Rod Moore remembers. How could he forget? He was a high school football player from Clayton, OH, about an hour west of Columbus, who never heard from Ohio State. The Buckeyes told him without telling him, you're not good enough to play here. He went to Michigan instead.
In his first game against Ohio State, as a true freshman in 2021, Moore started at safety and made a then-career-high nine tackles in Michigan's win over the No. 2-ranked Buckeyes. In his second game against Ohio State, Moore had a career-high two pass break-ups plus a tackle for loss in Michigan's win over the No. 2-ranked and unbeaten Buckeyes.
And in his third and perhaps final game against Ohio State, on Saturday at the Big House, Moore made the play of his life with the season on the line ... in Michigan's win over the No. 2-ranked and unbeaten Buckeyes. Next stop, per usual: Indy.
"Just being from Ohio, this whole game is personal," Moore said. "Every year it’s so personal to me."
With a minute to go and Michigan leading 30-24, Ohio State's offense took the field at its own 19. The Game would be decided here. Moore said that "before the defense went out there, I told myself, 'You either going to make the play or somebody else is to seal the game.'" Then he told the boys up front to go get the quarterback. After the Buckeyes had moved the ball to Michigan's 37, Mason Graham and Jaylen Harrell delivered, pressuring Kyle McCord into a dangerous throw over the middle.
"And I made the play," said Moore.
As the wounded duck was wobbling to the ground, the safety who didn't have enough athleticism, speed or talent to play at Ohio State beat Marvin Harrison Jr. to the football and laid out for the game-winning interception. The crowd erupted. The beams of the Big House shook. Moore will remember for it as long as he lives, and might never come up with the words to describe it.
"It was a dream come true, making a game-winning play in one of the biggest games probably in college football history," Moore said. "I really can’t put into words how I’m feeling. I was on the field just looking like, ‘I just called game. I did that.’ I can’t really explain it to you."
Sitting next to Moore at the interview dais, Blake Corum may have put it best: "Ice in his veins." Michigan's running back said there was never a doubt; he knew someone on the defense was going to make a play on the game's final drive. Michigan's quarterback swore it was going to be Moore, his fellow No. 9.
"I’m not lying to you," said J.J. McCarthy, "I really felt like Rod was going to make the play. Honestly, I just had this deep feeling in my gut that my twin was going to show up when it mattered."
Moore is soft-spoken, but speaks from the heart. He made sure to wear the Michigan turnover Buffs to the post-game press conference. Corum, who wore a bandage over the bridge of his bloodied nose, said that "seeing Rod get that pick brought joy to my heart, because I knew he was ready for the moment." By now, Ryan Day and the Buckeyes should have known the same thing.
"And when the opportunity came," said Corum, "he took advantage of it and did his thing."
Moore reiterated that he couldn't find the words to match his emotions. He must have felt like he was floating. When he arrived at Michigan as a four-star recruit, Ohio State owned the rivalry, winners of eight straight. Now it belongs to the Wolverines, along with the Big Ten.
"Being a three-peat and being from Ohio, it feels great, especially them guys not recruiting me when I was coming out of high school," Moore said. "Just being able to beat 'em and get the get-back on ‘em feels so good."
Now excuse him, if you will. Michigan has a few Moore games to win.