Game 12: Saturday, November 29, 2025 | Michigan vs. Ohio State | Michigan Stadium | Noon
It is rivalry week in Ann Arbor as Michigan prepares to host Ohio State in one of the most anticipated matchups in college football. The stakes are enormous for the Wolverines. Michigan is surging toward postseason play. Ohio State arrives undefeated and ranked number one. The Game has shaped Big Ten titles, national championship runs, and bragging rights across both states for more than a century. This weekend, the rivalry moves to center stage again inside a sold out Big House.
While the focus is on what happens on the field, this matchup also highlights two national powerhouse universities that drive research, innovation, and talent development across the Midwest.
Did You Know?
Ann Arbor & Columbus Connections
- Ann Arbor and Columbus both rank among the most educated regions in the Midwest, driven by two universities that together produce more than 30,000 graduates each year.
- Michigan Stadium will welcome more than 100,000 fans for The Game, making it one of the largest single day gatherings in the Midwest. By comparison, Ohio Stadium is the third largest stadium in the country, giving both fan bases bragging rights for massive game day atmospheres.
- Michigan and Ohio State are both top tier research hubs with more than $3 billion in combined annual R&D activity. Their discoveries fuel innovation across mobility, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing that benefit both states.
- Columbus and Ann Arbor each serve as regional centers for startups and high growth technology companies, drawing venture investment and attracting talent from across the country.
- The football rivalry began in 1897 and has shaped conference championships, national rankings, and Big Ten history for more than a century. It is consistently one of the most watched games in college football.
How Our Communities Compare
Ann Arbor and Columbus each play an outsized role in shaping their regional economies, though they differ in scale and character. Ann Arbor is a smaller university city with a highly educated population, strong research infrastructure, and a vibrant startup community. Columbus is a much larger metro with a broad corporate base and a rapidly growing technology sector.
Residents in Washtenaw County tend to have higher household incomes and higher levels of educational attainment compared to residents in Franklin County. Cost of living between the two regions is similar and both communities attract talent, investment, and new business activity fueled by their flagship universities.
Comparing the Universities
The University of Michigan and Ohio State University are two of the nation’s premier public research institutions, each contributing significantly to innovation and workforce development throughout the Midwest. Michigan remains one of the country’s top research universities, investing nearly $2 billion annually in research and ranking among the top five nationally. Ohio State also plays a major national role with more than $1 billion in annual research activity and a top fifteen ranking.
Both universities enroll more than 50,000 students and graduate more than 16,000 each year, preparing talent for careers in engineering, health sciences, business, computer science, and public policy. Their academic strengths extend across undergraduate and graduate programs, reinforcing the role both institutions play in advancing high skill industries across their regions.
Beyond the Field
The rivalry may divide fans, but both universities play a vital role in shaping the economic and innovation landscape of the Midwest. Their research powers new technologies. Their graduates strengthen critical talent pipelines. Their partnerships and startup ecosystems drive regional competitiveness. From medical breakthroughs to mobility innovation, Michigan and Ohio State contribute to advancements that extend far beyond Saturday’s matchup.
In Case You Missed It
Catch up on our previous posts from this season:
Game 1: How Do We Compare? Michigan vs. New Mexico
Game 2: How Do We Compare? Michigan vs. Oklahoma
Game 3: How Do We Compare? Michigan vs. Central Michigan
Game 4: How Do We Compare? Michigan vs. Nebraska
Game 5: How Do We Compare? Michigan vs. Wisconsin
Game 6: How Do We Compare? Michigan vs. USC
Game 7: How Do We Compare? Michigan vs. Washington
Game 8: How Do We Compare? Michigan vs. Michigan State
Game 9: How Do We Compare? Michigan vs. Purdue
Game 10: How Do We Compare? Michigan vs. Northwestern
Game 11: How Do We Compare? Michigan vs. Maryland
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