ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh spoke with the media Monday as the Wolverines prepare for another high-stakes matchup against the Ohio State Buckeyes in "The Game."
The Wolverines played their closest game of the season Saturday at Maryland, sputtering on offense and needing two safeties, a defensive touchdown and several fourth-quarter stops to hold off the Terrapins 31-24.
“We all know what time it is,” linebacker Michael Barrett said. “Once this game was over, we knew where our attention was going to go.”
Michigan (11-0) will try to make it three straight wins against Ohio State (11-0) next week in Ann Arbor, a monster game for a rivalry that has had more than its share. The winner faces Iowa, which slogged to another West Division title, in the Big Ten championship with a CFP spot on the line.
Harbaugh will not be on the sideline again as he serves the final of a three-game ban from the Big Ten as punishment for a sign-stealing scheme that has brought off-the-field turmoil to the Wolverines' season.
Ohio State is coming off a 37-3 win over Minnesota at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes used an explosive start to the second half to pull away from the Golden Gophers, scoring a pair of touchdowns in less than two minutes.
The quick start to the third quarter was critical, not only to the outcome, but looking ahead, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said.
“It was good to see us come out like that and give us a little bit of a cushion and then it allowed us an opportunity to get some of the guys out of the game and rested up for next week,” Day said.
The Buckeyes can now pay full attention to Michigan.