Donovan Edwards holds a legendary place in Michigan-Ohio State football history. Although his jersey may never be retired in Ann Arbor, he maintains a profound meaning in Michigan lore.
The running back doesn’t draw comparisons to Blake Corum, Anthony Thomas Tyrone Wheatley, or Joe Morris. However, Edwards’ place in Michigan football canon will outlast his NFL playing career.
Donovan Edwards and Legacy vs. Ohio State
His latest exploits regard the mother of all troll jobs. When signing autographs, the former Michigan standout finishes his signature with the phrase, “No Gold Pants.”
While the magnitude of the slight may veer over the heads of many, for a rather sizable fanbase, the reference makes them angry.
On Oct. 16, 1897, the Buckeyes and Wolverines played against each other for the first time. For the first 30 games, Ohio State mustered just six victories. In 1934, the school hired former TCU head coach Francis Schmidt to reverse their fortunes.
In typical Texan bravado, Schmidt dismissed the notion of Michigan’s invulnerability, stating that Michigan “put their pants on just like the rest of us.” That phrase inspired two Columbus businessmen, Simon Lazarus and Herb Levy, to team up.
Donovan Edwards is signing items with “No Gold Pants” as the inscription.
Peep the top right 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/Qgo8P5D9qL
— Blue By 90 (@bluebyninety) February 24, 2025
They established the Gold Pants Club. The club bestows gifts of pins in the shape of gold pants, with the game date and outcome, to every Ohio State coach and player.
Edwards’ statement of “No Gold Pants” rings true. The last time the Buckeyes won a game in this rivalry was Nov. 30, 2019. The teams did not compete during the 2020 season because of “increased COVID-19 cases within the Wolverines’ program.”
The list of Ohio State players who emerged winless and pantsless looks like this:
- QB C.J Stroud
- OT Paris Johnson
- WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
- RB Trey Sermon
- EDGE J.T. Tuimoloau
- EDGE Jack Sawyer
- WR Emeka Egbuka
- RB TreVeyon Henderson
- WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
- CB Denzel Burke
That group contains at least four first-round draft picks and many top-100 selections. Yet, they always emerged from the last game of the regular season, holding the shiniest of losses.
If you grade Edwards on the merits of his NFL future, you’ll miss the point. Ignore the fact that many see him as a fourth-round or later pick who probably won’t serve as a workhorse back on Sundays.
Stroud, Smith-Njigba, and Harrison are cornerstone players for their respective NFL franchises. Yet, in the big game, Edwards can claim that temporary superiority. In 2023, Corum was limited by injury, so the Wolverines leaned on the backup running back.
With Michigan holding on to a 31-23 lead in the fourth quarter, Edwards took over, scoring on runs of 75 and 85 yards to close the Buckeyes out, 45-23. The Wolverines’ 45 points in a victory were their most in this game since a 58-6 beatdown back in 1946.
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Under those circumstances, Edwards earned every scintilla of credit for keeping the winning streak going.
These two programs will always have mutual enmity between fans, coaches, and fanbases. Edwards played a part in the rivalry for three of his four seasons.
At the same time, he showed up when the program needed him most. Whether he goes on to play a decade in the National Football League or not, the point stands. Decades of future alumni functions and tailgates will highlight the fact that entire recruiting classes lost the biggest game of the regular season.
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