The Game never needs extra plot, but this year Michigan shows up under a brand-new head coach after the wildest coaching scandal in the sport, while Ohio State returns most of the roster that just ended Michigan's 4-year run in the rivalry.
Bush’s Picks
MICHOSU
MICHOSU
OverUnder
Best BetOhio State
Ohio State returns the best skill-position trio in the country in Sayin, Jeremiah Smith, and Bo Jackson, and that's a hard group to bet against even four months out. Michigan's moneyline value depends entirely on how fast a brand-new staff installs a new offense around a quarterback who struggled as a freshman. Until Underwood shows real growth, backing the Buckeyes to win outright is the safer read.
Michigan
+Bryce Underwood back with real weapons added
+Kyle Whittingham brings a proven winning track record
−Entirely new coaching staff and scheme installed fast
−Sherrone Moore scandal fallout still looms over program
Ohio State
+Returns Heisman-finalist QB Sayin and star WR Smith
+Preseason No. 1 in early way-too-early polls
−Loses 3 top-7 defensive picks off last year's unit
−8th-toughest schedule nationally per ESPN FPI
Start with the obvious: Ohio State won 27-9 in Ann Arbor last November, snapping Michigan's 4-game win streak in the series and punching a Big Ten title-game ticket behind 3 touchdown passes from Julian Sayin. That result flipped the emotional weight of this rivalry overnight, and the offseason only piled on more drama.
Michigan's answer to that loss got complicated fast. Head coach Sherrone Moore was fired on December 10 after an investigation into an inappropriate relationship with a staffer, and he was arrested that same day on charges including home invasion and stalking. The Wolverines moved quickly, hiring Kyle Whittingham off a 177-88 career record at Utah on a 5-year, $41 million deal to run the program from 2026 through 2030.
Show fees
11:00 AM CT
Spread
ML
Total
MICH Michigan
OSU Ohio State
Whittingham inherits a quarterback who was supposed to be the face of the program already. Bryce Underwood, the 5-star headliner of Michigan's recruiting class, was often shaky as a true freshman behind an offense that finished 68th nationally in scoring. New OC Jason Beck gets a full offseason to figure out what Underwood actually is, with running back Jordan Marshall back and 5-star freshman Savion Hiter and transfer receivers JJ Buchanan and Jaime Ffrench added to the room.
