After 2013, a Michigan State–Ohio State match-up in the conference championship game would no longer be possible, as a result of both schools becoming part of the newly-formed East Division of the Big Ten.

The #14 ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers represented the Legends division, having only lost one game to undefeated Ohio State.

Having gone undefeated in 2012 but being denied a chance to compete for the Big Ten title or the BCS National Championship due to NCAA sanctions, Ohio State took care of business in 2013 by going 12–0 in regular season play.

[5] In addition, Ohio State overcame ranked opponents in two consecutive weeks—first defeating #23 Wisconsin in Columbus, then traveling to Evanston, Illinois, to upend #16 Northwestern in a thriller under the lights.

In their final game of the season, Ohio State defeated rival Michigan, surviving a last-second two-point conversion attempt by the Wolverines to hang on for a 42–41 victory.

Coming into the game, Ohio State was one of two teams to not allow an opposing player to rush for 100 or more yards (the other being Syracuse).