The Big Ten has claimed the last two college football national titles, with Michigan and Ohio State winning in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Despite Ohio State’s recent national victory, they continue to struggle against Michigan, having lost four consecutive matches in The Game. Derrick Moore, a defensive end for Michigan, emphasizes this point:

“I’ll congratulate them on the win. But you know it’s not a real win if y’all ain’t beat us,” Moore remarked in an interview with The Michigan Insider. “This year, it’s gonna be different.”

Moore voiced his skepticism, stating, “If the playoff [expansion] wasn’t around, they wouldn’t have won the national championship.”

After Ohio State defeated Michigan for the fourth straight time, they missed the chance to compete in the Big Ten Championship; however, the newly implemented 12-team College Football Playoff still allowed the Buckeyes to reach the playoffs as the No. 8 seed.

Despite their playoff success, Moore insists that their record against Michigan overshadows their recent achievements, noting, “We look at it like, ‘Y’all had a nice run, but we helped y’all build back up.’”

Additionally, tensions flared after last year’s game when Moore waved a Michigan flag at midfield, leading to a confrontation reminiscent of rivalries past. This prompted Ohio state representative Josh Williams to propose a bill that would criminalize similar actions in the future. “For like a whole month straight they had a picture of me with the flag on the field,” Moore remarked, noting the reaction from Buckeye fans. “I’m like, ‘Bro, wow. Like, I’m a criminal now?’”

In the upcoming season, Michigan is set to face Ohio State on November 29 in Ann Arbor, and a victory could give them their longest winning streak over the Buckeyes since the 1920s.