Ohio State’s Senior Day move shows how much Michigan still rattles Buckeyes
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The college football season is approaching, and the quest for the College Football Playoff will begin. Not only that, but some historic rivalries will open a new chapter in their stories.
The Ohio State Buckeyes will host this year’s installment of “The Game” against the Michigan Wolverines. Normally, this is also Senior Day, when the program recognizes seniors set to graduate that academic year.
However, Ohio State is making a drastic change. According to CBS Sports, the Buckeyes are moving Senior Day to Sept. 5 to eliminate distractions surrounding their hated rival. It’s a relatively unprecedented move school administration suggested to head coach Ryan Day.
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“I had long conversations about it. The traditions here at Ohio State are very strong and something we all respect. What we don’t want to do is anything that’s going to disrupt those traditions. But when we look at all the things that go on that weekend, the way things have changed, there’s some things we thought about. The first thing was we want to keep the focus on that game. There’s already enough distractions that week. This was just one more thing we felt like we could move.” Day said.
More than “just another game”
Ohio State’s decision shows just how seriously the Buckeyes continue to take Michigan. Rather than allow Senior Day festivities to compete for attention with one of the biggest games on the college football calendar, the program wants everything surrounding the rivalry to remain focused on the game itself.
That approach stands in stark contrast to Michigan’s current tone under new head coach Kyle Whittingham. Whittingham has acknowledged the importance of “The Game” but has pushed back against the idea that a rivalry needs to involve hatred. Even quarterback Bryce Underwood has similarly described the matchup as “just another game.”
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That doesn’t necessarily mean Michigan doesn’t care about beating Ohio State. Whittingham’s approach could simply reflect his desire to keep his team composed and focused on preparation rather than emotion.
Still, the contrast is striking. Ohio State is moving a longstanding tradition to keep the spotlight on Michigan, while the Wolverines appear intent on removing some of the emotional weight surrounding the rivalry.
When the teams meet on Nov. 28, the differing philosophies will become much clearer. Regardless of what either side says, the result will ultimately determine which approach worked best.
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