Michigan's new head coach pours cold water on Ohio State rivalry: 'Hate is a strong word'

Kyle Whittingham whitethorn not cognize it yet, but contempt being connected the sidelines for 2 Rose Bowls, helium volition beryllium coaching the astir important crippled of his beingness successful November.

After 22 seasons with Utah, Whittingham made the determination to Ann Arbor to instrumentality implicit the Michigan Wolverines pursuing Sherrone Moore's firing.

It's a full caller satellite for Whittingham, with Michigan's rivalries possibly stronger than immoderate Utah has had.

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Michigan Wolverines caput manager Kyle Whittingham smiles arsenic helium walks disconnected the tract astatine the decision of the Michigan outpouring shot crippled connected April 18, 2026, astatine Michigan Stadium successful Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

And of course, there's arguably the champion rivalry successful each of sports with Ohio State.

Whittingham, though, is not focused connected the Buckeyes conscionable yet.

"I haven't learned truly overmuch much than I already knew. It's a nationalist game. Everybody knows astir it. It's 'The Game' arsenic we telephone it. It's of large value to some sides obviously. But I'm an old-school coach. We got 11 games that we play earlier that, truthful we're not going to get up of ourselves," Whittingham said astatine Big Ten Media Day this week.

"Make nary mistake, I recognize the implications that it has... Very well-versed successful what it means, the strength of it, the nationalist allure that it has. Our players are the same. I mean, everybody knows that that game's looming retired there. I deliberation the best-case scenario, it comes down to that 12th game. That's for each the marbles successful the Big Ten. I deliberation that would beryllium ideal. Hopefully that happens."

Later on, helium was asked if he'd learned to "hate" Ohio State.

Not yet.

"Hate's a beardown word," Whittingham admitted.

The Ohio State Buckeyes mascot takes the tract earlier a crippled against the Michigan Wolverines astatine Michigan Stadium. (Rick Osentoski/Imagn Images)

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"But I privation to triumph that crippled arsenic severely arsenic anybody successful Ann Arbor. And similar I said aboriginal on, what amended script would determination beryllium is if that crippled came down to the title successful the Big Ten? That would beryllium outstanding. We'll spot what happens."

The rivalry took its ugliest crook successful caller representation during the 2024 edition, erstwhile the unranked Wolverines went to Columbus arsenic three-touchdown underdogs and upset the second-ranked Buckeyes. An disfigured brawl ensued aft Michigan players planted the university's emblem connected the OSU logo astatine midfield that led to constabulary utilizing mace. Ohio State got the past laughter erstwhile it coiled up winning the nationalist title.

After Ohio State snapped its four–game losing streak this past November astatine The Big House, Michigan players guarded their ain midfield logo.

Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines combat pursuing the NCAA shot crippled astatine Ohio Stadium successful Columbus connected Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Michigan won 13-10. (IMAGN)

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So, fixed what's happened successful the past mates years, Whittingham volition larn soon enough.

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