Sherrone Moore loses edge when talking about Ohio State despite Michigan players and fans holding The Game as top priority

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Ian Valentino | Last updated Jul 25, 2025 9:04 AM ET

Big Ten Media Days featured several notable moments, and most of our expectations were met or exceeded. However, not everyone fell into talking about the company lines. After hearing about how the Ohio State Buckeyes' national championship run in 2024-2025 was less impressive because they lost to Michigan for the fourth-straight year, everyone expected the Wolverines to keep that same energy.

That especially included Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore, who has been boisterous in beating Ohio State as the acting and then later full-time head coach in his two victories with the program. Moore's been demonstrative after his program's wins, and defiant when it comes to acknowledging the cheating scandal that is about to come to a head in a matter of weeks.

When Moore hit the podium and was asked about the Buckeyes' title-winning run, he opted to surprise everyone. Unlike the myriad of Michigan fans online and even some of his players, Moore believes the Buckeyes' title is far from tainted.

"They won. They won the national title. They were the best team at the end of the year, so I give them all the credit that they get," he said. "They were well deserving. They played really well. They obviously won it all, so kudos to them," Moore stated.

Michigan coach Sherrone Moore on Ohio State's national title:

"They won. They won the national title. They were the best team at the end of the year, so I give them all the credit that they get," he said. "They were well deserving. They played really well. They obviously won it…
— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) July 24, 2025

Day sarcastically responded to a lazy question earlier this week when asked how to beat Michigan: “Score more points than them.”

This streak marks a significant shift in a rivalry historically dominated by the Buckeyes, who won 15 of 16 games from 2004 to 2019. The inability to defeat Michigan has sparked frustration among fans and scrutiny of Ohio State's performance under head coach Ryan Day.

In 2021, Michigan ended an eight-game losing streak with a 42-27 victory, capitalizing on a dominant rushing attack led by Hassan Haskins, who ran for 169 yards and five touchdowns. Ohio State’s defense struggled to contain Michigan’s physicality, setting the tone for subsequent losses.

In 2022, Michigan’s 45-23 rout showcased its ability to exploit Ohio State’s secondary, with J.J. McCarthy throwing three touchdown passes.

The 2023 game saw Michigan win 30-24 in a tightly contested match, with its defense stifling Ohio State’s late comeback attempts. Even in 2024, despite high expectations, Ohio State fell 13-10 in a defensive battle, unable to overcome Michigan’s relentless ground game and timely plays.

Several factors contribute to Ohio State’s struggles. Michigan’s offensive line has consistently outmuscled Ohio State’s front, controlling the line of scrimmage and enabling a punishing run game.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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