Former Michigan standout Braylon Edwards believes Ohio State is "light years" ahead of Michigan right now in the Big Ten's most-hated rivalry due in part to the Buckeyes' level of focus and determination in beating the Wolverines every year.

Edwards recently appeared on The DA Show via CBS Sports Radio and said Jim Harbaugh's approach to the showdown with Ohio State every season might be misguided. He doesn't think there's enough emphasis placed on the game from Michigan's standpoint.

“My biggest concern, if I’m being honest ... I know the pressure, and I know the respect and I know the emphasis that they put on that Michigan game,” Edwards said, referencing Ohio State's year-long obsession with beating the Wolverines. “Three-hundred-sixty-five days a year, they are breathing, living, hating – they can’t even say our name. They hate us so much. When they go into that game, that’s that old-school, 1960s football, Friday Night Lights in Texas – that’s the atmosphere. That’s what they bring to the table when they play us.

"You can feel it on them. You can almost smell the hate when you play against them. That’s not the way you approach that game. I know it’s cliche to say you approach every team like you approach any other team. That’s B.S. You approach certain teams differently. We got to start approaching that game from the standpoint that they do. I feel like when we go into that game, you’re looking at two different preparation systems.”

Ohio State has won seven straight in the series and 14 of 15 overall. Last season's loss to the Buckeyes snapped Michigan's 10-game winning streak and cost the Wolverines their first trip to the Big Ten Championship Game in Harbaugh's tenure.

It was a tough to stomach blowout in Columbus for all parties involved from the Wolverines' side.

Last week on Twitter, Edwards gave his thoughts on Michigan's previous win over Army, a game in which the Wolverines struggled offensively for the second consecutive outing to start the season under first-year play caller Josh Gattis.

“At the end of the day a win is a win. Let’s watch the tape learn then move forward. Notre Dame isn’t ready for the Big House or that Golf course tail gate," Edwards said.

Facing the longest Big Ten title drought in the league's 120-year history, Michigan beat three nationally-ranked opponents during its run to No. 4 last fall, erasing the narrative that Harbaugh couldn't beat elite competition. He is 26-9 against Big Ten competition over his first four seasons in Ann Arbor, but a winless mark against the Buckeyes is the stain that won't go away, warranting eye rolls from some preseason prognosticators not yet ready to project a title.

“Those losses are always in your head, and we always have reminders of that,” said Michigan senior Sean McKeon over the summer. “Whether it’s in the building, outside of the building, whatever. It definitely sucks to lose like that, especially to Ohio State. So I think that’s definitely left fire in some guys. Getting out there and using that extra motivation, for sure.”

Michigan knows that is how its 2019 season will be defined and could ultimately determine the difference between another double digit-win season or spot in the final four.

"It starts with our goals," Harbaugh said at media days. "To win the Big Ten championship, qualify for the playoffs, win the national championship. Those are our goals. "Then you put those to the back of the mind and focus on how you can achieve those. That's what we're trying to do better. Trying to do more. Focus on that day to day. I think it's good right now. I think it's tight.

"But like an anaconda, you want to keep squeezing it better and make it tighter. That's where I think our team is."