Jim Harbaugh was asked during his press conference earlier this week if he respects Ryan Day and his staff. Harbaugh, as he often does when asked about something that makes him uncomfortable, hesitated before dodging the question.
“It’s all about preparation for Ohio,” Harbaugh said. “The days, the minutes, the hours, everything leading up to this game, that’s where we focus. We prepare and plan, practice and then execute. “Everything else is irrelevant when it comes to this kind of big game.”
Ryan Day was asked something similar the next day. He also wasn’t interested in giving an honest answer.
“With everything that’s going on and the things that are out there, we’ve stayed away from all the distractions and focused on our team,” he said. “I think our guys did a good job. … I’ve talked to them a couple of times about what’s happened this season, game-wise, but they’re focused on this game. “They are focused on this season.”
I’m writing an article right now and I have a question: Is this the best/most hyped Ohio State-Michigan game… ever?
—Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) November 22, 2023
Four years ago, after Ohio State’s 56-27 win over Michigan in Ann Arbor in Day’s first year as Buckeyes coach, the rivalry seemed dead because Urban Meyer had killed it. Meyer was no longer the coach at Ohio State, but the foundation of what he had built carried over into the Day era and the Buckeyes ran roughshod over the Wolverines. The game was lopsided, the recruiting results were lopsided, and Ohio State was more worried about Clemson than its bitterest rival.
But the rivalry wasn’t dead. It turns out that he cannot be killed.
And if you’re looking for something to be grateful for on Thursday, how about this? The greatest rivalry in the sport, the one that was on life support less than five years ago, isn’t just back. It’s better than ever.
After Harbaugh beat Ohio State for the first time, in 2021, he said in the postgame press conference that “some people are born at third base and act like they hit a triple,” referring to Day’s status as coach of the Buckeyes. A public look at your rival’s coach and everything he accomplished in his career? There’s no going back from this.
Of course, Harbaugh later went on to say that the comment was a counterattack on Day, who reportedly said he would “hang 100” on Michigan during a dispute over a Big Ten coaches conference call. Alas, the motivation for this is not more truly important. It’s not a comment you can just shrug off.
GO DEEPER
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But this year’s game is about much more than just talking trash in public. On Ohio State’s part, you have an elite-level program that expects to win national titles while living in a reality where it’s no longer even perceived as the best program in the Big Ten East. Day lost consecutive games against Michigan after the Buckeyes lost just eleven in this rivalry from 2004-2019.
Day has an impeccable record and was on the verge of winning a national title last year, but many Ohio State fans question whether he is the right man for the job. Call it the ghost of John Cooper.
Michigan is looking for its third straight win in the series, which would have been an unthinkable idea in December 2019. But the Wolverines are currently under investigation for an alleged in-person scouting program, and people are throwing the word “cheating” around . Harbaugh will coach his team during the week, prepare the game plan and fulfill his media obligations as usual, but he is serving a three-game suspension from the Big Ten and will not be at Michigan Stadium on Saturday.
Many Michigan fans wholeheartedly believe that Day hired a private investigator firm to investigate the Wolverines and blame all of the program’s woes on Ohio State’s head coach. Day’s brothers have been accused of being rampant on X (formerly known as Twitter) and college football forums.
You have real-life animosity between two coaches as an appetizer for a game that will most likely determine who wins the Big Ten and advances to the College Football Playoff.
The 2006 edition featured two undefeated teams in what was dubbed “The Game of the Century.” Legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler died the day before the game from cardiovascular disease. Doctors said all the excitement leading up to the Game probably contributed to his death.
It shouldn’t get any heavier than this. Many will tell you that nothing can compare to 2006. Maybe that’s not the case. But it feels bigger in a different way.
This year we have two programs and two coaches who legitimately hate each other. Rivalries exist at all levels in sports, and hatred is probably more common on the field than off the pitch. But this? This is natural.
Even Schembechler and legendary Ohio State coach Woody Hayes – the two men who presided over the Ten Year War from 1969 to 1978 – had love and admiration for each other. The two were very close friends, even though they spent the whole year trying to figure out how to beat each other. Woody visited Bo in the hospital after he had a heart attack. Bo gave a eulogy at Woody’s funeral.
These are the ultimate signs of respect. The two current coaches can’t even muster the energy to say a word.
The outcome of this game will have resonance, regardless of the outcome.
• Michigan wins: The Wolverines remain in the lead. They also argue that the sign-stealing scandal has been completely exaggerated and the win over Ohio State is proof that they have always been the better team. Even without Harbaugh on the sidelines, Michigan is superior to its arch-rival. The victory also legitimizes the results of the previous two seasons. Day, in turn, must return to Columbus with his tail between his legs in front of a fan base that may have already turned against him.
• Ohio State wins: Day evens his record to 2-2 against Michigan and all is forgiven. His record against his biggest rival may not match Meyer’s (7-0) or Jim Tressel’s (9-1), but he gets extra credit for winning the biggest edition of this rugged rivalry. Ohio State reaffirms itself as the class of the Big Ten and will likely return to the College Football Playoff to try to finish the job after coming close a year ago. Meanwhile, Michigan is eliminated from the CFP and begins to face even more pressing questions about Connor Stalions, the cheating scandal and how much advanced scouting helped the program turn around.
When was a game most addictive? Championship trophies are at stake on the field and self-esteem is at stake off it. For both teams.
Whether you’re an Ohio State or Michigan fan, you can probably agree on one thing: This is the best rivalry in college football and, perhaps, sports. And the anticipation and genuine hatred that exists makes this Thanksgiving week sweeter than normal.
This is rivalry nirvana.
This is the epitome of what makes college football great.
Who isn’t grateful that this rivalry is back… and better than ever?
(Photo by Jim Harbaugh and Ryan Day: Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)