Michigan defensive end Derrick Moore stirred the rivalry pot last week, joking that Ohio State's 2024 national title doesn't truly count because the Buckeyes didn't go through the Wolverines to get it.
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"First, I'd like to congratulate them on the win," Moore said during Big Ten media days. "But, you know, it's not no real win if y'all ain't beat us."
Ohio State, seeded eighth in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff, surged to a national championship with four straight postseason wins. It was the Buckeyes' first title since 2014. Their path to the crown did not include a rematch with Michigan, who defeated them 13-10 in Columbus to close the regular season.
That loss marked Michigan's fourth straight win in the rivalry. It also opened the door for Ohio State to take the long road to the championship, a journey Moore believes would not have happened under the old four-team format.
"If the playoff expansion wasn't around, [Ohio State] wouldn't have won the national championship," he said. "So, we pretty much look at it like, y'all had a nice little, easy run."
Still, Moore gave credit to the Buckeyes for how they finished.
"After that [loss], they dominated everybody that came in front of them. So, got to give all the credit to them."
Michigan coach Sherrone Moore struck a different tone.
"They won the national title. They were the best team at the end of the year, so I give them all the credit," he said. "They were well deserving."
Tensions boiled over after last year's game, when Michigan players planted a flag at midfield. A brawl broke out, and police used pepper spray to break it up. Moore, who had a key pass deflection in the win, reflected on the incident.
"I feel like I could have [done] a better job as a leader of not letting that get out like that," he said. "But at the same time, that's pretty much why people come to Michigan or Ohio State."
He also took a jab at Ohio state Rep. Josh Williams, who proposed a bill last December to classify flag planting at Ohio Stadium as a felony.
"That was actually crazy," Moore said. "But all I got to say is, that's Ohio for you."
Sherrone Moore said the program has moved on from the flag drama.
"There'll be no more flag planting, there'll be no more grabbing the flag," he said.
The rivalry renews Nov. 29 in Ann Arbor.
