The Buckeye Weekly Podcast

It is just one day before ‘The Game’ and here at the Big Me Kickoff we are ready for the countdown to accelerate all the way until ball meets foot up in Ann Arbor (Mich.).

We are joined by a long-time friend of the show, Michael Spath, a former coworker back at a previous shop and someone who follows this Michigan team as closely as anyone.

What is the level of excitement around the Michigan program with this game getting closer? Everyone remembers that the 2020 edition of the game was canceled, does that add anything to this one?

Can Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo change Michigan’s fortunes with a pass rush and is the Michigan pass defense as good as advertised or is that a result of who the Wolverines have played to date?

And on the other side of the ball, what to make of Blake Corum, Cade McNamara and Donovan Edwards?

Plus, a pick on the game and what this game means to Jim Harbaugh’s tenure with the Maize and Blue.

All of that and more on the Big Me Kickoff, don’t miss out.

The College Football Playoff picture is starting to take shape, with No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Alabama, No. 4 Cincinnati, and No. 5 Michigan all likely in a position to get in with wins in each of the next two weekends.

But that may not be as easy as it sounds. Four of those teams will face each other in the next two weeks, and several face potential challenges outside of those games as well.

Which of those teams is on upset alert this week? Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr break down that, and some of the other big games to watch during Rivalry Week.

The Game is back, as Ohio State and Michigan get ready to face off for the first time since 2019.

Which team will win? Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr break it all down in the latest edition of the Buckeye Weekly podcast.

- Can the Wolverines hold elite freshman RB TreVeyon Henderson in check?
- Will Hassan Haskins (and maybe Blake Corum?) be able to keep Michigan on schedule?
- Is the Wolverines' secondary ready for the challenge of CJ Stroud, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba?
- Is the Buckeyes' offensive line ready for the challenge of Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo?
- Will Michigan be able to convert in the red zone often enough to keep up with OSU?

Ohio State has succeeded with an explosive passing attack for much of the season, but the Michigan game often comes down to which team is able to control the line of scrimmage and run the ball better.

Will the Buckeyes turn to elite freshman running back TreVeyon Henderson to beat the Wolverines?

That's just one of the listener questions that Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr will answer in this special bonus episode of the Buckeye Weekly podcast.

- Is CJ Stroud on track to be the greatest quarterback in OSU history?
- Has Jim Harbaugh and Michigan changed their approach to The Game?
- Should OSU fans want the Wolverines to be good?
- How many national titles would the Buckeyes have won in the 1990s if they had beaten Michigan?

The Buckeyes play at Michigan on Saturday and the winner will then head to Indianapolis to play in the Big Ten Championship Game for a shot at a playoff berth.

More important than that, however, is that the winner of this game wins The Game.

We know you can't wait for the game, so Tom Orr and Tony Gerdeman are going to give you an idea of what's going to happen on Saturday via 14 very bold predictions.

The College Football Playoff Committee unveiled its fourth set of rankings and the Buckeyes moved up to number two this week.

Tony Gerdeman, Tom Orr, and Kevin Noon streamed live during the unveiling and discussed everything they saw and answered a constant barrage of questions from the live stream viewers.

Tony then left for the teleconference with Gary Barta and came back with the committee's reasoning on why the teams were slated where they were, including why Ohio State moved ahead of Alabama this week.

There is also plenty of Michigan talk in this episode as well.

Ohio State and Michigan both held their interview sessions in the leadup to this weekend's massive showdown between the Buckeyes and Wolverines.

While OSU's players were careful not to step on any toes, Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara raised some eyebrows with his assessment for the OSU defense.

Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr recap what they learned from OSU head coach Ryan Day and his players as they preview what's sure to be the latest legendary edition of college football's greatest rivalry.

Big Me Kickoff is here and we are wrapping up Ohio State’s big win over Michigan State. Was that a true representation of what the Ohio State offense and defense can be or was it a perfect storm for the Buckeyes against a top-10 opponent? As ‘The Game’ draws closer, fans are starting to get nervous about what Michigan was able to do last week against Maryland, was that the Wolverines rounding into form or just a result of Maryland falling into a late-season swoon? And what should we make of the upcoming College Football Playoff rankings? Join Kevin Noon on the Big Me Kickoff as he talks about all of those things plus much, much more.

Michael Citro and Chip Minnich break down Ohio State's 56-7 win over the No. 7 Michigan State Spartans, take a look at the other Big Ten games from the weekend and preview the greatest rivalry in sports, the Ohio State Buckeyes vs. the Michigan Wolverines.