What we know about Michigan football going into The Game vs Ohio State
Tony Garcia breaks down what we know about Michigan football going into The Game vs Ohio State on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.
There might be a winter weather warning in Ann Arbor, but Michigan Stadium will still be packed for “The Game” as No. 15 Michigan football takes on No. 1 Ohio State football in the season finale.
This year, the stakes are as high as ever, even in the realigned Big Ten and expanded College Football Playoff landscape. The Wolverines have not lost to the Buckeyes in four years. If they win on Saturday, it would crucially give them a strong argument to be included in the CFP.
For Ohio State, a victory would lock them into the Big Ten title game and give them a great chance to repeat as national champions. Not to mention, it would get the Michigan-sized monkey off the Buckeyes’ back.
Michigan is down 10-9 in the middle of the second quarter.
Watch Michigan-Ohio State on Fubo
Michigan has not lost in four years and a fifth win on Saturday would be their longest winning streak in nearly a century.
As the Wolverines try and make it five in a row, they’ll be without linebacker and captain Ernest Hausmann, who has been listed as out on the availability report pregame. The Wolverines did get some good injury news, though, as running back Jordan Marshall and fullback Max Bredeson look set to play vs. the Buckeyes.
Michigan vs Ohio State kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on Fox.
Here’s what you need to know about the The Game (which is so big that College Gameday and Fox’s Big Noon kickoff are there) on Saturday:
Michigan vs Ohio State live updates
2Q, 5:24: Ohio State 10, Michigan 9.
A 22-yard run from Michigan running back Bryson Kuzdal set up the Wolverines on the Ohio State 36-yard line, with starting running back Jordan Marshall still on the sidelines (Marshall didn’t appear in the previous series, either).
Six plays later, a five-yard loss on a rushing attempt by Kuzdal gave the Wolverines a 3rd-and-14 rom the Ohio State 30, with a screen pass to Kuzdal on the attempt going nowhere.
Michigan kicker Dominic Zvada then hit the 49-yard field goal to cut the Ohio State lead to 1 point.
2Q, 11:44: Ohio State 10, Michigan 6
On 3rd-and-6, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin found receiver Carnell Tate for an 8-yard gain to the Michigan 40-yard line. Michigan’s defense forced the Buckeyes into a 3rd-and-5 on the 35-yard line, which the Wolverines stuffed on a 0-yard gain from Buckeyes’ running back Bo Jackson.
Ohio State elected to go for it on 4th-and-5 instead of trying the long field goal, and it paid off with a 35-yard touchdown from Sayin to receiver Jeremiah Smith. The Buckeyes take the lead on the 4th-down touchdown pass, with the call upheld after a review.
End 1Q: Michigan 6, Ohio State 3.
On 3rd-and-7, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin found receiver Carnell Tate for an 8-yard gain to the Ohio State 48-yard line, picking up the first down.
Another short gain from running back Bo Jackson brought the Buckeyes to the Michigan 49-yard line as time elapsed in the first quarter. Michigan is up by three points.
Snow has made its first appearance at Michigan Stadium today, with flurries fluttering sideways in the bowl late in the first quarter.
On 3rd-and-5 from the Wolverines’ 30-yard line, Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood attempted to scramble but didn’t pick up any yardage on the play. Michigan punts for the first time in the game, and Ohio State will start on their own 37-yard line following the punt return.
1Q, 5:03: Michigan 6, Ohio State 3.
Back-to-back carries by Ohio State running back Bo Jackson gave the Buckeyes a 3rd-and-2 from their own 28-yard line to start the new drive. Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin then found tight end Will Kacmarek for a Buckeyes’ first down.
One play later, Sayin found Jackson for a 23-yard gain to bring Ohio State into Michigan territory. Jackson then found a hole on the right side for a 37-yard gain on a run, setting up a 1st-and-goal from the Michigan 3-yard line. An unsportsmanlike conduct call on linebacker Jaishawn Barham then gave the Buckeyes a new set of downs at the 2-yard line.
Two plays later, the Wolverines defense forced the Ohio State into a third-and-goal from the 1-yard line, while defensive back Mason Curtis was helped off the field with an apparent injury. Sayin attempted the quarterback draw to punch it in, with the play initially called as an Ohio State touchdown, but the play was reversed upon review, setting up a 4th-and-inches.
A false start penalty on Ohio State brought the ball back to the 6-yard line, bringing out the Buckeyes’ kicking team. Ohio State kicker Jayden Fielding made the 24-yard attempt, putting the Buckeyes on the board.
1Q, 9:42: Michigan 6, Ohio State 0.
On 2nd-and-5 from the Ohio State 32, Michigan running back Jordan Marshall picked up a first down on a 21-yard run.
That gave Michigan a 1st-and-10 from the 11-yard line. Two short gains on the ground from Marshall and quarterback Bryce Underwood gave Michigan a 3rd-and-6 from the 7-yard line, which the Wolverines couldn’t convert as Underwood overthrew his target Donaven McCulley in the end zone.
Kicker Dominic Zvada converted the 25-yard attempt, giving Michigan a 6-0 lead over the Buckeyes (with included some extracurricular shoving from both teams after the kick).
Starting from their own 25-yard line, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin began the game with a long pass attempt to Carnell Tate, but the pass fell incomplete.
His next pass fell into the hands of defensive back Jyaire Hill, giving Michigan the ball back at the Ohio State 38 yard line.
1Q, 12:37: Michigan 3, Ohio State 0.
On 3rd-and-8, quarterback Bryce Underwood attempted to find running back Jordan Marshall in the flat, but Marshall dropped the pass.
Michigan kicker Dominic Zvada split the uprights on the 45-yard field goal. Michigan has a 3-0 lead.
Starting at their own 25-yard line, Michigan’s offense broke out immediately with a 36-yard gain from running back Jordan Marshall on the first play from scrimmage. Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood then found Marshall for a 10-yard gain that brought the Wolverines to the Ohio State 29-yard line.
Two short gains on the ground from Marshall and Underwood set up a 3rd-and-8 from the 27-yard line before Ohio State called their first timeout.
The Wolverines will receive to start the game.
ESPN’s College GameDay finished off their episode in Ann Arbor with their five panelists picking the Michigan-Ohio State Game.
Two panelists, Desmond Howard and guest picker Aidan Hutchinson, picked Michigan – though neither pick was surprising as both played football at Michigan. The other three panelists (Pat McAfee, Kirk Herbstreit and Nick Saban) all picked Ohio State.
At the Fox Big Noon Kickoff desk are sports legends (and Fox broadcasters) Tom Brady and Derek Jeter. While Brady played for the Wolverines, Jeter did not, as he drafted by the New York Yankees out of Kalamazoo Central.
Michigan needs a win for a chance to make the College Football Playoff. But curiously, No. 1 Ohio State might need the win, too, since there are some tiebreaker scenarios that kick Ohio State out of the Big Ten conference title game with a loss.
Check out all the tiebreaker scenarios here.
Michigan is going with its all-blue look for today’s game against Ohio State.
Michigan’s big win over Ohio State in Columbus in 2024 caused a postgame ruckus, one that included a controversial planting of the Michigan flag at midfield, a big fight and even some pepper spray.
Revisit the altercation here. And hopefully nothing that intense takes place after the game today.
As if you needed another reason to watch ESPN’s College GameDay, Detroit Lions edge rusher (and former Michigan star) Aidan Hutchinson will be the guest picker.
We wonder which team he’ll pick for The Game …
Ohio State wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate were both listed as questionable on the team’s availability report ahead of the Michigan game. However, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, both players are expected to play after Smith missed the last game and Tate missed the previous three games.
Michigan lists six players as out on its availability report, including receiver Semaj Morgan, defensive back Rod Moore and running back Justice Haynes.
Linebacker Ernest Hausmann will also be out, while tight end Max Bredeson is listed as questionable.
Michigan vs Ohio State time
Michigan will play Ohio State on Saturday, Nov. 29, with kickoff scheduled for noon ET.
- Date: Nov. 29.
- Time: Noon ET.
- Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor.
Michigan vs Ohio State channel
The Michigan-Ohio State game will be televised on Fox. Additionally, ESPN’s College GameDay will be in Ann Arbor to host the pregame festivities.
- Kickoff: Noon ET.
- Channel: Fox (game broadcast), ESPN (College Gameday).
- Streaming: Fox One, Fubo.
- Radio: WCSX-FM 94.7 (Detroit).
Cord-cutters can stream the game on Fubo, which carries Fox.
Watch Michigan vs Ohio State on Fubo
Michigan vs Ohio State announcers
Fox will have its A-squad in town for the massive game this weekend to call Michigan vs. Ohio State on Big Noon.
- Play-by-play announcer: Gus Johnson.
- Color commentator: Joel Klatt.
- Sideline reporter: Jenny Taft.
Michigan vs Ohio State odds
- Spread: Ohio State by 9½ points.
- Over/under: 43½ points.
- Moneyline: Ohio State (-400), Michigan (+310).
Odds are courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday afternoon.
Michigan vs Ohio State prediction
Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press: No matter the talent gap this decade, Michigan has always found a way to come out on top, whether it’s a run-fest (like in 2021), long plays (2022), timely plays (2023) or an absolute stunner (2024). In that regard, it’s hard to pick Ohio State, but all the data points suggest OSU is the better team. The Buckeyes have more talent on the outside, a suffocating defense and a pent-up rage that can’t be replicated. The weather will hurt what OSU wants to do, but even still the Buckeyes are the choice. The pick: Ohio State 24, U-M 16.
Michigan football 2025 schedule
- Week 1: W, 34-17 vs New Mexico.
- Week 2: L, 24-13 at Oklahoma.
- Week 3: W, 63-3 vs Central Michigan.
- Week 4: W, 30-27 at Nebraska.
- Week 5: BYE.
- Week 6: W, 24-10 vs Wisconsin.
- Week 7: L, 31-13 vs USC.
- Week 8: W, 24-7 vs Washington.
- Week 9: W, 31-20 at Michigan State.
- Week 10: W, 21-16 vs Purdue.
- Week 11: BYE.
- Week 12: W, 24-22 at Northwestern.
- Week 13: W, 45-20 at Maryland.
- Week 14: vs Ohio State, Saturday Nov. 29, noon ET (Fox).
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Contact Matthew Auchincloss at mauchincloss@freepress.com.
Contact Christian Romo at cromo@freepress.com.
