Last November, the Buckeyes changed Michigan in a permanent manner. Crushing TTUN 27-9 in Ann Arbor forced some serious changes with the Wolverines. A couple of weeks after the loss, Sherrone Moore was fired. Kyle Whittingham was hired to take his place.
Whittingham is not a complete stranger to the rivalry. His good friend, Urban Meyer, went 7-0 against TTUN when he coached the Ohio State Buckeyes. Meyer had the right mentality for the rivalry. However, it doesn't sound like Whittingham gets it, which is music to Ohio State fans' ears.
Kyle Whittingham says there shouldn't be hate in the Ohio State/Michigan rivalry
While speaking at Big Ten Media Day, Whittingham was asked about the rivalry. He claims that there is no room for hate in the rivalry.
"I just think a rivalry can be intense and emotional without the hatred factor. I don't think there's any place for that, personally."
With these comments, it's immediately clear that Whittingham doesn't get the rivalry. There has been hatred between these programs for over 100 years. That hatred has forged a deep respect between the programs, and that's what makes it the best rivalry not just in college football, but in all of sports.
For Whittingham to say he doesn't want hatred in the rivalry is laughable. That shows he doesn't have the edge as a coach that is necessary to win this game. That's great for Ohio State football fans who have watched Ryan Day struggle to win The Game, as he's won it just twice.
However, perhaps that win last year has finally gotten the monkey off his back. If this is how Whittingham is going to approach the rivalry, I don't see how the team is going to be ready to play in Columbus in November. Bryce Underwood has looked so bad in the spring that he might not even start that game.
Ohio State will make sure they are ready against TTUN
Day finally had his team ready to go last year. This year, the game will be at home in the Shoe. He should have his guys ready to take down the Wolverines, assuming that the offensive line issues are shored up. Day has been in the rivalry for quite some time, so he knows what mentality he has to have at this point.
Ohio State has some tough games they have to focus on before the Wolverines come to town, though. That starts with a brutal matchup at Texas in Week 2 in Austin. That will be a crazy environment to play in, as it will be a night game as well.
The Buckeyes also take on Indiana, Iowa, and USC on the road. Oregon visits the Shoe for the first time since 2021, as well. All of these games take place before The Game, so Ohio State will have to focus on those first. Of course, that doesn't mean Day won't be preparing for TTUN before Rivalry Week rolls around. He'll have tricks up his sleeve before then.
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