'Very Emotional' Denzel Burke Guarantees Ohio State Buckeyes Win vs. Michigan Wolverines
Saturday marks arguably the biggest matchup ever between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines - and that is saying something
The winner not only gets an automatic bid to the Big Ten title game but also gets the inside track to a College Football Playoff bid.
On top of that, the winner also gets bragging rights in the midst of a national scandal due to their sign-stealing allegations.
And as if that wasn't enough motivation for both teams, Buckeyes star corner Denzel Burke has now taken things to an even higher level, all ostensibly guaranteeing a victory over the No. 3 Wolverines.
"I'm very emotional," Burke said. "I'm trying not to get too out of character, but this game means a lot for us. And we're gonna get it done for the state of Ohio."
(l-r) Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Matthew Jones (55), Ohio State Buckeyes safety Brenten Jones (32), Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Denzel Burke (10) and Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka
Barbara J. Perenic/The Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK
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."
The Buckeyes have been dominant in the series since the turn of the century, winning 17 of the last 22 matchups since 2000.
That said, the Wolverines have gotten the better of the Buckeyes over the last two seasons, winning 42-27 in Ann Arbor in 2021, and 45-23 in Colombus last season - something that Burke is looking to change.
"I Love (being the villain)," Burke said. "It's going to be fun. Just thinking about the game, my blood boils. So, I'm just ready to get out there and do what we can do."
