Current Fox Sports college football analyst and former Ohio State head coach, Urban Meyer, sent a clear message on Thursday afternoon.  Fox Sports’ Big Noon Kic

At 8-2, the Wolverines are ranked at No. 18 in the most recent College Football Playoff ranking, where the top 12 teams at the end of the season will earn a trip to the playoff. That means Michigan still has some work to do to climb into contention, but its road to the playoff is pretty clear.

University of Michigan has its football, men's and women's basketball and hockey teams all in the top 15 in their respective national rankings.

Secondly, Michigan needs to knock off Ohio State at home. That would give Wolverines and Buckeyes an identical 8-1 conference record, but would place Michigan over Ohio State in the tie-breaker criteria, thanks to the head-to-head result. The Wolverines are currently 13.5 underdogs at home.

The Game is on, and bettors are all over the Buckeyes. Patrick Everson reports on the betting action before Ohio State-Michigan on Big Noon Kickoff.

4Q, 13:19: Michigan is moving into victory formation a bit early, putting in RB Jasper Parker as the leading rusher. He took 4 of 5 plays on this drive and rushed it six yards for the diving touchdown. Michigan extends lead to 42-13.

"The Game" has gotten a bit too important for the wrong reasons, according to a seven-time national championship coach.