Ohio State's Ryan Day needs Michigan's win as rivalry enters zero world

It was always about this moment anyway.

Not an October proof game that may or may not mean anything by December.

Not another speed bump from a November contender who thought he had it figured out, or an October contender who barely managed two yards in four plays from third down.

This season, for Ohio State and coach Ryan Day, it was all about Michigan. There are jobs – and the looming NIL financial arms race between schools – at stake.

“It all leads to this,” Day says. “Everything you do and the decisions you make lead to this game.”

Day has tried almost everything to break a three-game losing streak against Michigan and turn around a rivalry that was once so lopsided in Ohio State’s favor. Michigan’s only win since 2004 was against an interim Buckeyes coach.

He fired a defensive coordinator. He fired a quarterback. He hired an incumbent Power Four conference coach as offensive coordinator to revamp his highly successful offense – to develop “toughness” and “attitude.”

He acquired the best running back (Quinshon Judkins) and safety (Caleb Downs) in college football from the transfer portal this offseason and outbid everyone for his starting quarterback (Will Howard).

All in the name of not just beating Michigan, but becoming more like the Wolverines.

But here’s the most fascinating aspect of this rare rivalry, this disgust between universities that includes mutual snitches to the NCAA (hello, Connor Stalions and Jim Tressel): The hatred is only going to get worse in the future.

Now that Michigan has finally figured out that the only way to keep up with Ohio State is to play the game until it hurts, the financial gloves are off in the world of zero and free player movement. Michigan vs. Ohio State is quickly becoming Yankees vs. Dodgers vs. no salary cap.

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As a wise philosopher once wrote: The one with the most money buys the best players and wins the games.

Or something like that.

As Bryce Underwood, the best high school player in the country and one of the best high school quarterbacks in decades, last week flipped a long-time commitment from LSU to Michigan in a reported $10 million to $12 million NIL deal , the money ball officially arrived in Ann Arbor.

None other than Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback of all time and former Michigan star, reportedly got involved by promising to be a resource for Underwood. In September, Barstool Sports owner Dave Portnoy spoke to Michigan coach Sherrone Moore and said he would be willing to give $3 million to “find a quarterback.”

Apparently he got one. And this isn’t the first or last step Michigan has taken into the zero world.

It’s just the first significant shot across Ohio State’s bow, intended to deliver the message that Michigan, with its large and wealthy alumni base, will rage against the dying of the light.

That after trying for a national title in 2023, Michigan wants more. Even without the unbeatable team of former coach Jim Harbaugh and Stalions.

That Michigan will not stand still while Ohio State, with its own large and wealthy alumni base, spends $43 million this season on one and only one goal: beat Michigan and win the national title. In that order.

These two lovable weirdos are just getting started.

If you thought it was weird to sack a defensive coordinator three weeks into the season, or fire a potential elite quarterback because he couldn’t win the game (that’s exactly what happened to Kyle McCord), or Chip Kelly for it to engage Make it harder for your team to win. The game was drastic. You obviously didn’t follow what happened in Michigan last year.

Because once you took the step of going against your own conference and the NCAA over not just one, but two ongoing NCAA investigations into your incumbent head coach, you’ve crossed just about every line for the sake of everyone to win prize.

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