The Ohio State-Michigan rivalry is pure gold. Every year, these B1G giants collide for more than just bragging rights — it’s about legacy, tradition, and pride. For OSU, it’s a chance to add to a dominant run, winning 39 of the last 42 meetings and claiming four B1G titles plus a national championship. But Michigan isn’t backing down, boasting 8 national titles, and a roster loaded with talent. Now, known as the ‘Battle for the Buckeye’ or ‘The Game’, this game always delivers, leaving a mark on CFB for years to come. So, will this season deliver another classic?

Well, when Ohio State and Michigan clash, it’s always must-see TV — and last season proved exactly why. Yes, the Buckeyes entered as heavy favorites, eyeing a national title run. But Michigan stormed into hostile territory and pulled off a stunning upset. Now, as the hype builds once again, a national analyst has delivered a blunt verdict on this year’s showdown: “Forget the rankings — this one’s personal.”

On May 10, RJ Young broke it down on The Number One CFB Show, in bold fashion — rivalries are the heartbeat of CFB. “The rivalries are important, certainly, right? In the NFL, but they’re not as important as they are in college football. College football is rivalry games. It’s a reason why we call Ohio State–Michigan The Game,” said Young. And when it comes to SEC fireworks, he didn’t hold back and echoed the voice of the SEC, stating, “Hey, y’all got to play each other because we love seeing y’all hate each other.” That’s college football — passion, pride, and pure animosity.

Here comes the verdict on ‘The Game’, and RJ Young didn’t sugarcoat it. “So you put all that into focus for Ohio State–Michigan, it really gets cranked up,” he said. Why? Because the last two national champs are none other than the Buckeyes and Wolverines. But Michigan holds the mic drop moment — not just a national title in the last two years, but four straight wins over OSU. To be honest, that’s dominance, and that’s fuel for the fire.

Then, RJ Young painted a brutal picture of recent Ohio State-Michigan history — and Michigan fans are loving it. He pointed out that there’s an entire class of Ohio State graduates who never experienced a win over the Wolverines. Not once. Not as students. “They just will not ever know what that is — to win,” he said. Meanwhile, two and a half Michigan classes only know one thing: dominance. Glorious beatdowns. So, while Ohio State once flexed during the Urban Meyer era, Michigan has returned the favor, especially with that ruthless blowout in The Shoe. Now, the tides have turned, and Young made sure everyone felt it.

Now, both programs are stacked with talent and chasing glory. Ohio State has long relied on firepower — better players, better coaches, and a relentless approach. Michigan, on the other hand, grinds teams down with grit, defense, and a bruising run game. Last season, they won without dominant quarterback play — a rare feat. That could shift soon if Bryce Underwood lives up to the hype and Mikey King develops. Here, former OSU star Will Howard and Jack Sawyer have a message for Michigan.

A bold message for Michigan

Jack Sawyer had a clear goal — shatter Michigan’s pride. When asked about the ultimate goal, Sawyer responded, “Winning a national championship. That takes no emphasis off how important The Game is. If anyone tells you they’d rather go 1-12 and just beat The Team Up North, you’re crazy. You’re playing this game to win championships. And make no mistake about it, no one wants to beat those guys more than we do. But at the end of the day, there’s nothing we could have done after that. We have our shot to go chase the ultimate goal, which is to win a national championship.”

Honestly, Sawyer’s words hit hard because they come from a place of deep rivalry and regret. For the first time in history, Ohio State or Michigan could win a national title without beating the other. However, in 2022, the Buckeyes lost to the Wolverines, but their playoff hopes were crushed by a single point in the semifinal. A native of Pickerington, Sawyer grew up living and breathing this rivalry. After losing to Michigan throughout his four-year career, he said heading into ‘The Game’ last season, “It would mean ‘everything’ to beat Michigan. This is the reason why we come to Ohio State.” So, the mission? Shatter Michigan’s pride — and go for the ultimate prize.

Here, Will Howard may now be shining in the NFL, but the former OSU star still has a strong message for Michigan: shatter their pride. “That’s coming from a long-time Buckeye fan,” said Howard, referring to Jack Sawyer. Adding, “Me, just being new to the rivalry — obviously I was a Penn State fan… I think that the rational Buckeye fan would say, ‘Give me the championship every day of the week.’ I would hope so. And obviously, we literally talk about it every single day, and there’s a huge emphasis on it. No M’s in the building, I don’t think I’ve worn blue this whole year. It runs really deep and it means a lot to a lot of people.” So, the rivalry is more than just a game now.

Let’s see what this season brings for these two — victory or loss.