OHIO — It's a sad day for Ohio State and Michigan fans. The highly-anticipated game this Saturday is officially canceled, according to the University of Michigan. 

The university stated it has recorded a high amount of COVID-19 cases among students, and many are currently in quarantine. 

"The number of positive tests has continued to trend in an upward direction over the last seven days," said Warde Manuel, the University of Michigan's Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics. "We have not been cleared to participate in practice at this time. Unfortunately, we will not be able to field a team due to COVID-19 positives and the associated quarantining required of close-contact individuals. This decision is disappointing for our team and coaches but their health and safety is paramount, and it will always come first in our decision-making."

Michigan paused all of its in-person activites last week because of rising COVID-19 cases and also canceled its game against Maryland on Dec. 5. 

Ohio State had been the favorite this game; the Buckeyes were installed as a 30-point favorite over Michigan, which is the largest point spread in the rivalry in nearly four decades. 

It is the first time the rivalry will not be played since 1917.

"The Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is one of the most important rivalries in all of sports. The conference shares the disappointment of our student-athletes, coaches, administrators, partners and fans. The conference is committed to transparency and will continue to collaborate with its member institution stakeholders to determine Big Ten Football Championship Game participation requirements as well as tiebreakers," the Big Ten Conference said in a press release.

Ohio State University Spokesman Jerry Emig says they are meeting with student athletes and are figuring out what to do with practices for the rest of the week. Emig says they'll work with the Big Ten to decide the next steps. 

Now that the game is canceled, the Buckeyes don't have enough games to participate in the Big Ten championship game. The minimum amount to participate is six games.

The Big Ten still plans to hold its Champions Week of games on Dec. 18-19.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available. 

Reporter Tino Bovenzi contributed to this story.