How to fake it: Buckeyes seek rivalry week revenge

Reality check: That's fortunate because, on paper, this matchup seems very lopsided.

• OSU is a 20+ point favorite.

State of play: Last year was a showdown between two powerhouses, one of which faced a cheating scandal en route to a national championship.

• This year's edition of The Game pits a title contender against a team enduring its worst season in years.
• The hosting No. 2 Buckeyes are 10-1, with their only loss coming on the road against top-ranked Oregon.
• Ranked in the top 10 before the season began, the defending champs have struggled to a 6-5 record and sit tied for seventh in the Big Ten. What a pity.

The intrigue: For OSU head coach Ryan Day, this matchup is an opportunity to exorcise some demons.

• Despite Day's incredible 66-9 overall record, his teams are just 1-3 against the school's biggest rival. The lone win came in 2019.
• In an interview this week, he called his three-game Michigan losing streak "one of the worst things that's happened to me in my life."

The big picture: This season is the first with a 12-team College Football Playoff, which will feature five conference winners and the next seven highest-ranked teams across the country.

• Win or lose this weekend, the Buckeyes have likely already done enough to earn their place among the 12.

What's next: With a win, the Buckeyes head to the Big Ten championship game for a rematch with Oregon.

• With a loss, they'll watch the title game from home and await the playoff selection committee.

How to watch: The game kicks off in Columbus at noon on Fox.

• Thanks to the Wolverines' down year, resale tickets were still available starting around $200 as of Tuesday afternoon.