Jake Diebler and his troops look to take a 1-0 series lead in Ann Arbor against the third-ranked Wolverines. Can they get it done? Let’s look at the ways they can pull off the upset.

This Friday is the biggest game on the Buckeyes’ schedule so far, with a trip up to Ann Arbor looming and a hungry Wolverines team looking to re-establish themselves as the top dogs in the Big Ten. Dusty May, who was a candidate to become the Ohio State head coach two years ago before Ross Bjork removed the interim tag from Jake Diebler, has turned around the Michigan program and made it one of the best teams in the nation. 

The Buckeyes aim to become the second team to defeat the Wolverines and prove that they are not impossible to beat on their home floor, especially. Connor Lemons of The Land Grant-Holy Land tweeted out a quote that Diebler said directly after the Minnesota game on Tuesday 

Jake Diebler: “Yes, this game (against Michigan) counts just as much as any other on your record, but this game means just a little bit more. We have to be as prepared as we can possibly be.”

— Connor Lemons (@lemons_connor) January 21, 2026

This rivalry means everything to the fans but also the teams, and to have the chance to see the programs face off twice this season should give both fanbases a great show. The media believes this game will end up being a blowout for the Wolverines, but I would not count Ohio State out for these main reasons. 

The Buckeyes have yet to lose by more than eight points this season. Every loss has come by one or two possessions, most notably the game-winning three-point shot by Pittsburgh and the three-point loss to Nebraska at home. Ohio State is due for a close late-game scenario where they are able to close out a victory. The coaching staff has always said that they have to be better in those late-game scenarios, and those are games that should have had a different result. This held true in Ohio State’s overtime win against Minnesota last Saturday.

Both teams are statistically at the top of the conference when it comes to points scored per game and field goal percentages, but where Ohio State does have the edge is that they only allow 72 points per game and hold their opponents to 41% field goal percentages so far this season. The Wolverines are statistically one of the best defensive teams in the country, with Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson, and Aday Mara holding down the paint. Bruce Thornton and a red-hot John Mobley Jr need to be on the top of their games Friday night because if they can finish from behind the arc, there is a real chance that Ohio State could pull off an upset. 

Michigan as a team is human; they are not invincible like we thought they were to start the season. Wisconsin dominated behind the arc, going 15-33(45%) over the span of the whole game, with Nick Boyd and John Blackwell combining for 48 of the team’s 91 points in an upset win for the Badgers. 

The top of the Big Ten men’s basketball standings through tonight’s games.

Wolverines have a prove-it stretch over the next 10 days, as they host Ohio State Friday, Nebraska Tuesday, then travel to face Michigan State next Friday pic.twitter.com/Gw53KVEKbv

— Zach Shaw (@_ZachShaw) January 21, 2026

The main key issue for Ohio State is depth on the bench, as Jake Diebler has relied on his starters to score all of the team’s points this season, and with Brandon Noel not able to play due to a foot injury, and Puff Johnson just now joining the team, Gabe Cupps and Taison Chatman have to take a step on Friday and at least help the bench relieve some of the stress from the starters. This upset is very possible, but it takes every person on the staff as well as the team to make it happen. It should be a very tight contest, and must watch television on Friday night, 8:00 pm on FOX.