Deadspin | No. 1 Ohio State looks for redemption vs. No. 15 Michigan

Deadspin | No. 1 Ohio State looks for redemption vs. No. 15 Michigan

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day talks to quarterback Lincoln Kienholz (3) during the second half of the NCAA football game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 22, 2025. Ohio State won 42-9.

Whether Ohio State has its top receivers available has not been determined, at least publicly, but the possible absences of Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate won’t diminish the stakes when the No. 1 Buckeyes play at No. 15 Michigan in Ann Arbor on Saturday.

Tate has missed the past three games and Smith sat last week vs. Rutgers, each with undisclosed injuries. Coach Ryan Day said Tuesday their status may not be known until closer to kickoff.

“They’re going to continue to get some rest tonight, had a good day of rehab,” Day said. “So, we’ll wake up in the morning and see how they’re doing, but nobody wants to play more than those two guys.

“In the end, we’ll look to the medical staff to give us a thumbs up or not.”

Smith on teammate Caleb Downs’ “Downs 2 Business” podcast this week said he “should be good to go.”

Tate and Smith are semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award which goes to the NCAA’s outstanding receiver. Smith has 69 receptions for 902 yards and 10 touchdowns; Tate has 39 catches for 711 yards and seven touchdowns.

“The receivers are elite. Four, Jeremiah (Smith) is elite. Carnell Tate is elite,” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said. “They got Brandon Inniss, he’s elite. The tight end, Max Klare, is a really good player as well. The quarterback is elite. They’ve got elite players everywhere on the field from a skill position standpoint.”

Of course, if one or both of the star receivers are out it could impact how the Buckeyes (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) go about ending a four-game losing streak to Michigan (9-2, 7-1 Big Ten).

Michigan is dealing with injuries as well. Fullback Max Bredeson, who suffered a leg injury in the most recent game against Maryland, is expected to play as are receiver Semaj Morgan and running back Jordan Marshall.

An Ohio State win puts the Buckeyes in the Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 6 in Indianapolis. The Wolverines must win and have either No. 2 Indiana (vs. Purdue) or No. 6 Oregon (against Washington) lose to qualify.

A Michigan win and an Indiana loss pits the Wolverines vs. Oregon; if Michigan wins and Oregon loses it will be the Wolverines and Hoosiers.

Then it gets interesting. If Michigan wins and Indiana and Oregon are upset, then the Buckeyes and Wolverines will have a rematch.

Ohio State has won 15 straight beginning with four games to win the 2024 CFP championship. Its last loss was a stunning 13-10 home loss to unranked Michigan, a 21 1/2-point underdog, last season and resulted in a postgame brawl when Michigan players attempted to plant a flag at midfield.

Neither coach expects a repeat of those hostilities.

“You have to play with emotion, but you can’t let it play with you,” Day said. “You have to learn to use it as a nitrous, not as a primary fuel source.”

Moore said the matchup is different than any other.

“It’s a feeling that you can’t describe. It’s an intensity. It’s just an aura about it that you can’t describe until you get on the field, but it’s awesome to be a part of,” he said. “It’s great to be a part of this. It’s the best rivalry in sports.”

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #Ohio #State #redemption #Michigan

Quarterfinals got underway on Thursday in Boston, with the first match between Morocco and France. In addition to those two teams six others — Spain, Belgium, England, Norway, Argentina, and Switzerland — are still alive in pursuit of glory.

But by Sunday morning, only four teams will remain.

Here are the teams that have booked a spot in the Semifinals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This will be updated as teams advance.

France became the first team to advance to the Semifinals with a 2-0 win over Morocco on Thursday in Boston. Kylian Mbappé won a penalty in the first half, but keeper Yassine Bounou guessed right and made the save to keep the match level, and that is how the first half ended with the score 0-0.

But France broke through in the second half, first with a stunning strike from Mbappé:

And then this goal from Ousmane Dembélé, where you see the impact of Mbappé’s gravity as he runs through the box:

France now awaits the winner of Friday’s match between Spain and Belgium.

Spain and Belgium were level for nearly 90 minutes. Fabián Ruiz scored in the 30th minute to give Spain an early lead, but Charles De Ketelaere pulled Belgium level in the 41st minute.

But then just before stoppage time at the end of the second half, super-sub Mikel Merino was the man on the spot for Spain. He pounced on a rebound allowed by backup keeper Senne Lammens — who came in on relief of Thibaut Courtois, who appeared to suffer a knock in the 67th minute — and put Spain ahead:

That goal came days after Merino came on as a substitute and delivered the winning goal against Portugal.

#World #Cup #teams #advanced #Semifinals">World Cup 2026: What teams have advanced to the Semifinals?  Quarterfinals got underway on Thursday in Boston, with the first match between Morocco and France. In addition to those two teams six others — Spain, Belgium, England, Norway, Argentina, and Switzerland — are still alive in pursuit of glory.But by Sunday morning, only four teams will remain.Here are the teams that have booked a spot in the Semifinals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This will be updated as teams advance.France became the first team to advance to the Semifinals with a 2-0 win over Morocco on Thursday in Boston. Kylian Mbappé won a penalty in the first half, but keeper Yassine Bounou guessed right and made the save to keep the match level, and that is how the first half ended with the score 0-0.But France broke through in the second half, first with a stunning strike from Mbappé:And then this goal from Ousmane Dembélé, where you see the impact of Mbappé’s gravity as he runs through the box:France now awaits the winner of Friday’s match between Spain and Belgium.Spain and Belgium were level for nearly 90 minutes. Fabián Ruiz scored in the 30th minute to give Spain an early lead, but Charles De Ketelaere pulled Belgium level in the 41st minute.But then just before stoppage time at the end of the second half, super-sub Mikel Merino was the man on the spot for Spain. He pounced on a rebound allowed by backup keeper Senne Lammens — who came in on relief of Thibaut Courtois, who appeared to suffer a knock in the 67th minute — and put Spain ahead:That goal came days after Merino came on as a substitute and delivered the winning goal against Portugal.  #World #Cup #teams #advanced #Semifinals

Quarterfinals got underway on Thursday in Boston, with the first match between Morocco and France. In addition to those two teams six others — Spain, Belgium, England, Norway, Argentina, and Switzerland — are still alive in pursuit of glory.

But by Sunday morning, only four teams will remain.

Here are the teams that have booked a spot in the Semifinals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This will be updated as teams advance.

France became the first team to advance to the Semifinals with a 2-0 win over Morocco on Thursday in Boston. Kylian Mbappé won a penalty in the first half, but keeper Yassine Bounou guessed right and made the save to keep the match level, and that is how the first half ended with the score 0-0.

But France broke through in the second half, first with a stunning strike from Mbappé:

And then this goal from Ousmane Dembélé, where you see the impact of Mbappé’s gravity as he runs through the box:

France now awaits the winner of Friday’s match between Spain and Belgium.

Spain and Belgium were level for nearly 90 minutes. Fabián Ruiz scored in the 30th minute to give Spain an early lead, but Charles De Ketelaere pulled Belgium level in the 41st minute.

But then just before stoppage time at the end of the second half, super-sub Mikel Merino was the man on the spot for Spain. He pounced on a rebound allowed by backup keeper Senne Lammens — who came in on relief of Thibaut Courtois, who appeared to suffer a knock in the 67th minute — and put Spain ahead:

That goal came days after Merino came on as a substitute and delivered the winning goal against Portugal.

#World #Cup #teams #advanced #Semifinals">World Cup 2026: What teams have advanced to the Semifinals?

Quarterfinals got underway on Thursday in Boston, with the first match between Morocco and France. In addition to those two teams six others — Spain, Belgium, England, Norway, Argentina, and Switzerland — are still alive in pursuit of glory.

But by Sunday morning, only four teams will remain.

Here are the teams that have booked a spot in the Semifinals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This will be updated as teams advance.

France became the first team to advance to the Semifinals with a 2-0 win over Morocco on Thursday in Boston. Kylian Mbappé won a penalty in the first half, but keeper Yassine Bounou guessed right and made the save to keep the match level, and that is how the first half ended with the score 0-0.

But France broke through in the second half, first with a stunning strike from Mbappé:

And then this goal from Ousmane Dembélé, where you see the impact of Mbappé’s gravity as he runs through the box:

France now awaits the winner of Friday’s match between Spain and Belgium.

Spain and Belgium were level for nearly 90 minutes. Fabián Ruiz scored in the 30th minute to give Spain an early lead, but Charles De Ketelaere pulled Belgium level in the 41st minute.

But then just before stoppage time at the end of the second half, super-sub Mikel Merino was the man on the spot for Spain. He pounced on a rebound allowed by backup keeper Senne Lammens — who came in on relief of Thibaut Courtois, who appeared to suffer a knock in the 67th minute — and put Spain ahead:

That goal came days after Merino came on as a substitute and delivered the winning goal against Portugal.

#World #Cup #teams #advanced #Semifinals

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