Jake Trotter's analysis of Ohio State's 2025 football season hits the nail on the head, particularly when he points out the magnitude of the upcoming game against Michigan on November 29. Despite opening the season with a high-stakes rematch against Texas and a much-anticipated showdown with Penn State in early November, it's clear that no game on Ohio State's schedule carries the same weight as "The Game" against Michigan.
As Trotter aptly notes, Ohio State's recent history in the rivalry has been nothing short of frustrating for Buckeye fans. After losing four consecutive matchups to Michigan, including last season’s shocking 13-10 defeat in Columbus, the pressure is immense. Even though Ohio State went on to win a national championship after that loss, Buckeye Nation's hunger to beat That Team Up North was not fulfilled.
Trotter’s view is one that almost every Buckeye fan can agree with: for Ohio State, this game feels like a defining moment not only for the 2025 season but for the future of the program under head coach Ryan Day. A national title is always cherished, but there’s something unique about the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry. It’s more than just a game—it’s an identity.
In Columbus, winning "The Game" isn’t just a box to check on the way to a bigger prize; it’s an end in itself. The wounds of four straight defeats run deep, and as Trotter suggests, the Buckeyes can conquer all other challenges this season, but if they can’t topple Michigan, the season will need another national championship to not feel like a letdown.
Trotter touches on the broader emotional landscape surrounding this storied rivalry, particularly for the fan base. Ohio State fans live and breathe college football, and while national titles are an undeniable goal, the mood in Columbus will remain tense and unsatisfied until the Buckeyes reclaim victory over Michigan.
It’s almost as if, to Ohio State fans, a win over Michigan is as essential as water in the desert. Every year that passes without a victory against the Wolverines makes the drought feel longer and more excruciating.
As Ryan Day enters this pivotal 2025 season, the pressure is more intense than ever. He has guided the Buckeyes to tremendous success on the national stage, including a national title in 2024. Still, at Ohio State, fair or unfair, a coach's legacy will be defined by his ability—or inability—to beat Michigan.
Fans have been vocal about their frustrations, and it’s no secret that even with championship glory, the four-game losing streak to the Wolverines casts a shadow over his tenure. The Buckeye faithful want both—a national title and supremacy over Michigan. Anything less will lead to continued rumblings of displeasure.
To make matters worse for Ohio State, Michigan is more than just an opponent—they’re now the measuring stick. After years of dominance in the rivalry, Ohio State now finds itself on the other side, looking up at a Michigan program that has surged under Jim Harbaugh.
Each loss makes it more difficult for Buckeye fans to stomach, and the stakes for this year's showdown couldn’t be higher. Ohio State must stop the bleeding and reclaim its position atop this rivalry, or else the noise surrounding Day’s future will boil back up.
The good news is this: there should be confidence in Ryan Day and this Ohio State team. Michigan is beatable, and if anything, the recent losses have been more about Ohio State beating itself rather than being outplayed by Michigan.
Missed opportunities, turnovers, and self-inflicted game plan wounds have often been the difference in these matchups. The Buckeyes have the talent and the leadership to turn the tide, and in 2025, Ryan Day doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel to finally overcome this challenge.
Instead, the focus should be on playing clean, disciplined football and avoiding the mistakes that have haunted them in previous matchups. If Ohio State can stay out of its own way, they have every reason to believe that they will finally end the losing streak and reclaim supremacy in this storied rivalry.