The Michigan Wolverines have Ryan Day’s number over their past four encounters. With the Ohio State Buckeyes’ success last season, On3’s Ari Wasserman believes they could flip the script this upcoming season.
Analyst Foretells Change in Ohio State-Michigan Rivalry
As is customary, Ohio State will clash with its bitter rival in November. This time, things will be different for Day and the Buckeyes, who will defend their College Football Playoff national championship when they visit Ann Arbor. On3’s Ari Wasserman believes the trophy Day hoisted in January will help him relax in what has otherwise been a tense situation.
“I think now that they’ve won the national title and the monkey’s off his back a little bit, I think that he might not be as tight as he’s been in that game,” Wasserman said last Wednesday on “Andy & Ari On3.”
“I think that, like, now that he’s been able to have the summer tour on ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show,’ and … he was on, like, Jimmy Fallon and stuff and people have been celebrating him hoisting the trophy, I know that the Michigan game was a thorn in his side last year.
“I think that his pressure as a coach has been mitigated to a point where maybe he can just be himself more than the tight, wound-up person that he is at the end of the year — and then that will change the dynamic of it.”
The Buckeyes were ranked No. 2 in the country when they welcomed in the 6-5 Wolverines last season. Twenty-one points favored Ohio State, but Sherrone Moore’s crew pulled out a shocking 13-10 win. Michigan was also without two of its best players, tight end Colston Loveland and cornerback Will Johnson.
“That last year — and I will say this, and I’m sure Michigan fans will probably agree — was the single most bizarre result I think I’ve ever seen in the sport,” Wasserman said. “In terms of, like, who the teams were, how the game played out, and how one coach allowed that to happen.”
Wasserman disagrees with Michigan fans’ belief that their program can continue its ownership over the rivalry.
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“Michigan lost the game, like, 20 out of 21 years and now owns the rivalry,” Wasserman said. “What’s true now isn’t true forever. … Five years ago, I wrote a story about how the rivalry wasn’t fun anymore because Michigan wasn’t even a competitive party in it. It wasn’t that long ago, guys, and it’s not like Ohio State stinks now.”
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