End zone: Michigan 10-25

10/25/2012

"Every week is a championship week" is something the media contingent that covers Michigan has heard since the end of September.

Is it repetitive? Yes.

Is it indicative of the status quo? The Big Ten title game is more than a month away, but Michigan is 3-0 in the conference and will play in arguably its most pivotal contest so far when it faces Nebraska on Saturday in Lincoln.

A win for either team will be vital. If Michigan wins, it's one step closer to its goal of playing in the Big Ten title game. If Nebraska wins, it will complicate the Legends Division standings and could crimp Michigan's championship hopes.

The Wolverines are 1-2 on the road and head to a place that Michigan coach Brady Hoke says "is not an easy place to go play football games."

Saturday home games at Memorial Stadium are akin to a national holiday in the Cornhusker State, and Lincoln's "Sea of Red" will greet Michigan. Not just the 81,000 or so fans clad in scarlet inside Memorial Stadium, but also the loyalties of almost all of Nebraska which, undoubtedly, are in favor of the home team.

When it comes to continuing to harbor those Big Ten title hopes, the Wolverines hope they won't be seeing red by the time they leave Lincoln.

For all things Michigan athletics, follow Rachel's blog, In The House.