ESPN Names Ohio State's Biggest 'Villain' Ahead Of 2025 Season

Ohio State would love nothing more than to successfully defend its national championship. Of course, that's easier said than done. 

With the 2025 college football season quickly approaching, ESPN has named every top 25 team's archvillain. Unsurprisingly, the biggest obstacle standing in Ohio State's way resides in the Big Ten. 

According to ESPN, Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore should be considered Ohio State's archvillain for the upcoming season. 

Although the Wolverines struggled at times during Moore's first year as the head coach, they still defeated the Buckeyes on the road. For that reason alone, he's considered the No. 1 villain for Ryan Day's program.  

"Michigan coach Sherrone Moore has become a problem for the Buckeyes. He might not wear the villain outfit quite as well as predecessor Jim Harbaugh did, but Moore's rise in coaching - as Wolverines offensive line coach, offensive coordinator and now head coach - has coincided with Ohio State's longest losing streak (four games) to its archrival since 1991," ESPN's Adam Rittenberg wrote. 

"Moore served as acting head coach during Harbaugh's Big Ten-imposed suspension in 2023, as Michigan punched its ticket to the Big Ten championship game. He then earned the permanent role and pulled off one of the more stunning upsets in the history of The Game in November in Columbus. The story of Moore's coaching career at Michigan is really just beginning, but he has already demonstrated his ability to win the biggest games."