this can get settled on the field.

Home/Ohio State Football