Wasserman: Ohio State-Michigan, pure hatred and the pinnacle of the greatest rivalry

Jim Harbaugh was asked at his press conference earlier this week if he respects Ryan Day and his staff. Harbaugh hesitated, as he often does when asked something that makes him uncomfortable, before dodging the question.

“It’s all about our preparation for Ohio,” Harbaugh said. “The days, the minutes, the hours, everything leading up to this match, that’s where our focus is. Prepare and plan, practice and then execute. Everything else is irrelevant when you get involved in big games like this.”

A day later, Ryan Day was asked something similar. He too was not interested in giving an honest answer.

“With everything going on and things going on, we just stayed away from all the distractions and just focused on our team,” he said. “I think our guys did a good job. … I’ve talked to them a few times about what happened this season going into the game, but they’re focused on this game. They are focused on this season.”

Write a column now and have a question: Is this the best/most hyped Ohio State-Michigan game… ever?

— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) November 22, 2023

Four years ago, after Ohio State’s 56-27 win over Michigan in Ann Arbor in Day’s first year as Buckeyes coach, the rivalry seemed dead because Urban Meyer killed it. Meyer was no longer Ohio State’s coach, but the foundation of what he built carried over into the Day era and the Buckeyes crushed the Wolverines. The Game was lopsided, the recruiting results were lopsided and Ohio State was more concerned about Clemson than its most bitter rival.

But the rivalry was not dead. It turns out it can’t be killed.

And if you’re looking for something to be thankful for on Thursday, how about this? The sport’s greatest rivalry, which existed on a subsistence level less than five years ago, isn’t just back. It’s better than ever.

After beating Ohio State for the first time in 2021, Harbaugh said at the post-game press conference that “some people are born at third base and act like they hit a triple,” referring to Day’s status as Buckeyes coach. A public shot at your rival’s head coach and everything he’s accomplished in his career? Nothing will come back from that.

Of course, Harbaugh later said the comment was a counterblast to Day, who reportedly said he would “100 stick around” Michigan during a dispute over a teleconference for Big Ten coaches. Unfortunately, the motivation for this is not really important anymore. That is not a comment that you can simply dismiss.

But this year’s game is about so much more than public trash talk. On Ohio State’s side, you have an elite-level program expecting to win national titles, while living in a reality where it’s not even considered the best program in the Big Ten East anymore. Day has lost consecutive games to Michigan after the Buckeyes lost just once in the rivalry from 2004 through 2019.

Day has an impeccable record and was on the verge of winning a national title last year, yet many Ohio State fans wonder if he is the right man for the job. Call it the ghost of John Cooper.

Michigan is seeking its third straight win in the series, which would have been an unthinkable idea in December 2019. But the Wolverines are currently under investigation for an alleged personal scouting scheme and people are throwing around the word “cheating.” Harbaugh coaches his team during the week, prepares the game plan and fulfills his media obligations as usual, but he is serving a three-game suspension from the Big Ten and will not be at Michigan Stadium on Saturday.

Many Michigan fans wholeheartedly believe Day hired a PI firm to investigate the Wolverines, and they attribute all of the program’s woes to Ohio State’s head coach. Day’s brothers have been embroiled in allegations that have been widespread on X (formerly known as Twitter) and college football message boards.

You have real animosity between two coaches as an appetizer for a game that will very likely determine who wins the Big Ten and advances to the College Football Playoff.

The 2006 edition featured two undefeated teams in what was dubbed ‘The Game of the Century’. Legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler died of cardiovascular disease the day before the game. The doctors said all the excitement leading up to The Game likely contributed to his death.

It shouldn’t get heavier than that. Many will tell you that nothing compares to 2006. Maybe not. But it feels bigger in a different way.

This year we have two programs and two coaches who rightfully hate each other. Rivalries exist at all levels of sports and hatred is probably more common in the stands than on the field. But this? This is natural.

Even Schembechler and legendary Ohio State coach Woody Hayes – the two men who presided over the Ten Year War from 1969 to 1978 – had love and admiration for each other. The two were good friends, even though they spent the entire year trying to figure out how to beat each other. Woody visited Bo in the hospital after he had a heart attack. Bo gave a eulogy at Woody’s funeral.

Those are the ultimate signs of respect. The two current coaches can’t even muster the energy to say the word.

The result of this game will reverberate regardless of the outcome.

• Michigan wins: The Wolverines remain on top. They also claim that the sign stealing scandal is completely exaggerated, and the win over Ohio State is proof that they were always the better team. Even without Harbaugh on the sidelines, Michigan is superior to its bitter rival. The victory also legitimizes the results of the previous two seasons. Day, in turn, must return to Columbus with his tail between his legs in front of a fan base that may have already turned on him.

• Ohio State wins: Day evens his record to 2-2 against Michigan and all is forgiven. His record against his biggest rival may not match Meyer’s (7-0) or Jim Tressel’s (9-1), but he gets extra credit for winning the biggest edition of this bitter rivalry. Ohio State reaffirms itself as the class of the Big Ten and will likely return to the College Football Playoff to try to get the job done after coming close a year ago. Meanwhile, Michigan is knocked out of the CFP and faces even more pressing questions about Connor Stalions, the cheating scandal and the extent to which advanced scouting helped the program turn the tables in the first place.

When has a game been more attractive? Championship trophies are at stake on the field and self-esteem is at stake off it. For both teams.

Whether you’re an Ohio State fan or a Michigan fan, you probably agree on one thing: that this is the best rivalry in college football, and perhaps in sports. And the anticipation and genuine hatred that exists makes this Thanksgiving week sweeter than usual.

This is rivalry nirvana.

This is the epitome of what makes college football great.

Who isn’t thankful that this rivalry is back… and better than ever?

(Photo of Jim Harbaugh and Ryan Day: Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)