How to fake it: Your guide to the Big Game
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Drum major Clayton Callender leads Ohio State's marching band onto the field prior to a game earlier this season. Photo: Ben Jackson/Getty Images
Saturday's big game will be the talk of every Thanksgiving dinner table across Ohio.
- So if you're a casual fan at best, here's what to know to fake your way through the inevitable Buckeyes chatter.
Why it matters: Each game between Ohio State and That Team Up North is a big deal, but this year's contest is especially laden with high-stakes drama.
State of play: Both schools enter with perfect 11-0 records and have been consistently ranked among America's top college teams.
- The winner is assured a spot in the College Football Playoffs, while the loser might get snubbed.
- Buckeyes coach Ryan Day is trying to get the proverbial monkey off his back — he hasn't defeated the Wolverines since 2019, his first full season coaching the team.
The intrigue: That's enough to get the hype train rolling in a typical year, but there's also the Wolverines cheating scandal looming over everything.
Catch up quick: The Big Ten Conference found the team in violation for stealing opposing teams' play signals.
- Coach Jim Harbaugh denied any knowledge of the scheme but nevertheless accepted a three-game suspension that will carry through Saturday's game.
- That is Harbaugh's second suspension this season — regrettably, neither resulted from his preference of ordering milk with steak.
Zoom in: The Wolverines earned a victory over high-ranked Penn State earlier this month, but barely scraped by the middling Maryland Terrapins last week.
- OSU meanwhile destroyed Michigan State and Minnesota in recent tune-up games by a combined score of 75-6.
😡 If OSU wins on Saturday … fans will insist the 2021 and 2022 losses were mere flukes that resulted from TTUN cheating. (Many are already doing this.)
🙃 If they win … hoo, boy. Wolverine fans will gloat to high heaven about a three-game winning streak that continued even in their head coach's absence.
Of note: This is the first OSU-TTUN game played with legal sports betting in Ohio.
- We expect enough money will be wagered to pay off the national debt, but we'll see for sure when the statewide November totals get released.
- If you're partaking, be smart about it.