The Ohio State football vs. Michigan rivalry is the best rivalry in sports. It showcases two programs that hate each other very much and have for a century. Usually, when these two teams play each other, there is something more at stake than just program pride.
Over the course of history, the Big Ten championship is something that has been at stake when these two teams play. That has even been the case during the College Football Playoff era. The hate that the Buckeyes have for TTUN goes back much further, and the fans have the same kind of hate.
There are three specific players that Ohio State football fans love to hate more than the rest. Surprisingly, two of them actually play the same position. All of these players beat the Ohio State Buckeyes at some point, which is part of where the hate comes from.
3. RB Blake Corum
In the recent era, Corum is the player that Buckeye fans hate the most. Corum was a big face of the Connor Stalions cheating scandal after it was alleged that Corum had a vacuum cleaning company set up in his name. More than that, he was someone who was actually good for TTUN.
Corum ran for two touchdowns in the 2023 game that the Buckeyes lost after Kyle McCord threw an interception on the final drive. In 2021, he had 87 yards on just six carries when the Buckeyes lost. Of course, both games are highly suspicious after the cheating scandal was revealed.
If Ohio State fans even think of Corum, they think of Stalions. That is where most of the hate is directed. In most fans' minds, the games Corum played in don't even truly count. That's how bad the scandal was.
2. RB Tim Biakabutuka
For fans in the 90s, Biakabuka is the face of frustration. He single-handedly kept the Ohio State Buckeyes from playing for a national championship in 1995. He ran the ball 37 times for 313 yards and a touchdown. That helped TTUN beat the Buckeyes 31-23.
Before that game, the Buckeyes were undefeated and looking to play for a national title. Biakabutuka became the face of why John Cooper was fired. Cooper was never able to win big games, and that included games against Michigan.
1. Desmond Howard
Of course, the most hated man in the rivalry has to be Desmond Howard. During his 1991 campaign, he returned a punt 93 yards against Ohio State and struck the Heisman Trophy pose. He would go on to win the award. Not only that, but he never lost to the Buckeyes.
That alone is enough for Ohio State fans to hate him. However, Howard continues to be a clown on TV. On ESPN's College GameDay, Howard talks poorly about the Buckeyes any chance he gets. Quite frankly, he trolls Ohio State on national television and never has anything positive to say.
Young fans have grown up with him on TV and have also learned to hate him. That means Howard has multiple generations of haters. With that being the case, he leads this list.
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