Michigan linebacker and co-captain Josh Ross spent most of his press conference Monday afternoon insisting that the past doesn't matter, that the only concern for the Wolverines ahead of Saturday's game against Ohio State is "right now." Which is true. Everything is on the table for Michigan, including a spot in the Big Ten Championship and the College Football Playoff.
"We're tired of talking," said Ross.
Then Ross was asked about the idea that Michigan 'waved the white flag' against Ohio State last season, as ESPN analyst and former Buckeyes QB Kirk Herbstreit suggested when the 2-4 Wolverines cancelled the final game of the season due to a roster decimated by COVID-19.
"It’s BS, to be honest with you," Ross said. "That’s a game we always got checked on our calendar and always want to play. As a Michigan Wolverine, that’s a game you die for."
At the outset of this season, Jim Harbaugh said Michigan would beat Ohio State or die trying. This is their chance. The No. 2 Buckeyes are coming to the Big House, where the No. 6 Wolverines await. Both teams are 9-1. Of course, Ohio State is 8-0 against Michigan since 2012, 15-1 since 2004. They've won the last six games by an average of 18 points. Fifth-year offensive lineman and co-captain Andrew Vastardis wears four of those losses on his sleeve.
"This is the game you come to Michigan to play. It’s The Game," Vastardis said. "And in the past it’s just been unacceptable."
Michigan is doing everything it can to change that. Whether it makes a difference against another lethal Ohio State team remains to be seen. On the first day of spring practice this year, Harbaugh re-named the club's traditional 9-on-7 drill the 'Beat Ohio' drill. To kick off practice every Monday and Tuesday, the Wolverines blast music, sniff smelling salts and barrel into each other "as if we’re playing Ohio State," said Ross.
"It's an emphasis on Ohio State and keeping them on our minds every day at practice," said Harbaugh.
"Just a little extra emphasis to up the physicality, because this game is as physical as they come," said Vastardis.
"This is a game where you gotta channel Bo," Harbaugh said, referencing his former coach. "You gotta channel the blocking, the tackling. Sustaining blocks, getting off blocks and making tackles. Blocking and tackling."
It's been two years since these rivals squared off; the Buckeyes blocked and tackled the Wolverines out of their own stadium in 2019. Ross said "not playing last year sucked." Michigan watched from the sidelines as Ohio State marched to its fourth straight Big Ten title and its fourth College Football Playoff berth. From that point on, Ross said "this game's been circled on our calendar."
Now it's here, and the stakes are as high as ever. If Michigan makes some noise, it just might quiet its critics.
"Both teams have a lot on the line," said Harbaugh. "It’s a true playoff in that sense. In a College Football Playoff world, this is the start of the playoffs. The team that wins will advance, the team that doesn’t won’t. So it is that. It’s also the big game. The Game. The rivalry."