Meyer, Harbaugh have a chance to recharge a rivalry

So even if you’re a fan of a team that stinks, it just might smell a little less if Ohio State wins.

Ohio State associate director of communications Jerry Emig said the almost 700 media credentials for Saturday’s game are about twice as many as issued for a regular OSU game.

“Ohio State is very, very good in the kicking game – in all phases – so it’s a real challenge for us – and we need to step it up, in terms of our coverage game, and in terms of our protection”.

Do not screw this up. MI running back De’Veon Smith may get overlooked on the national stage, but the senior is a tough runner (5.2 ypc) and was instrumental in last week’s win. “A lot different than in the past when it was like ‘hopefully, we can pull out a big upset”. You don’t have to like each other. “So that’s my memory, and that’s how we go about our business here”.

Everyone’s up to speed on what’s at stake here, correct? Set to kickoff from The Horseshoe at noon on Saturday, the battle between Ohio State’s high-powered offense – which is now scoring 43.8 points per game – and Michigan’s shutdown, 10.9 points per game defense could potentially result in one of these teams being knocked out of contention for the College Football Playoff. If Ohio State wins and Michigan State loses, Penn State goes to the Big Ten Championship thanks to their tiebreaker.

Ohio State wide receiver Corey Smith took to social media to show off a new black and red cleat that will be worn for the game. But the victory over Ohio State was also monumental for head coach Bo Schembechler, who picked up victory No. 166 to become the winningest coach in the Wolverines’ history, a record that still stands. You have to be able to capture the passion, the emotion, and all of that not just from the players but also from the fans. “Quite frankly, I was happy to see them hire Jim Harbaugh”.

Those beat Ohio State’s numbers of 121.3 and 159.5, respectively. The defense is still all there but man, that offense looked pretty bad last week. He is questionable to play, and if he can’t, John O’Korn will fill in. Widely considered college football’s biggest rivalry, these two Big Ten powerhouses frequently dominate the standings, and attract game-day crowds that exceed 100,000 rabid followers. If that happens, so be it but that’s not the point.

The back-and-forth matchup continued when Hyde redeemed himself with a one-yard touchdown burst to give the Ohio State a seven-point advantage with 2:02 left. Many would take at least one win between the two to cancel out the suck of the other failing.

Barrett said it begins and ends with the play of the offensive line.

Both teams are 10-1, tied in the league’s East division at 7-1, and are led by maniacal coaches who move the meter as well as appreciate and understand the greatest rivalry in sports.

Rivalry Week in 2016 is going to be special, especially in Michigan’s case. Four more recruits remained committed to the team despite a four-year bowl ban and scholarship reductions and a transfer waiver that offered them the chance to go to another team without losing a year of eligibility.

We can’t put this all on Michigan State. I don’t know if you’d call it a “rut” or “down”… They talked about what a great experience this would be to cover this game.

“We kind of faced them at a time when they were in a little bit of a…”

So there it is. Don’t mess it up. Ohio State also had won seven of its previous nine matchups versus MI.

So remember Mitten State: don’t screw this up.