The Wolverine Now

Nov. 27, 2013 Game Facts What: Michigan vs. Ohio State. When: Nov. 30 • 12 p.m. Radio-TV: ABC will televise the game nationally. The game can be heard on the Michigan Sports Network (950 AM in the Detroit area and on both the Armed Services Radio and SiriusXM channel 91) with longtime partners Frank Beckmann and Jim Brandstatter, and sideline reporter Doug Karsch. Coaches: Michigan: Brady Hoke (26-11, third season). Ohio State: Urban Meyer (23-0, second season). History: Michigan leads Ohio State 5845-6, last beating the Buckeyes 40-34 in 2011. Ohio State Notes: OSU's winning streak is the fifth longest in Big Ten history (Michigan is No. 1 with 29 in a row from 1901-03), the conference's longest in the last 50 years and the nation's current longest, ahead of Alabama (15 games) … Ohio State will unveil its fifth different uniform combination this weekend … Head coach Urban Meyer is 33-3 in November games since the 2003 season … Since Woody Hayes' arrival in 1951, the Buckeyes are 32-27-2 against Michigan … OSU has had perfect seasons spoiled by Michigan in 1969 (8-0), 1973 (9-0), 1993 (10-0-1), 1995 (11-0) and 1996 (10-0). It's Not Just AnotherThe Buckeyes Game Despite U-M's Struggles, Are Giving The Rivalry Its Due T By Michael Spath he Michigan-Ohio State game is consistently voted among the top rivalries in all of sports, yet among U-M fans there is not the usual level of passion this week as the Wolverines enter Saturday as a twotouchdown underdog. In Columbus, it's not just another game, though. The Buckeyes take their matchup with the Maize and Blue seriously, especially with the implications resting on a win. "With Ohio State riding a 23-game winning streak, playing in the Big Ten championship next weekend against Michigan State, and knowing that only a perfect record will be good enough to possibly play for the national title, there is a sense that regardless of Michigan's struggles, the coaches, players and the fans are treating this game like Michigan is undefeated," BuckeyeGrove.com beat writer Patrick Maks said. A year ago, Urban Meyer's first in Columbus, the Scarlet and Gray went 12-0, culminating with a 26-21 win over the Wolverines. However, OSU was not eligible for the postseason stemming from NCAA violations committed under former head coach Jim Tressel's watch. This season, there is no such impediment to realizing the pinnacle of conference and national ambition … if the Buckeyes can get by Michigan. "There is an extra pep in the step," Meyer said. "We officially started working on Michigan a day earlier than we normally do, and our players get it. I think this is special. It is different than last week. It's different than the week before. It's the rivalry game, and with teams that care about rivalries, it doesn't matter — we'll get their best game." OSU has not lost a game since Jan. 2, 2012, when it fell 24-17 to Florida in the Gator Bowl to drop to 6-7. It has not lost in the regular season since falling 40-34 to the Maize and Blue Nov. 26, 2011. Yet, the streak, which reached a school record last weekend — Ohio State had won 22 in a row from 1967-69 until stopped by U-M — may go for naught unless Alabama or Florida State lose, allowing the third-ranked Buckeyes to slip into the BCS top two and play for the title. "They could go 25-0 over two seasons and never play for a national championship," Maks said. "And that just doesn't fit the narrative for the fans. They think these guys are destined, and that the final chapter Urban Meyer is in his second year coaching Ohio State, and since he took over the program, the Buckeyes have not lost a game, going 23-0. photo by Per Kjeldsen has to end with the national championship, but that might not happen. "And even if they get to the title game, I don't know that Ohio State could beat Alabama or Florida State. Some games, I think they show they're national-championship caliber, but other days, no." Ohio State has defeated its seven Big Ten foes by a combined score of 326-141. It had close calls against Wisconsin (31-24), Northwestern (40-30), Iowa (34-24) and even Illinois (60-35), and while the Buck-

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