The Ohio State football program is inching closer to its first College Football Playoff game of the year. After winning the national championship a year ago, the Buckeyes had a bye for the first round this season. Their year is not over, and they are looking to win back-to-back titles.
Meanwhile, Michigan's season could not have ended worse. TTUN got their butts kicked by the Buckeyes. A couple of weeks later, Sherrone Moore crashed and burned after being fired for having an inappropriate relationship with a staffer. They have been dealing with a coaching search for two weeks.
They have officially hired former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham to be their next head coach. As he was being introduced to the media on Sunday, Whittingham had some quotes that show the Ohio State Buckeyes have infiltrated every part of TTUN's brain.
Kyle Whittingham gives a half-hearted hate message towards Ohio State
Whittingham revealed that his mentor, former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer, was advising him throughout this process. He was also helping Whittingham get a staff together. He also gave a half-hearted message directed at the Buckeyes now that he leads the Wolverines.
When asked if he hates Ohio State, Whittingham didn't seem very convincing with his answer.
"I do now!"
Whittingham clearly rooted for the Buckeyes while Meyer was coaching the Buckeyes. With Meyer being a long-time friend and mentor, Whittingham certainly had an affinity for Ohio State. His feeble attempt at manufacturing hate was apparent with that statement.
Perhaps this is what TTUN is looking for with this hire. They clearly wanted to get someone outside of the normal rivalry since they have had so many issues in recent years. Ohio State doesn't care. They look like they are in a position to flip the rivalry back to what it has been for most of the past two decades.