The stakes may be lower than normal for this season’s version of The Game, but that doesn’t mean people aren’t under pressure. Who’s under the most pressure both externally and internally on both sides of the rivalry?
Last November, the stakes for the Michigan vs. Ohio State game were as large as they have ever been. You could argue that was the most pivotal game in Michigan program history. As I’m sure you’re all well aware of, Michigan won the game thanks to an interception by Ohio native Rod Moore.
That’s game in ‼️#OTD last year, Rod Moore’s INT sealed @UMichFootball ‘s third straight win over rival Ohio State. #B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/JeBR7vqglK
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) November 25, 2024
This season, the stakes are just about as low as you can possibly get in this rivalry. An Ohio State win likely wouldn’t change Michigan’s bowl selection standing. Ohio State, on the other hand, would punch its ticket to Indianapolis for a rematch with Oregon.
A Michigan win bumps the Wolverines to 7-5. They would likely go to a slightly better bowl game, but only marginally. Ohio State would miss out on a trip to Indianapolis, but would still easily make the CFP.
With all that said, you still can’t say no one is feeling any pressure this weekend. Sherrone Moore has had a mostly disastrous first season as head coach. A win over Ohio State would forgive most of his debts, and then some. A loss may start the proverbial clock on when his seat may become hot in future seasons.
Wink Martindale has admittedly gotten better as of late at letting his best players simply play football. The infuriating unnecessary blitzes and blown coverages have drastically scaled back. Will those mistakes rear their ugly heads again in Columbus? If Michigan’s defense can’t hang in there, will Michigan fans spend all offseason comparing Martindale’s failures to Jesse Minter’s successes?
Offensively, this may be Kirk Campbell’s one and only shot to save his job. Rumblings of an upcoming coordinator change have been pleasant for the Michigan fanbase. But to Campbell himself, he needs to have an excellent showing to justify his tactics.
On the opposite side of the ball, Ryan Day is under immense pressure. He finally has a chance to redeem himself after three consecutive losses to Michigan. By all accounts, his redemption (at least temporarily) seems likely, but what if Michigan pulls off the upset? Would Day even have a job come Sunday? A fourth consecutive loss to Michigan would be devastating to his career outlook, especially in a game in which he’s so heavily favored.
The same can be said for Jim Knowles, Ohio State’s defensive coordinator. He’s been much-maligned for failing to stop Michigan in recent years. While he looks for redemption tomorrow, he’s under immense pressure because failure to do so would be devastating.
As a Michigan fan, I’m not stressed at all heading into The Game. Sadly, it’s because I’m expecting a loss. However, the same can’t be said for those involved in The Game itself. This game has, does, and forever will mean something to those who play in it. That’s a good thing.
In my eyes, Day is under the most pressure. If this game is even close to competitive late in the game, his play calling could get tight and the crowd would be incredibly anxious. Next up in being under the most pressure is Campbell. He needs an offensive explosion in order to save his job. Does that seem likely? Not in my eyes. But if he wants to continue to call plays in Ann Arbor, he needs to figure it out in a hurry.
Who do you believe has the most pressure heading into this game? Let us know down in the comments below.