COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — We’ve reached the final week of the regular season, which means it’s Rivalry Week and the Buckeyes are set to face Michigan.

Coach Ryan Day said he doesn’t need to put any extra emphasis on how important this weekend’s game is.

“We’ve been training all year for this moment. Now we just need to do it again,” Day said. “They know what’s at stake. Focus on the process, focus on what we’ve done up to this point, the foundation that’s been built. And then go play with our hair on fire.”

Although No. 2 Ohio State enters the matchup on a five-game win streak and is favored against the unranked Wolverines, the game remains the most important one on the calendar. OSU looks to end a three-game losing streak against Michigan and will also try to beat the Wolverines at Ohio Stadium for the first time since 2018.

Day’s message to his team is to not let the emotions dictate how the Buckeyes play on Saturday.

“You only can control what you can control. Every time you get focused on things that don’t matter, you got to get right back into your work,” Day said. “Everything we do in the offseason, every decision that’s made in terms of the coaching staff, the roster, how we practice, schematics is all working towards this moment right here.”

The Buckeyes are coming off their second top-five victory of the season, defeating then-No. 5 Indiana 38-15. The offense scored 31 straight points, including the first punt return for a touchdown in a decade, and the defense came up with five sacks.

The Wolverines are coming off a 50-6 win over Northwestern to become bowl eligible.

An OSU victory would also clinch a spot in the Big Ten championship game on Dec. 7 against Oregon in Indianapolis.

The players have said throughout the week how much they want to win for Day, who is just as excited as they are to take the field.

“I love the look in their eye. I love coming to work every day. But this is not about me,” Day said. “It’s about these seniors who decided to come back. They want to have a pair of gold pants. They want to have hardware. So that’s what motivates me.”

The game kicks off at noon Saturday, marking Ohio State’s sixth straight noon start.