Death Star mode, third-down nerves, appreciation and foundation, and is playing on the road better? Ohio State-Michigan Mailbag

Answering subscriber questions about The Game and the Buckeyes

Could the Buckeyes be helped by this edition of The Game being in Ann Arbor? (Photo courtesy of Ohio State)

COLUMBUS — We’ll plan an Ohio State-Michigan Mailbag for basically every day this week, since we have so many of your questions and, you know, it’s The Game. I’ll take the questions for Monday, and Bill will answer on Tuesday, and we’ll continue until Friday.

What is the best way to be totally locked in on this game all week but also not drive yourself totally insane? – MP

Doug: Here’s a suggestion for a two-pronged approach, MP.

Appreciation and foundation.

First, enjoy the opportunity to drive yourself crazy. There are 67 games on the schedule this week in major college football. We already know Ohio State-Michigan is the greatest rivalry in college football and arguably in American sport. But how many other schools can even come close this week? (Not every CFB rivalry is played the last weekend of the regular season, but around here we all agree that’s pretty important.)

I’d say 29 of the 67 games this week are true geographic and/or historic rivalries. That’s less than half the games being played. This is one of them, and the best. In the ever-changing landscape of college football, real rivalries matter even more. Appreciate being part of the preeminent one.