Denzel Burke, a star cornerback for the Ohio State Buckeyes, promised his team would defeat the Michigan Wolverines on Saturday.
The Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines will square off on Saturday in what is likely to be their biggest-ever meeting, which is saying something.
In addition to receiving an automatic bid to the Big Ten championship game, the victor also has first dibs on a College Football Playoff bid.
In addition, the victor receives bragging rights despite being at the centre of a nationwide controversy over accusations of sign-stealing.
And if that wasn’t enough incentive for both teams, Buckeyes star cornerback Denzel Burke has now elevated the game, seemingly guaranteeing a victory over the Wolverines, who are ranked third.
“I’m very emotional,” Burke admitted. This game means a lot to us, and I’m trying not to go too off-color. And for the benefit of the state of Ohio, we will succeed.”
However, Burke wasn’t done there.
Instead, he would go on to tell the media that ‘nothing’ about the Wolverines stood out to him on film, and that the Buckeyes were going to head into Michigan Stadium with a ‘villain’ mentality.
“Nothing,” Burke said. “We’ve just got to go out there and do our job and really compete and play hard for each other. We’re gonna be the villain walking in there and this game is really about respect for us. Especially my class, the last two years, we haven’t gotten it done. No gold pants. So, we’ve got to go there and just be us.”
Since the year 2000, the Buckeyes have won 17 of the last 22 meetings, demonstrating their dominance in the series.
Nevertheless, Burke wants to change the fact that the Wolverines have defeated the Buckeyes the last two seasons—42-27 in Ann Arbour in 2021 and 45-23 in Colombus last season.
Burke declared, “I Love (being the villain).” It’s going to be enjoyable. My blood boils just thinking about the game. I’m simply eager to go out there and take action.”
