As expected, Ohio State is a big favorite against TTUN heading into next week's game. Early lines from FanDuel have the Buckeyes as a double-digit favorite on the road.
Now we're looking ahead a little because both teams have business to take care of this week. The Buckeyes will close out the home schedule this Saturday against Rutgers and the otther guys will be on the road against Maryland.
Ohio State opens as a 12.5 point favorite at Michigan on Nov 29 (Fanduel) pic.twitter.com/zj4Nkxors7
— The Buckeye Nut (@TheBuckeyeNut) November 19, 2025
A must-win? No. But it really is
The Buckeyes are basically a lock to make the playoffs and, with wins over the next two weeks, I'd venture to say Ohio State is a lock to get one of the four byes regardless of how the Big Ten Championship game turns out. So there's a significant margin of error.
But that doesn't mean that November 29 isn't a must-win situation. It's been five years since the Buckeyes took down those guys. Last year was one of the more painful losses in the series that either side has dealt with in recent years. It might've been the best thing for Ohio State because the team did a full reset and stormed through the CFP. But the memory of that game and the aftermath that showed the worst of people, remains.
Ohio State needs to win this game. The Buckeyes program needs to cleanse their pallet from the horrible taste of last year's results. They also need to regain the psychological advantage that's been lost over the past five years and was on display in full last season. Once again, those guys will be playing with house money. They've got nothing to lose and nowhere to go after next week. The Buckeyes have plenty more to play for, but it will be preferable for them to go into the playoffs with a clear head and not answering questions about the rival.
Winning is important, but winning big would be nice
The power of a rivalry can't be overstated and beating a rival in their house is a thing of beauty. It's no surprise that the Buckeyes are big favorites. They are the much better team by leaps and bounds. Ohio State is expected to win and just winning the game is enough, especially after the past four results.
But winning big and taking over their house is what Buckeye fans want. It's not just about proving who the best team is, it's about giving those guys a beating that they'll remember for a long time.