Eric Boggs
At this point, it’s more sad than surprising. While Ohio State celebrates the greatest postseason run in college football history—one that saw the Buckeyes take down four elite programs in Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame—Michigan players and fans have chosen instead to diminish that success, clinging tightly to a single three-point victory in Columbus like it’s the only thing that matters. It’s a hollow talking point, and one that reeks of desperation from a program still shrouded in controversy and uncertainty.
During Big Ten Media Days, Michigan defensive end Derrick Moore—who tallied just one pass breakup in the Wolverines’ 13-10 win over Ohio State—publicly questioned the legitimacy of the Buckeyes’ national title. “I’ll congratulate them on the win. But you know it’s not a real win if y’all ain’t beat us,” Moore said, brushing aside Ohio State’s championship accomplishment like it was a fluke. He went on to claim Michigan’s victory somehow helped galvanize the Buckeyes: “We pretty much look at it like, ‘Hey man, y’all had an easy little run. We helped y’all along the way. So we pretty much helped y’all build back up.’” While Moore gave a reluctant nod to Ohio State’s postseason dominance, his comments underline a deeper insecurity that has festered in Ann Arbor ever since the Buckeyes lifted the trophy.
Let’s be clear: Ohio State’s run through the 2024-25 College Football Playoff wasn’t just impressive—it was unprecedented. Four games. Four wins over top-10 opponents. And most importantly, it was earned. No sign-stealing, no stolen signals, no whispers of impropriety. Just elite football on the grandest stage. The Buckeyes didn’t back into a title; they ran through it like a freight train. And yet, instead of acknowledging that greatness, Michigan has reduced the entire season to one game in November—a game in which they managed a mere 13 points.
It’s worth noting that Ohio State didn’t just bounce back from that loss—they used it as fuel. Head coach Ryan Day and his staff built a rallying cry around the defeat, and it brought the best out of the Buckeyes. Quarterback Will Howard found his stride, the defense became impenetrable, and the offensive line gelled at just the right time. From the moment they were granted entry into the expanded 12-team playoff, Ohio State looked like a team possessed. And when the dust settled, they stood alone at the top.
Meanwhile, Michigan’s own accomplishments from the previous year are still under the shadow of an NCAA investigation into an elaborate sign-stealing scandal that allegedly stretched from 2021 to 2023. That cloud still looms, and it’s possible—if not likely—that Michigan’s 2023 national title could come with an asterisk of its own. If those allegations prove true and the NCAA imposes harsh sanctions, Michigan’s recent success may be stripped away, reduced to little more than a tainted memory. That fact alone makes Moore’s attempt to discredit Ohio State’s clean and dominant title run even more ironic.
The bitterness wasn’t limited to podium quotes either. Moore also spoke at length about the now-infamous flag incident after last year’s game, where he ran around the Horseshoe with a Michigan flag before a brawl broke out during the playing of Carmen Ohio. “I actually was trying to just run around the field with the flag and as (I was) running around with the flag, I got pushed and things like that. So I ended up talking trash and next thing, the flag ended up coming out of my hand and the whole scuffle turned out,” Moore explained. He acknowledged he could have handled the moment better, but also spun it as a product of “rivalry energy.” What he failed to grasp is that sportsmanship and respect—especially in moments of triumph—are part of what separate true champions from mere braggarts.
Moore even commented on proposed legislation in Ohio that would make flag-planting after games a criminal offense. “I’m a criminal now just because I (was) running around with a flag or plant a flag? I feel like that’s actually crazy,” he said, before closing with a mocking, “That’s Ohio for you.” It’s hard not to read that as emblematic of Michigan’s current posture—deflecting criticism, trivializing disrespectful behavior, and vilifying a rival whose only real offense is being better when it matters most.
To be fair, Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore tried to take the high road, offering praise to Ohio State for their title run. “They won. They won the national title. They were the best team at the end of the year, so I give them all the credit that they get,” Moore said. “They were well deserving. They played really well. They obviously won it all, so kudos to them.” That level of maturity was refreshing—but unfortunately, it was drowned out by the arrogance and revisionist history peddled by his players.
As the rivalry builds toward another massive showdown this November in Ann Arbor, Ohio State enters with the momentum, the hardware, and the pride of a championship run earned the right way. Michigan, on the other hand, is left clinging to a single three-point win and a narrative built on what-ifs. Buckeye fans know what’s real—and the trophy in Columbus speaks for itself. The rest? Just noise. Let Michigan hang on to their one hollow idol of 2023. Meanwhile, Ohio State will be aiming to do what true champions always do: reload and repeat.
