The Ohio State Buckeyes enter Saturday's game in Ann Arbor, "The Game," as a multiple-score favorite against TTUN. That certainly doesn't guarantee victory, though, as the last few years have shown.
Cleveland.com's Andrew Gillis worries that the Wolverines' freshman phenom quarterback, Bryce Underwood, could be the player who Buckeye fans remember for decades in a negative light because of one moment, a la former Heisman-winning receiver Desmond Howard.
"Now, Underwood, barring injury or an unexpected transfer, will play in his first of three, or maybe even four, Ohio State-Michigan games. With all the momentum from The Game on his team’s side, he’s got the chance to be in the minds of Buckeye fans for decades with two, three, or maybe even four victories," Gillis wrote.
"Even prior villains, like Desmond Howard, in the storied history of the matchup can be known for a single (albeit painful) moment. In the 1989 game, Howard had one kickoff return for 35 yards. In the 1990 game, he posted five catches for 73 yards and a score and returned just one punt for 14 yards."
"And in the 1991 game, he had just one catch for 4 yards -- but his 93-yard punt return for a touchdown, and ensuing Heisman Trophy pose, is forever etched in the history of the rivalry for both sides."
"Now, there’s a player at the sport’s most important position who is set to face off against Ohio State -- with two scheduled games in his career at home in Ann Arbor -- that will have every chance to become one of the more memorable figures in The Game’s history."
Despite the dominance Ohio State has displayed all season, ranking No. 1 in ESPN's FPI, it's telling that beat writers in the Buckeye State are starting to get nervous during game week. Certainly, the fact that it's looking like it'll snow is a nerve-racking thought.
CBS Sports' Robby Kalland actually believes the snow could be an X factor when the two teams take the field at the "Big House." Kalland doubts Ryan Day and Brian Hartline will be calling an excess of passing plays, which effectively takes their biggest strengths -- namely, Julian Sayin's arm, Jeremiah Smith, and Carnell Tate -- and lean heavily on true freshman running back Bo Jackson.
"It is going to be 31 degrees and snowy in the Big House on Saturday afternoon and I legitimately cannot wait to watch this game," Kalland prefaced before saying, "Ohio State has been unbelievable all season. The defense is spectacular and they haven't been truly pushed by a team since the opener against Texas -- and even then, they were in control of that one all game. Now they face a Michigan team that has brought out the worst in Ryan Day and the Buckeyes in recent years.
"Last year's game was the ultimate example of this, as Day was insistent on trying to out-physical the Wolverines, which has only served to play into Michigan's favor. This year's Ohio State team seems perfectly built to avoid that trap this year -- they are fantastic passing it with an embarrassment of riches at receiver and have been mediocre running it -- but the weather will give Day pause at opening it up."
There are a lot of signs of worry.
That could either set up an even more triumphant win or take the wind out of OSU's sails ahead of the Big Ten Championship and the College Football Playoff.