The rivalry between Ohio State and Michigan has always been one of the most heated in college football, but Saturday’s 27-9 win by the Buckeyes added a new layer to the tension - and not just because of what happened on the field.
Ohio State didn’t just beat Michigan. They controlled the game from start to finish, in snowy conditions, on the road, and under circumstances that could’ve thrown a lesser team off its rhythm. But the Buckeyes stayed locked in, even when things got weird on the sideline.
Midway through the game, Ohio State experienced repeated issues with their sideline communication system. According to reports from the field, power outages on the Buckeyes’ sideline disrupted the flow of communication between quarterback Julian Sayin and the coaches upstairs. That meant Sayin had to physically run to the sideline on multiple occasions to get the play directly from head coach Ryan Day - a throwback move in an era where headset communication is the norm.
Naturally, in a rivalry that’s still feeling the aftershocks of Michigan’s sign-stealing scandal, fans didn’t take the situation lightly. Social media lit up with accusations and conspiracy theories, with some Ohio State fans suggesting that Michigan might have had a hand in the technical difficulties. While there’s no evidence to support that claim - and it’s worth noting that communication systems are typically managed by neutral third parties, not the home team - the mere suggestion shows just how much trust has eroded in the wake of Michigan’s previous infractions.
Still, the Buckeyes didn’t let the noise - or the silence in their headsets - affect their performance. After a shaky start that included an 0-for-2 passing line and an interception, Sayin settled in and led a composed offensive attack. The Buckeyes’ defense, meanwhile, clamped down hard, holding Michigan to single digits and sending a clear message to the rest of the country: this team is for real.
Whether or not the communication issues were a coincidence, they served as a reminder of how fragile in-game operations can be - and how quickly tensions can flare when there’s a history of controversy. For Michigan, the shadow of the Connor Stalions scandal continues to loom large. Fair or not, any hiccup that even remotely smells suspicious is going to be met with raised eyebrows and pointed fingers.
But the bigger takeaway here isn’t about sideline tech or social media speculation. It’s about how Ohio State responded.
This was a statement win - not just over their biggest rival, but to the rest of the college football landscape. The Buckeyes didn’t just survive adversity; they thrived in it.
And with the playoffs looming, that kind of resilience is the mark of a team built for championship football.
Ohio State made sure the scoreboard - and their performance - did the talking.