Preview: Ohio State vs. Michigan

Who: Ohio State (11-0, 7-0 Big Ten) at Michigan (7-4, 3-4)

When: noon, today

Where: Michigan Stadium

TV, radio: ABC, 1410

Series history: This is the 110th meeting in the rivalry. The OSU-Michigan game has concluded the regular season every year since 1935 except in 1942. With World War II raging, the Buckeyes played a military team, the Iowa Seahawks, that year.

While Michigan leads the all-time series 58-45-6, OSU has a 33-27-2 edge since Woody Hayes’ first season in 1951 (although the 2010 victory was vacated because of NCAA sanctions). Its overall record at Michigan is 20-31-4.

Stat pack: OSU QB Braxton Miller 132-195 (67.7 percent), 1,626 yards, 19 TDs, 4 ints, 738 rushing yards, 6.4 avg., 5 TDs; RB Carlos Hyde 1,064 yards, 7.7 avg., 13 TDs, 12 catches, 104 yards, 2 TDs; WR Corey Brown 49 catches, 596 yards, 9 TDs.

UM QB Devin Gardner 176-300 (58.7 percent), 2,509 yards, 17 TDs, 11 ints, 473 rushing yards, 3.0 avg., 10 TDs; RB Fitzgerald Toussaint 613 yards, 3.4 avg., 11 TDs; WR Jeremy Gallon 71 catches, 1,109 yards, 8 TDs.

Worth noting: Ohio State LB Ryan Shazier needs eight tackles for loss in the final three games to break the school record of 26 set by Mike Vrabel in 1995. Hyde has rushed for 938 yards in his last six games, an average of 156.3. Miller has run for 328 yards in his last two games.

Spoiler alert: Michigan has upended undefeated OSU seasons in the past, including three times in the 1990s. In '93, the Wolverines had four losses but beat the Buckeyes, 28-0. In '95, the Buckeyes had future NFL stars Eddie George, Orlando Pace, Terry Glenn and Vrabel but were bullied by the Wolverines as Tim Biakabutuka ran for 313 yards in a 31–23 upset. In '96, an 8-3 Michigan team beat the No. 2 Buckeyes in Ohio Stadium, 13-9, getting a decisive TD through the air on DB Shawn Springs' infamous slip while in coverage.

Road concerns: Michigan will be the toughest road opponent this year for the Buckeyes, who have beaten Cal, Illinois, Purdue and Northwestern away from home. Those teams are a combined 1-29 in conference games. The lone win was Illinois over Purdue.

Quote: Urban Meyer knows Michigan can salvage its season with a win, but he was quick to point out that the clash between the rivals is no less important to the Buckeyes. "This is a one-game season for both teams," he said.

Prediction: Ohio State 30, Michigan 20

— Doug Harris

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