Michigan at Ohio State: What you need to know about 118th playing of The Game

Where: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

TV/Radio: FOX/1410

Series history: Michigan leads 59-52-6, but Ohio State has a 28-27-2 advantage in Columbus.

Last meeting: Hassan Haskins ran for 169 yards and five touchdowns as Michigan snapped an eight-game losing streak in the series with a 42-27 victory in Ann Arbor last season. C.J. Stroud threw for 394 yards and two touchdowns for the Buckeyes.

Coaches: Ohio State’s Ryan Day is 45-4 in four seasons, including 31–1 in the Big Ten and 1-1 against Michigan. Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh is 72-24 in eight seasons at Michigan and 130-51 overall in 15 seasons as a college football head coach. Harbaugh is 1-5 against Ohio State as a coach.

Ohio State notes: The Buckeyes are national top 10 in four notable stats: 9th in total defense (283.4 yards per game), 10th in points allowed (16.9 ppg), 2nd in scoring (46.5 ppg.) and 8th in total offense (492.7)… C.J. Stroud leads the nation in passing efficiency and touchdown passes (35)… Tommy Eichenberg leads the Big Ten in solo tackles (67)…Ohio State is 2nd in the country in red zone offense but 118th in red zone defense… Ohio State has five players from Michigan: DB Cam Martinez (Muskegon), RB Cayden Saunders and WR Kai Saunders (Northville), snapper Bradley Robinson (Troy) and OL Grant Toutant (Warren)… Ohio State will wear new cleats from the LeBron James collection.

Michigan notes: The Wolverines have not allowed a point in the fourth quarter in the last six games… Michigan has scored on its opening possession nine times with seven touchdowns this season… Michigan is 9th in the nation in scoring (39.4 ppg.) and 2nd in scoring defense (11.7 ppg.)…The Wolverines has outscored opponents 210-67 in the first half this season… Michigan has won 13 straight Big Ten games… QB J.J. McCarthy has won his first 10 starts, matching Dennis Franklin’s record set in 1972 for starts at Michigan without a loss…Jake Moody leads the country in field goals (2.3 per game) and points (122)… RB Blake Corum is second in the country with 114 points… Michigan has six players from Ohio: DB Rod Moore (Northmont), TE Erick All (Fairfield), TE Joel Honigford (Sugarcreek Garaway), DB Caden Kolesar (Lakewood St. Edward), P Brad Robbins (Westerville South) and LB Joey Velazquez (Columbus DeSales)... Moore and All are starters, but All is out for the season because of injury.

Quoted: Harbaugh on Ohio State: “I think they’re a really good team, improved team. It’s a tremendous team. We’re very grateful to be in this position, to be playing in this game. Winner takes the East. Winner takes all right there. Strong opponent and it’s the kind of situation that gives you the opportunity to display how strong our team is. There’s no need to hate. Be grateful for the opponent. It’s like superheroes. It’s through a strong opponent that you get to find out who you are.”

Next week: The winner will travel to Indianapolis next week to take on the Big Ten West champion in the Big Ten Conference Championship Game. The loser’s regular season is over.

Prediction: Ohio State 38, Michigan 23