Derrick Moore claims Michigan's win over Ohio State overshadows Buckeyes' 2025 title

USA Today

4 days ago

While it may incense some people (OK, most people) in and around Columbus, to the victors go the spoils. And for Michigan football against Ohio State, despite the Buckeyes winning the national championship, the Wolverines can talk.
Yes, OSU won it all, but it went 14-2 in the process, having inexplicably lost to 6-5 Michigan in Columbus, despite quarterback Davis Warren throwing for less than 100 yards, and with the Wolverines being shorthanded on both sides of the ball. A year after winning the national championship, despite the moribund record, there was still celebrating in Ann Arbor, while -- for a period -- self-proclaimed Buckeye Nation wanted Ryan Day fired.
At Big Ten media days in Las Vegas, Michigan edge rusher Derrick Moore did some talking, giving the scarlet and gray something of a backhanded compliment.
"I'll congratulate them on the win, but it's not a real win if y'all ain't beat us," Moore said. "I'm gonna congratulate them on their win, but this year it's gonna be different."
Michigan won its championship by going 15-0, having beaten all of its rivals in its path. While OSU got revenge on its first regular-season loss, Oregon, it couldn't claim the same level of supremacy as the Wolverines did.
One thing is for sure, Moore notes: given the record, if the playoff hadn't expanded, Ohio State would have been relegated to the outside looking in, given its loss to the maize and blue.
"If the playoff extension wasn't around, they wouldn't have won the national championship," Moore said. "We pretty much look at it like, 'Hey man, y'all had an easy little run. We helped y'all along the way.' So we pretty much helped y'all build back up. But like I said, after that game, they dominated everybody that came in front of them. So I've got to give all the credit to them."
The College Football Playoff had expanded from four teams to 12 this past year, which allowed the Buckeyes to get in as an at-large team (Oregon won the Big Ten and got the automatic qualifier). So, while it might upset many (again, most) in Ohio, he is, again, correct.
Regardless, feathers will certainly be ruffled in Columbus. But they'll have to wait until the end of November to see if they can change their fortunes.