ANN ARBOR — This is it. The Game. Michigan-Ohio State. And whether it’s to maintain an unbeaten record or if there are no postseason stakes involved, whether you’re a multi-touchdown favorite or underdog, this game means everything to the two programs.

Top-ranked and defending national champion Ohio State, 11-0 this season and already a lock for the playoff, will face No. 15 Michigan 9-2, 7-1, vying for a potential berth in the Big Ten title game and playoff, on Saturday at Michigan Stadium in the series’ 121st meeting.

Michigan has won four straight against Ohio State, including a 13-10 upset last year as a three-touchdown underdog in Columbus. The Buckeyes won the eight games prior to that streak.

“Anybody that says that this is just another game is crazy, because it’s not,” captain and tight end Marlin Klein said Monday. “This is The Game, and that’s for a reason.

“I can’t really tell you what it feels like. I can’t really tell you the emotions that I have when I go out there for a game like that, especially for that game. You can’t really talk about it. You got to be in it, and you got to experience it.”

This will be Sherrone Moore’s second Michigan-Ohio State coach as head coach, but he led the Wolverines to victory in 2023 as acting head coach. Much has been made of Michigan having a perceived mental edge against the Buckeyes during the four-game streak. In 2023, the Wolverines were trying to remain unbeaten and went on to win the national championship. Last year, they had just become bowl eligible a week before and had nothing but pride on the line. This year, the Wolverines have the potential, if other things fall into place, of making the Big Ten title game and the playoff.

Mental edge or not, the Wolverines simply want to beat their arch rivals.

“Whatever happened in the past doesn’t matter, so all we can do is focus on now,” Moore said. “This is a new team, new staff, new players, new coaches, new environment, different, so all we can do is focus on today, and that’s it.

“But the players on the team the previous couple year’s wins, they know what it takes to win this fight, right? They understand what the game is about. But again, they’re a different team, we’re a different team.”

Klein said Moore’s message to the team Monday was clear.

“It’s about us. It’s about Michigan. That’s what it’s always about,” Klein said of the message delivered. “There’s a playoff game. We win this one, we’re in playoffs. But you win this game, you’ll be remembered in Ann Arbor forever. We, especially as seniors, get to put our stamp on this one, which is super exciting.”

Starting left guard Gio El-Hadi, also a captain, and Klein will share their experiences from this game with the younger players, and there are quite a few of them on offense, starting with freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood. Freshman receiver Andrew Marsh also will be making his Michigan-Ohio State debut, and the offensive line starts three redshirt freshmen.

El-Hadi has been around for these games since 2021, but last year was the first he started.

“And just that feeling you get, it’s kind of like when siblings fight,” El-Hadi said of facing the Buckeyes. “You guys know that feeling when siblings fight, you have that rage. We have three guys that never played against this team, so I try to explain to them how important it is to play against this team that’s (going to) be a brawl. They throw some jabs, we throw some jabs. Be a couple uppercuts.

“The end of the day, we have to win the game. That’s what’s important.”

Winning at Ohio Stadium last year for a second straight time after not winning in that stadium since 2000 was enormous for the program, which went on to upset Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

“It was sweet winning down there last year, but it’s gonna be even better here in front of our fans and our student section, our band and just in Ann Arbor, the best place on earth,” Klein said. “Getting that win against that team at home will be huge. So just super excited for the opportunity.

ESPN’s College GameDay and Fox Big Noon Kickoff will host their shows from Ann Arbor, and Moore is more than aware of the distractions before this game. He said he wants his players to remain in the playoff mindset they’ve embraced since losing at USC before winning five straight entering this game.

“There’s a lot of things going on, but at the end of the day, we got to channel our focus on our preparation, and that’s how you win,” Moore said.

Klein said he thinks about the Michigan-Ohio State game every day.

“That’s what this game means to me,” he said. “It means everything to me. If you ask me what the greatest day of my life was, it was last year going down there and beating them in their place. It was the best day of my life so far. And just trying to repeat that this year.”

He was asked how a win Saturday would rate.

“My senior year, Senior Day, them coming to our house in front of our fans, students, band,” Klein said, “it’ll be the best day of my life.”

Injury update

Two-time captain Max Bredeson, a fullback/tight end, was in a right boot and on crutches in the second half of the game at Maryland. Moore said Bredeson had X-rays.

“Didn’t look great, but if anybody can push through it, it’s Max Bredesen,” Moore said. “So we’ll know more as we go through the week.”

Receiver Semaj Morgan and linebacker Ernest Hausmann, a captain and the team’s leading tackler, did not travel to the Maryland game last weekend.

“Semaj will be fine, and Ernest will be day to day,” Moore said.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Michigan likes to talk about the waves of defensive linemen the Wolverines can throw at teams, but not to be overlooked on offense are the waves of running backs the team has been able to rely on this season.

First, Justice Haynes took over as lead back and was among the nation’s best until he was sidelined with a foot injury. Then Jordan Marshall took on the workload with great success and became the team’s leading rusher. He suffered a shoulder injury against Northwestern last week and was on the sideline in uniform for Saturday’s game at Maryland, but he was able to rest while former walk-on Bryson Kuzdzal, who entered the Northwestern game after Marshall was hurt and had 53 yards on 15 carries, took over.

“Jordan could have (played against Maryland) if we needed him,” Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said.

But the Wolverines didn’t need him and allowed him to rest before next week’s important game against Ohio State. In Michigan’s 45-20 victory over the Terps, Kuzdzal rushed for 100 yards on 20 carries and scored three touchdowns. In the six games he had played before Maryland, Kuzdzal had 106 yards on 25 carries and one touchdown.

Haynes, Marshall and Kuzdzal each have three-touchdown games this season. Kuzdzal’s 100-yard performance was Michigan’s 12th this season – Haynes had six, Marshall, four, and freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, one. The last time U-M had four different players each with at least one 100-plus-yard rushing game was in 1998.

Kuzdzal said he had an idea this week he would get the bulk of carries.

“Because with next week’s game (against Ohio State) and everything else going on, you don’t know if you want to put them in the game,” Kuzdzal said, referring to Marshall. “But either way, I just want to prepare the same way as I can and do the best I can.”

Moore said he was pleased with the way Kuzdzal stepped up in the start.

“Doesn’t matter who’s in the game, there’s a standard of being a running back at Michigan,” Moore said. “There’s a standard being a Michigan football player that you’ve got to play with, and (Kuzdzal) played to that standard today. Ran hard, ran physical, ran tough. And that a true credit to him, to his family, being a walk on. The trust level, the trust factor we have with him is so big, and he just played a really high level for us.”

Kuzdzal said Haynes and Marshall have been in his “corner” and advised him simply to trust himself. He said he learned more about taking practice and applying it to a game.

“It’s just a lot of experience learning to settle myself down and do what I’ve been coached to do,” Kuzdzal said. “I was able to do that today.”

Injury updates

Marshall is nursing a right shoulder injury but could have played if needed against Maryland, Moore said.

“I said, I guess you’re not gonna play next week (against Ohio State),” Moore said to Marshall, who played for Cincinnati Moeller. “And he just laughed at me. He said, is that really a question?”

Two-time captain Max Bredeson, a fullback/tight end, was injured in the game but returned in the second half to the sideline with his right foot in a boot and on crutches.

“We will get further evaluation when we get home and see what happens,” Moore said.

Linebacker Ernest Hausmann, the team’s leading tackler, and receiver Semaj Morgan did not make the trip to Maryland.

“They’re just working to some things, not long-term things. Yeah, we’ll see as we go through the week.”

Marsh has solid game

Freshman receiver Andrew Marsh finished with 147 all-purpose yards — 76 receiving, including a 12-yard touchdown, 48 kickoff and 23 punt return yards.

“Andrew Marsh just kind of doing what Andrew Marsh does, making plays as a punt returner, as a kick returner,” Moore said. “He just continues to make plays so just keep putting him in different places to do it.”

Williams gets his first sack

Defensive tackle Tre Williams had one of Michigan’s three sacks of Malik Washington.

“Getting this was real special,” Williams said. “I talked to my dad this morning, and he was telling me, ‘Don’t do too much. Just be you and do your job, and the play’s gonna come to you,’ so that’s kind of what happened. Shout out my dad.”

Washington had taken three sacks all season.

“We knew that he only had got sacked three times, but I don’t think they had saw a complete defensive line that has waves like us,” Williams said. “We send waves at people. It’s not just a couple guys. We send waves and waves and waves and waves at people, and that gets really overwhelming at times for teams. I’m not surprised that we sacked him three times today. Wish we could have had more.”

ANN ARBOR — With leading rusher Justice Haynes sidelined, Michigan running back Jordan Marshall stepped in and the Wolverines did not miss a beat in the running game.

Marshall had 133 yards on 25 carries (5.3 per carry) and had a touchdown in the Wolverines’ 24-7 victory over Washington on Saturday at Michigan Stadium. Michigan finished with 187 yards against a run defense that had allowed an average 82.8 yards.

“I just pride myself in running hard,” Marshall said. “That’s how I practice. That’s how I’m going to play. I’m gonna push files, I’m gonna hit people, I’m just going to play hard. That’s what my team asked from me every single play, and I’m going to give them my best. And I think I did that for not only Justice, who’s on the sideline today, but for Coach (Tony) Alford and for our whole room is just to run hard.”

Haynes suffered an unspecified injury to his torso late in the first half at USC the previous week and did not return to the game. He practiced this week and was listed as questionable but did not play. He leads the team with 705 yards and eight rushing touchdowns and entered the game as the nation’s fourth-leading rusher averaging 117.5 yards a game.

While Haynes has distinguished himself with home-run runs — he has two 75-yard touchdowns — Marshall is more of a grind-it-out, tough-yardage runner who will drag defenders much like former Michigan back Blake Corum.

“You hand off the ball, you see him get wrapped up a little bit and like, yeah, couple more yards coming after that,” quarterback Bryce Underwood said. “So just an expectation now for him.”

Marshall, sitting to Underwood’s left at the postgame interview, said that absolutely is the expectation every time he touches the ball.

“I’m a downhill, hit-you-in-the-mouth-type of runner, and I pride myself on that and carrying piles,” Marshall said. “I’ve been doing this since high school (at Cincinnati Moeller), carrying piles, and I don’t plan on stopping.”

Marshall said Haynes didn’t offer much advice before the game, because he didn’t have to. The running backs, he said, trust each other.

“He knows what I can do. I know what he can do,” Marshall said. “He just gave me that look, and he doesn’t need to say anything for me to know what I’m going to go out there and do. And I told the guys before the game, in the running back room, we talk about being the most connected team and most connected program.

“When one of your brothers are down or not playing, you got to play for them. Justice was doing everything he could this week to get out there and play with his team and couldn’t go before the game, and I know I was going to have to carry the load today and help this team win. And again, just putting us in the position to win is all I ever asked for. And playing relentless and with 100% effort every single play is what I’m going to give every single time I step out there.”

Injury updates

Starting left tackle Evan Link suffered an injury to his left leg early in the game, and after being surrounded by his teammates, he was taken off the field on a cart.

“It doesn’t look too good,” Moore said of Link’s injury. “I know it was a lower-body thing, but we’ll see how he does.”

Blake Frazier filled in for Link.

There were several absences from the game on Saturday. Haynes went through some pregame drills but was ruled out. He was listed as “questionable” on the availability list issued two hours before kickoff by the Big Ten.

Safeties Rod Moore and Brandyn Hillman did not appear on the Big Ten list but were considered by Michigan to be “game-time” decisions. They did not play. Also out was tight end Hogan Hansen. A Michigan spokesman said the Big Ten was informed before the game he would not be playing.

“They practiced through the week,” Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said. “We always err on the side (of caution) even sometimes when they want to go, making sure they’re full strength before we do anything. “They were just game-time decisions. (Moore) practiced these past couple days, but again, you’re always going to do what’s in the best interest of the kid, even if they want to go. He probably could have gone, but we just felt like it wasn’t that time.”

Moore said he watched pregame warm-ups to make sure players were capable of playing.

“Guys that practice leading up to the game, you feel like they’re ready,” Moore said. “You get to the game, they go through warm-ups and you say, OK, that doesn’t look exactly right. Those are the things we make decisions off of.”

Linebacker Ernest Hausmann, the team’s leading tackler who had seven against the Huskies, went down late in game with what looked like a lower left leg injury. He walked off the field unassisted.

“He’ll be fine,” Moore said.

Hanging on to the trophy

Tight end Zack Marshall entered the game against Washington having caught three passes for 29 yards during his career. With tight ends Marlin Klein and Hogan Hansen out, Marshall became an important target for Underwood.

Marshall was targeted seven times and made five catches for a team-best 72 receiving yards including a 10-yard touchdown pass from Underwood. Marshall was asked what he saw on the touchdown reception.

“A lot of grass,” Marshall said. “It was pretty fun. They attached to the back, I got open. I mean, it’s how you draw it up.”

Marshall brought the football he caught for his first touchdown to the postgame interview and was asked what he’s going to do with it.

“I’m gonna put it straight into my backpack, put it right on the wall,” Marshall said. “I’m never touching those gloves again. I mean, I’m excited.”

LOS ANGELES — Michigan’s Zeke Berry had an interception, and Jaishawn Barham forced a fumble that Derrick Moore recovered.

Those were the positives for Michigan’s defense.

But in a 31-13 loss to USC on Saturday at the L.A. Coliseum, those seem like footnotes. The bigger part — no, the biggest part — of the story was the tackling. That was evident from the start of the game when the Trojans drove 75 yards on 11 plays to open the scoring on a 2-yard touchdown pass, and at the start of the second half when they built a 21-7 lead scoring on their first possession on a 15-yard run.

“They played really well,” Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said. “We didn’t tackle very well. We’ve tackled a lot better. Just too many opportunities, big plays, third-down conversions, scoring at the beginning of the game and half. We just got to do better job of rallying those things. But credit to them Credit to their game plan. No excuses. We got to continue to attack and get better.”

Safety Rod Moore, a two-time captain, was asked what he thought about Sherrone Moore’s assessment of the defense.

“We’ve got to get better at tackling,” Rod Moore said, flatly.

He was asked again about the performance.

“Got to get better at tackling,” he said.

Clearly, that had been the message they received after the game.

“We’ve got to get better as a team, really,” Berry said.

Haynes update

Justice Haynes entered the game as the nation’s third-leading rusher, averaging 130.8 yards a game and had rushed for 100 yards or more in the five previous games.

He headed to the locker room with 3:09 left in the first half and did return to the sideline in the second half, rode the bike but never got back on the field. He finished with 55 yards on 10 carries.

“He’ll be OK,” Sherrone Moore said. “We’ll see how he goes as we go through the week.”

It was unclear what the injury was, although it looked like possibly a rib or abdominal issue. Moore said it was “something in his side.”

“He came back out, was working through it,” Moore said. “Probably could have went in. Extra cautious on our student-athletes when anything happens to them. We want to make sure they’re OK.”

Not affected by the crowd

USC coach Lincoln Riley thought the sold-out crowd of 75,500 at the Coliseum played a significant role in the outcome. There were a large number of Michigan fans, but this was clearly a home team advantage.

“That’s what it should feel like in and I can’t tell you the difference it makes,” Riley told reporters after the game. “You could just feel the impact of our crowd tonight. You could feel the energy. It impacted the game. I felt like it impacted the opponent. That’s what great home crowds should do.”

Michigan running back Jordan Marshall said he did not feel the Wolverines were influenced by the crowd.

“We’re playing at the Coliseum, it’s cool but it’s nothing like Michigan,” Marshall said. “We’ve played in really good environments all year. Everybody was feeding off each other. This is just another place to play. We play in front of 110, 111,000 every week. Everyone was saying how the environment was going to be crazy — it wasn’t Michigan.”