Your A to Z guide for Michigan football game versus Ohio State

ANN ARBOR, MI - Michigan-Ohio State may never get bigger than this Saturday.

Like many times before, the top-5 matchup on Nov. 25 between the rivals decides a Big Ten Championship Game berth and a potential College Football Playoff spot. Next season the playoff expands, so a loss in this game may not prevent a chance at a national title.

The intrigue is even higher considering Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is serving the last game of his Big Ten suspension linked to alleged sign-stealing. On the other side, Ohio State coach Ryan Day is looking for his first win against Michigan since 2019 in a series once dominated by Buckeyes.

The temperature is scalding hot considering the sign-stealing saga, with Buckeyes calling their rivals cheaters and Wolverines looking to prove otherwise in Michigan Stadium.

For those visiting the Big House, here’s all you need to know ahead of “The Game,” from parking to tailgating. to being a part of ESPN College Gameday and more.

A Michigan fan watches the final minutes of their Big Ten college football game against Ohio State at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, November 24, 2018.Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

Michigan-Ohio State game info

Kickoff: Noon

Where: Michigan Stadium

The teams: No. 2 Ohio State (11-0 beat Minnesota 37-3) at No. 3 Michigan (11-0, won at Maryland 31-24).

How to watch: Fox

Michigan-Ohio State betting odds: -4 ( Michigan football begins week favored over Ohio State, oddsmakers say )

How to buy tickets

While the game is sold out through the Michigan athletics website, the secondary market has many options.

You can still find tickets for around $399 to $533 from Stubhub , Vivid Seats , SeatGeek , and Ticketmaster .

Weather forecast

Expect a cold but sunny day, with a high of 39 degrees during the day, according to the National Weather Service .

People hold signs at ESPN’s College GameDay before the football game between OSU and Michigan at The Big House in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Saturday, November 27, 2021. (Photo by Carlin Stiehl | MLive.com)Carlin Stiehl | MLive.com

ESPN College Gameday & Fox Big Noon Kickoff

Two of college football’s premier pre-game shows will be in Ann Arbor for “The Game.” ESPN’s “College Gameday” will set up at the Ferry Field district off South State Street, while Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff” will be at Pioneer High School, across from the stadium.

Ann Arbor has been a staple of College Gameday since its first full season in 1994, hosting an October show for a game against Penn State. The last time the show was in Ann Arbor was for the 42-27 victory over Ohio State in 2021.

This will be the 14th College Gameday in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines are 10-3 in the previous 13 appearances.

Ann Arbor has hosted Big Noon Kickoff four times since the show started in 2019, going 3-1 with a lone loss to top-ranked Ohio State four years ago.

Charity Tailgate!

A free tailgate is open to both Wolverines and Buckeyes at Stadium Club 327, 327 E. Hoover St. The Hail! Impact Charity Tailgate & Beer Garden offers food, drink, seating, multiple televisions, games, music and restrooms.

The gates open at 9 a.m. Saturday. The Slows Bar BQ not only offers the famous Detroit barbeque, but beer, cider, seltzer and non-alcoholic drink options.

All of drink sales benefit charity through the Hail! Impact NIL group, which partners with Cancer Support Community, ChadTough, Humane Society of Huron Valley, Ele’s Place, Hope Clinic, Peace Neighborhood Center and Girls Group.

Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort is sponsoring the Ohio State side of the tailgate, distributing 1,000 free meal and drink tickets. For more information, email , follow on Instagram or visit the website charitytailgate.com .

A stuffed wolverine decorates a tailgate as tailgate outside the stadium before Michigan faces East Carolina at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023.Jacob Hamilton | MLive.comJacob Hamilton | MLive.com

Avoiding street closures

Prepare for detours around Michigan Stadium, as there are street closures in effect for all home games.

Main Street and Keech Avenue by the stadium are closed three hours before each game to the end of the game. The only exception is southbound Main Street, which closes one hour before each game.

See the street closure plan and a look at places to avoid parking your car for home games.

Where to park

Many lots around Michigan Stadium are permit-only, but there are numerous lots for guests looking for game-day parking.

Football parking opens around 6 a.m. for noon games. Vehicles should vacate all lots within two hours after the game or they will be towed. The university provides a comprehensive list of parking locations and pricing information. Check out this map for an overview of parking options near Michigan Stadium.

RV parking

The longstanding tradition of RV parking at Pioneer High School ended last year, but there are still options for RV drivers this fall.

The Brown Lot by the Varsity Tennis Center opens at 7 a.m. for noon games and can be accessed by on-site, gameday only permits. Do not park there overnight unless you want to risk being towed.

The nearby Maize Lot near the Track and Field Stadium on the South Athletic Campus also opens at 7 a.m. Permits can be purchased on-site only on gameday. Do not park there overnight unless you want to risk being towed.

The Blue Lot across Stadium Boulevard from the University of Michigan Golf Course allows access with a Blue Lot RV permit. Blue Lot passes are sold to season ticket holders.

Questions about RV parking can be answered by calling university athletic operations at 734-647-1218 or Ann Arbor Public Schools/Michigan Event Parking at 734-358-7275.

Michigan fans tailgate at Nebraska native Roger Hale’s “Maize Bus” before Michigan hosts Rutgers at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.Jacob Hamilton | MLive.comJacob Hamilton | MLive.com

Where to tailgate

While Ann Arbor police are on the lookout for walkers carrying open containers of alcohol, there are plenty of tailgate options for stationary drinkers.

You’ll find multiple party clusters, particularly in the lots around Michigan Stadium and Crisler Center. You can frequently find former players around these parts like quarterback John Wangler, who went 3-1 against Ohio State from 1977-80, or former announcer Jim Brandstatter, who played in the famous 24-12 upset over an Ohio State team thought to be good enough to beat the Minnesota Vikings.

These lots require special permits to access by car, but feel free to walk up to meet friends.

The rest of the crowd

For most tailgaters, Pioneer High and the Ann Arbor Golf and Outing Club are your best bets to set up shop.

The Pioneer High School parking lot on the corner of Stadium Boulevard and Main Street opens at 6 a.m. for noon game car parking. Those passes cost $66.

The high school lot attracts alumni and fans from all over the state, as well as opposing fans and pre-game show goers. Expect to see a lot of scarlet-and-gray in these parts.

The golf course off Stadium Boulevard packs in thousands of fans from across the world. Admission is $70 for conference games, though motor homes, buses, large trucks and other large vehicles are prohibited.

Charcoal grills, fire pits or deep fryers are not permitted. Gates open at 7:30 a.m. for general admission for all games except night games, when they open at noon.

Take a hike

Many homes, businesses and churches offer less expensive parking within a mile of the stadium for those OK hoofing it.

These areas are great for smaller barbeques, plus, you get to walk off the calories.

Students tailgate before the beginning of the home opener between Michigan and Cincinnati at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, September 9, 2017.MLive file photo

What to bring and what not to bring

There are some items you can bring in to Michigan Stadium and some you cannot.

Permitted Items include foam seat pads, small non-pocket seat cushions, binoculars (cases not permitted), cell phones and pagers, small cameras and radios, blankets and rain apparel.

Prohibited items include all bags, including purses and fanny packs’ bottles of any kind; alcoholic beverages; aerosol and spray cans; animals; apparel with profane language; containers of any kind; flags; food; irritants; projectiles; strollers; video cameras; umbrellas and weapons.

Rare Buckeye losing streaks to Michigan

From 2001 to 2020, Ohio State went 16-2 against “That Team Up North” (the 2010 game was vacated due to NCAA violations for the Buckeyes, while the 2020 game was canceled due to COVID-19).

However, Day has lost the last two to Michigan, and is the first Buckeye coach to lose consecutive games to Michigan since John Cooper in 1999 and 2000. Cooper was fired after the last loss, plus a 2-10-1 mark against the Wolverines.

Cooper’s predecessor Earle Bruce had a two-game losing streak from 1985-86, though he ended with a 5-4 record in the series. That included a win in his final game in 1987. Bruce had been let go prior, so former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler famously said after the loss: “I always mind losing to Ohio State, but I didn’t mind so much today.”

Woody Hayes also lost his last three contests of the “10-Year War” between him and Schembechler. Day will try to avoid this comparison to the legendary Buckeyes coach on Saturday.

Ann Arbor