BIG TEN EAST

Heading into 2022, Michigan was predicted to finish second in the Big Ten East while many experts projected the team to finish between nine and 11 wins. But the Wolverines proved 2021′s success wasn’t a fluke, winning their first 13 games this season while boasting a top-seven scoring offense and defense. On the latest episode of “Wolverine Confidential” podcast, MLive’s Ryan Zuke, Aaron McMann and Andrew Kahn discuss whether Michigan’s 2022 season should be categorized as a success. Plus, rumors of Jim Harbaugh return to the NFL are already swirling. MORE: Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh has interest from second NFL team, reports sayJust as NFL chatter returns, Jim Harbaugh faces new uphill climb at MichiganJim Harbaugh’s bowl losing streak reaches six with Michigan’s loss to TCUMichigan may be haunted by ‘What if?’ following playoff loss to TCUMichigan not discouraged by another playoff loss: ‘We’ll be back’

Before Purdue took the field against Indiana on Saturday, head coach Jeff Brohm had a chance to watch the beginning of the Michigan and Ohio State showdown for the Big Ten East crown. “Ohio State started strong and Michigan just found a way to answer and they made big plays,” Brohm said Sunday during a Big Ten conference call. When Purdue has been unranked, it has reeled off five wins against ranked teams, including three against top-three teams: 2018 vs. No. “We try to get better each and every week,” Brohm said of Purdue’s propensity to upset opponents. “Without question, we’re playing, if not the top team in the country, one of the tops teams,” Brohm said.

It likely cemented their second straight berth in the College Football Playoff. 2 Ohio State and likely will jump one spot when the selection committee releases updated rankings Tuesday night. If all four win this week, the Wolverines likely will finish No. If the Boilermakers play spoiler on Saturday and TCU and USC both win, the Wolverines drop to No. Or if LSU beats Georgia, Michigan could be No.

The third-ranked Wolverines uncorked their passing attack for the first time in months on Saturday and leaned on a career day from Donovan Edwards, knocking unbeaten Ohio State, 45-23, to claim the Big Ten East division title for a second straight year. Their victory, the second straight over the archrival Buckeyes, means Michigan will play for a Big Ten championship next Saturday, Dec. 3, in Indianapolis. That left the Wolverines (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten) without much of a rushing attack ... until Edwards went off in the fourth quarter. Ohio State was flagged nine times for 91 yards on the day. Yet Jim Harbaugh’s team found a way to endure, playing through the growing pains of the first few minutes to settle in and stun Ohio State for a second straight year.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The 2022 Ohio State vs. Michigan football game Saturday in Columbus features an epic matchup of 11-0 teams that will decide the Big Ten East title and a spot in the Big Ten Championship game. Turner vs. Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.:D.J. How he could impact this gameEvery game, it seems like Turner is making plays on the ball. With Harrison standing at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, he would have a clear edge on any 50-50 balls. Single-high safety plus man-to-man cover equals a Marvin Harrison Jr. touchdown.

Since the Big Ten split into its current divisions in 2014, no East winner has had more than one conference loss.

2 Ohio State are playing for the Big Ten East crown on Saturday, and MLive will be there throughout providing live updates. Michigan has won three straight since losing to MSU on Oct. 30 and is coming off a 59-18 win over Maryland. The Buckeyes have scored 118 points in their past two wins over Purdue and Ohio State. PREGAME READING: Michigan’s best chance to beat Ohio State? Play keep awayMichigan vs. Ohio State score predictions from MLive’s beat writers‘We used to win’: How to talk to your kids about Michigan’s losing streak to Ohio State‘This is why I came back.’ For Aidan Hutchinson, final game at Michigan Stadium doesn’t get any biggerThe greatest top-10 matchups in the Michigan-Ohio State rivalryMichigan’s biggest challenge vs. Ohio State?

There’s no shortage of intriguing storylines heading into Saturday’s showdown between No. 6 Michigan and No. 2 Ohio State in Ann Arbor. The two rivals will meet in a top-10 matchup for the 24th time, and this year, a Big Ten East crown is on the line. The Wolverines (10-1, 7-1) have had a resurgence in 2021 under seventh-year head coach Jim Harbaugh, but they will face their toughest challenge yet against the red-hot Buckeyes (10-1, 8-0).

ANN ARBOR – With Michigan and Ohio State playing at the end of the regular season since 1935, albeit with a few exceptions, stakes are usually higher than just bragging rights. The two storied programs will meet as top-10 teams for the 24th time on Saturday, and a Big Ten East crown is the prize.

2 Ohio State is for the Big Ten East crown, and a special guest joins the latest episode of “Wolverine Confidential” podcast to preview the top-10 matchup. Former Michigan standout tight end Jake Butt has a deeper understanding of the rivalry than most having grown up 15 minutes from Columbus in a family full of Buckeyes fans. Butt played four seasons at Michigan from 2013-16 and still bleeds maize and blue. Listen to the podcast below as he shares his keys to Saturday’s game, thoughts on the rivalry and the Wolverines’ current tight end room, and the launch of his own podcast. Buy Wolverines gear: Fanatics, Nike, Amazon, LidsBuy Wolverines tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek, TicketmasterStream Wolverines games live: fuboTV, ESPN+, Sling

8 Michigan is on the road for a second straight week, kicking off at Maryland at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Continue to refresh this page as MLive will be providing live updates throughout. Maryland (5-5, 2-5) can score (averaging 26.9 points per game) and can move the ball (averaging 433.3 yards per game), but it is prone to turning the ball over. Its defense also has struggled this season, allowing 31.4 points and 415.7 yards per game, which both rank in the bottom three of the Big Ten. Michigan has won each of the past five meetings in the series by more than 20 points.

Michigan football made a statement with its victory at Penn State this weekend, and now it’s time to start talking about the Big Ten title race.

ANN ARBOR – Michigan remained alive in the Big Ten East with a 29-7 victory over Indiana on Saturday. The senior made the most of the added workload, totaling a career-high yards 168 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. He also had a key 20-yard reception that set up Michigan first-and-goal in the second quarter. He had a sack in the second quarter and then blew up a run play in the backfield on a third-and-2 in the fourth quarter. But he received the most playing time he has all season against Indiana and had a solid game with four tackles.

The round robin that will determine the Big Ten East champion starts this Saturday. 8 Michigan State and fifth-ranked Ohio State hosts No. 20 Penn State. 5 Ohio StateLast week’s rankings noted that Penn State might be able to beat Illinois even if quarterback Sean Clifford wasn’t yet ready to return from injury. It sets up the epic showdown with in-state rival Michigan State on Saturday.

The Wildcats have gone loss, win, loss, win, loss, win through six games and it’s easy to see that trend continuing with a trip to Ann Arbor this Saturday. IowaLW: 2; overall: 6-1; Big Ten: 3-1; next: at Wisconsin (Oct. 30)Don’t pencil the Hawkeyes into the Big Ten title game just yet. They’ve got a showdown with Michigan State on Oct. 30 (noon kickoff) but are insisting they’re not looking past Northwestern. 6 Michigan (Oct. 30)The Spartans, however, have started looking towards Michigan, as they are off this week. Ohio StateLW: 2; overall: 5-1; Big Ten: 3-0; next: at IndianaThe Buckeyes were off on Saturday and haven’t been challenged in weeks.

Michigan football steamrolled through its non-conference schedule, but now it’s time for Big Ten East games. This year, there are no pushovers in the division.

The Big Ten East is starting to look like a wide-open race, with Ohio State looking shaky and Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State all undefeated and looking strong through three weeks. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)APCOLORADO STATE vs. IOWAIowa is 119th in the country in total offense yet undefeated and ranked No. Michigan State fans may want to tune in: the Hilltoppers come to East Lansing next week. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)Mike Mulholland | MLive.comNEBRASKA vs. MICHIGAN STATEWenzel’s pick: Three games into the season, Michigan State is a much-improved team – especially on offense – and coming off a 38-17 win at Miami. I think Michigan State does enough to limit quarterback Adrian Martinez while Payton Thorne and Kenneth Walker III continue to deliver big plays for the Spartans.

Despite finishing second from the bottom in the Big Ten East, the Wolverines will face the second-place team from the Big Ten West -- a 6-2 Iowa team that hasn’t lost since Week 2. On this week’s “Wolverine Confidential” podcast, MLive’s Ryan Zuke, Aaron McMann and Andrew Kahn discuss why the Hawkeyes present a mismatch for the Wolverines and examine some of the other matchups during the Big Ten’s “Champions Week.”You can listen to this week’s podcast via the embedded player below (click here if you can’t see it), or by searching “Wolverine Confidential” on your preferred podcasting platform. Get Wolverine Confidential texts straight to your phone from our Michigan football writers. MORE: Michigan football back practicing, with plans to play Iowa‘Negative recruiting’ won’t stop at Michigan until resolution on Harbaugh’s future, ESPN analyst saysWhy is 6th-place Michigan playing 2nd-place Iowa in Big Ten football’s final week? Plus 3 other Michigan storylines we’re watching this weekMichigan football opens as big underdog vs. Iowa