Jake Butt says the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry has a kind of hate that still leaves room for respect, and he thinks that distinction is what Kyle Whittingham doesn’t quite grasp yet.
Speaking with college football media personality Brooks Austin, the former Michigan tight end was asked directly whether he hates the Ohio State Buckeyes. Butt, who grew up in Central Ohio and says he was a Buckeye fan as a kid, pointed to a different rivalry when it comes to pure hostility.
“I don’t know if you knew this. I grew up in Columbus.
I actually grew up a Buckeye fan, believe it or not. And Urban Meyer didn’t… [offer me] - that’s a story we’ll save...
I'll dangle the carrot for another day. My hatred, in terms of pure hatred, that’s Michigan-Michigan State.
That’s what that rivalry is about. I hate Ohio State… but I respect them in a way where respect is a word that has to be tied into the hatred of Ohio State,” Butt said.
He expanded on that idea by stressing that the two programs sit in a rare category together.
“It’s both those programs - Michigan and Ohio State - are legendary. They’re full of great history, great coaches.
You train year-round to compete and win in that game. But I would say there’s gotta be a level of respect for the Buckeyes as much as there is hatred.”
Whittingham, Michigan’s new head coach, gave a different answer at the 2026 Big Ten Football Media Days. He said he understands how big the matchup is, but not in terms of hate.
“I’ve learned how intense that rivalry is and how important the game is,” Whittingham said. “Hate is a strong word, but I want to win that game as badly as anybody in Ann Arbor. ...
I just think a rivalry can be intense and emotional without the hatred factor. I don’t think there’s any place for that personally.
I think Ryan Day is a good person. To sit here and say I hate Ryan Day, I’d be making crap up because that’s not true.”
Butt’s point, though, is that “The Game” runs on a different fuel than most rivalries. Michigan State, in his view, is where the true hatred lives. Ohio State demands something more complicated: deep dislike, sure, but also an acknowledgment of what the other side is.
That’s the part Whittingham will have to absorb quickly. He’s no longer dealing with Utah and the “Holy War” against BYU. The Michigan-Ohio State showdown comes with its own code, one Butt described as a blend of resentment and respect, not one or the other.
The message from Butt is simple enough: if Whittingham wants to survive in Ann Arbor, he’ll need to understand that “The Game” is not just another rivalry. It’s one where the hate is real, but so is the reverence.
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