The matchup between No. 2 Ohio State and third-ranked Michigan is a mere four hours away.
We've discussed nearly every storyline imaginable for this one, the biggest game in this rivalry in a decade. There's not much else left that needs to be said.
But in case you're a stats nerd, here are some numbers that might help us determine who will win Saturday's showdown between the Buckeyes and Wolverines.
Michigan has the No. 1-ranked defense in the country, allowing just 245.6 yards per game.
So, Ohio State's offense will unquestionably be facing its biggest test of the season. The Buckeyes, of course, are well-aware of that.
"Against a defense like this," head coach Urban Meyer said Monday, "you'll need every [offensive player] playing their best."
Ohio State's offense has been, let's call it inconsistent, this season. When the Buckeyes are good offensively, they're really good. When Ohio State struggles on that side of the ball, however, it has shown this season to be very beatable.
Still, though, the Buckeyes are the best offense Michigan's vaunted defense has played this year as...
Ohio State averages 493.1 yards and 43.8 points per game.
Both marks are tops in the Big Ten.
Quarterback J.T. Barrett commands the show and his stable of playmakers — Curtis Samuel, Mike Weber, Noah Brown and more — give him countless options to distribute the football to.
Samuel, in particular, is the player who needs to touch it most for the second-ranked Buckeyes. The junior running back/wide receiver/do-everything performer from Brooklyn is the only player in the country with at least 600 rushing and 600 receiving yards. Through 11 games this season...
Samuel has 790 receiving yards, 650 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns
Michigan has its own versatile weapon to counter with in Jabrill Peppers, who will play on both sides of the ball Saturday. There's potential, too, for Peppers, a hybrid outside linebacker, to match up with Samuel when he lines up in the slot for Ohio State. If that happens, it's certainly something to keep an eye on.
Peppers' biggest impact comes on defense and what he's best at is using his aggressiveness, instincts and speed to make plays around the line of scrimmage for the Wolverines. Peppers has 15 tackles for loss on the season, a number which ranks third in the Big Ten, and...
Michigan's defense ranks second nationally with 101 tackles for loss
Ohio State and Michigan have not met with this much on the line since 2006 when the teams were Nos. 1 and 2 in the country, respectively. Saturday's game is, essentially, a College Football Playoff elimination game much like that contest 10 years ago was a de-facto national semifinal.
This rivalry has been a bit one-sided of late as...
Ohio State has won 11 of the last 12 games against Michigan
The last Michigan victory in The Game came back in 2011. It's been even longer since the Wolverines won in Columbus as they have not defeated the Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium since 2000.
That could all change Saturday. If Ohio State has anything to say about it, though, the streak will continue.
