Imagine -
From 2001-2020, Michigan beats Ohio State 18 times and loses just twice. The Wolverines win most of the B1G titles as well as two natties during that span, falling short in two others. They rule your team, the conference and at times - the whole sport.
During that stretch, beloved players go 0-4 in The Game. Ohio State loses a no.1 vs. no.2 epic meeting for a BCS title game birth. The program cycles through coaches and mediocre seasons. Then it hires a savior, only to see him go 0-5 against Michigan in his first five tries.
Then during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season when things couldn't possibly get any worse, Ohio State (2-4) ducks out of The Game as a 31-point underdog, leaving Michigan (5-0) one game short of B1G title game eligibility. The Buckeyes hold a "spirited practice" the day after the game was supposed to be held.
After that, miraculously - your team goes on a three-season heater, finally winning the rivalry game, conference and making the CFP. The Buckeyes win the third time, but the coach whom everyone wanted fired in 2020 now jumps to the NFL. NCAA scandals have been piling up in the meantime, including one which has not yet closed and casts significant doubt over how clean Ohio State's three-season resurgence was.
Now coming off an 8-5 season, optimism is high for a rebound. Ohio State won in Ann Arbor as a 21-point underdog last season, thought the Wolverines still went on a four-game tear to win the CFP one season after the Buckeyes upset them. The sentiment among our fans is that it's hilarious to lose to Ohio State and still claim to be national champions.
Maybe you feel that way. At least publicly. That brings us to This Week's Question.
OSU's head coach is already pre-suspended for two cupcake games ahead of an NCAA COI ruling on a sign-stealing scandal which opened on Oct 18, 2023 and has already produced numerous Show Case penalties, terminations and bad press. Michigan and Penn State message boards, social media mouthpieces and fans are clamoring for The Hammer to hit the Ohio State program.
How are you feeling? Would you be bracing for The Hammer? Or is this just delusional loser fans losering and delusioning their way to finding comfort in the fact that Ohio State runs the conference, everyone steals signs and the NCAA is massively overreaching?
