Michigan claimed its first College Football Playoff appearance in school history in 2021, but had to defeat its archrival in the process.

Ohio State entered the 117th edition of The Game having won the last 8 meetings between the 2 programs. That changed on Nov. 27, when the Wolverines defeated the Buckeyes 42-27 at Michigan Stadium. They followed it up with a rout of Iowa in the B1G Championship Game en route to an Orange Bowl appearance against Georgia in the CFP semifinals.

Jim Harbaugh faced immense heat over his failure to beat the Buckeyes despite a 5-year contract extension signed in February. With that handled, and a CFP appearance in the rearview mirror, he — and his players — will look to build on the most successful season of his tenure in Ann Arbor while winning back-to-back games in the series for the first time since the 1999 and 2000 seasons.

“It gives us definitely more confidence that we’ve been there,” quarterback Cade McNamara said during B1G Media Days on Tuesday, according to Eleven Warriors. “There’s less weight on our shoulders as to the stress of, “We have to do this.’ In a way it was like anxiety as to why is Coach Harbaugh in the hot seat? Why does he have to face the criticism? Because if anyone wants to beat Ohio State, it’s Coach Harbaugh, and I can promise you that.”

The 2022 edition of the rivalry shifts to Columbus, with the 2 teams set to meet on Nov. 26.