How to win a rivalry: 1 key for each team in Week 14's blockbusters

It's officially rivalry week in college football.

These games never require extra motivation, but given their place in the calendar, a few of them are even more intense due to their importance in the playoff picture.

Ohio State-Michigan, Alabama-Auburn, and Texas A&M-Texas are arguably the biggest matchups on the slate. The home team needs a win to keep its playoff hopes alive in all three.

Here's how each game breaks down with a key to victory for all six teams.

The Game - Ohio State at Michigan

Ohio State: Avoid careless picks

"Fun is kicking ass and that's what we want to do on Saturday, so we are preparing to do that and that's it."

If Ryan Day wanted to add a little fuel to the already raging fire of a matchup with Michigan, he certainly did so earlier in the week. The Ohio State coach leads the defending national champion and undisputed No. 1 team in the country - he should ooze confidence. However, he's also lost four straight rivalry games to Michigan, including last year's stunning defeat as a 20.5-point favorite at home to a Wolverines team that was allergic to the forward pass.

So how do Day and Ohio State avoid another stunning upset and finally end their run of futility in The Game? Don't give Michigan the ball for free. A common theme of the last three defeats to the Wolverines has been interceptions: The Buckeyes threw six picks over that span (two each from C.J. Stroud, Kyle McCord, and Will Howard).

Much like last season, Michigan simply does not have the offensive firepower to trade blows with Ohio State. If Julian Sayin can avoid giving the Wolverines extra possessions, it's a fairly safe bet the Buckeyes will return to Columbus in celebration mode. Surely that won't be too tall a task for the California native playing with a banged-up receiving group with temperatures in the 20s and light snow in the forecast, right?

Michigan: Run the damn ball

One of the redeeming features of The Game is its simplicity, starting with the name and carrying through to what usually decides the contest. It's hard to lean further into the purity of the sport than running the damn ball, and in fact, that's what's determined the winner since 2001.

The victor of the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry game for the last 24 years has always been the team that led the contest in rushing, as noted by Josh Pate of "Josh Pate's College Football Show." That includes last year's stunner where the Wolverines outgained the hosts 172-77 on the ground.

Both defensive units are elite at stopping the run this season, but the Wolverines hold the advantage on offense with the nation's 11th-ranked rushing attack versus the the 58th best for the Buckeyes. That could give Michigan an opening, especially freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood. While the Wolverines' passing attack is once again underwhelming, the 6-foot-4, 230-pounder is a beast on the ground, averaging almost 5 yards per carry with five rushing scores.

Iron Bowl - Alabama at Auburn

Alabama: Keep it simple for Ty Simpson

Ty Simpson walked on the field Nov. 15 in Tuscaloosa as a serious Heisman contender with 21 touchdowns on the season against one interception. He'll take the field Saturday night with three picks against one touchdown in his last two games - including a two-interception performance in last week's 56-0 win over Eastern Illinois.

Alabama's blueprint Saturday is similar to Ohio State's: Avoid turnovers and keep the home underdog at bay. The Crimson Tide's surprising home loss to Oklahoma two weeks ago looks bad on the surface, but Alabama dominated that contest with almost 200 yards more total offense and double the number of first downs. Three turnovers - two by Simpson - were the deciding factor in that loss, which leaves the Tide likely needing to beat Auburn to make the playoff.

The Crimson Tide have told us all season that they can't run the ball, so don't expect that to change Saturday. However, Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb have shown the ability to game plan short passes that are essentially running plays to move the sticks. Alabama will need that versus the Tigers, simplifying the setup to keep Simpson from putting the ball in harm's way.

Auburn: Push it down the field

Auburn's played one game versus FBS competition since DJ Durkin took over as head coach. The good news: an offensive explosion of 38 points and almost 600 total yards. The bad news: allowing 45 points in the loss to Vanderbilt. With defensive coordinator Durkin now handling head coaching duties, that unit took a step back and allowed Diego Pavia to throw for 377 yards and three touchdowns. Alabama's passing attack is even more explosive, so expect an active scoreboard in Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday.

That might not be the worst scenario for the Tigers with Ashton Daniels back in the lineup. The Stanford transfer threw for over 350 yards in his one start since Hugh Freeze's firing as the new offensive play-callers quickly discovered nobody can guard Cam Coleman. Add Eric Singleton Jr.'s excellence in the slot and the Auburn passing attack might just be able to keep up with Alabama.

Lone Star Showdown - Texas A&M at Texas

Texas A&M: Get after Arch

Texas A&M thrives on incredible balance both offensively and defensively, but the Aggies' devastating pass rush might be what pops off the screen most. That's terrible news for a Texas offensive line that ranks 78th nationally in sacks allowed on the season.

From the school that brought you Myles Garrett comes the latest edge-rushing freak in Cashius Howell. The senior ranks third in the country in sacks at 11.5 on the season. Howell leads the line, but Mike Elko's defense has plenty of game-wreckers just waiting to eat versus the Longhorns.

Protection issues caused five-alarm fires in both of Texas' SEC losses this season, with Georgia and Florida combining for nine sacks and 14 tackles for loss. Somehow those numbers are still flattering to the Longhorns, as they likely would have been doubled without Arch Manning's elite escapability.

Texas' defense is among the best in the country, so the Aggies may struggle to move the ball at the same rate they've managed versus a very weak SEC schedule. However, Howell and the defensive line can easily win a slugfest Saturday in Austin if need be.

Texas: Score TDs in the red zone

In a relationship, there's always something your partner does that they just can't fix no matter how many times they insist they are working on it. Eventually, you have to decide whether or not you can live with the issue if it never gets better. For now, the Texas administration has decided it can live with Steve Sarkisian's play-calling in the red zone, no matter how bleak it can look on a weekly basis.

Sark is among the top offensive minds in the sport ... until his Longhorns hit the opposition's 20-yard line. At that point, it's like someone steals his call sheet and forces him to make things up. This year's offense ranks 64th nationally in red-zone touchdowns - the fourth straight season it's fallen outside the top 50 in that category.

Manning has improved throughout the season and led the offense to a perfect 4-for-4 showing in red-zone touchdowns last week against Arkansas. Unfortunately, the Razorbacks' porous defense won't be out there Saturday. How Manning and the offense perform versus the Aggies once the field shrinks will likely go a long way toward deciding the Lone Star Showdown.