Ezekiel Elliott makes claim on Michigan-Ohio State rivalry

On Wednesday, Cowboys running back, Ezekiel Elliott took his standard questions from the media. One of the questions for the Cowboys running back pivoted away from the NFL and had him revisit his mindset from his college football days.

The series of questions started by asking Elliott about the Cowboys mentality and the excitement level to play every week. Elliott said that the Cowboys are always excited, but can’t get too high or too low. Another reporter followed up that question with a statement about Michigan week at Ohio State. The former Ohio State running back replied by saying, “Yeah, that’s the greatest rivalry in football.”

Recent history of the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry

While the Michigan Wolverines currently leads the all-time series 58-51-6, it has been all Ohio State since 2000. From 2000 to now, the Buckeyes are 17- 3 and have won eight straight against the Wolverines. The last time Michigan won was ten years ago in Ann Arbor, 40- 34. Last year the two did not play because of the COVID shortened season, but they will surely make up for it this year.

The Ohio State-Michigan game will take place in the final week of conference play on Nov 27. This game could very well decide the fate of the conference, with the winner heading to the Big Ten title game as the East representative.

Before they faceoff

But before that can happen, the Buckeyes must take care of business at home this Saturday against a huge rival and another Michigan-based school, the Michigan State Spartans. The Spartans are ranked seventh, just behind the Wolverines in the College Football Playoff rankings. Michigan State also owns a victory over Michigan after beating them two weeks ago 37- 33. The Spartans only loss came the week after beating the Wolverines to the Purdue Boilermakers. The Boilermakers earned a reputation this season for knocking off top-tier teams in the conference, but last week the Buckeyes were having none of it and beat Purdue behind an offensive explosion 59- 31.

As for the Wolverines, this Saturday, they will take on the Maryland Terrapins on the road. The Terrapins are 5-5 on the season and 2-5 in conference play. Maryland has looked good outside of playing the top ten games in the Big Ten. Unfortunately for them, this season the Michigan Wolverines are indeed a top team in the conference and a formidable foe.

If both teams can make it through this weekend unscathed, next weekend’s matchup between the two will have all the fixings to be an instant classic.