Ohio State fans celebrate the national title triumph but remain frustrated by the Michigan loss, craving complete dominance over their rival.
It was supposed to be the perfect season. For Ohio State fans, winning the national championship in dominant fashion should have been the ultimate payoff—a triumphant culmination of years of recruiting wins, coaching adjustments, and playoff heartbreaks. But for many in Buckeye Nation, the confetti falling in Houston was tinged with bittersweet emotion. The reason? A third straight loss to Michigan.
The dichotomy is striking: the elation of a national title paired with the frustration of falling to the Wolverines. It’s a rare emotional paradox that only this rivalry could create. While Ohio State stands atop the college football world once again, a sizable portion of the fanbase remains restless, eager for full-spectrum dominance that includes reclaiming bragging rights in The Game.
The National Championship: A Long-Awaited Triumph
There’s no denying the achievement. Ohio State ran the gauntlet of a brutal 12-team College Football Playoff, defeating top-seeded Georgia in the semifinals and dismantling Texas in the national championship game. The offense, led by breakout quarterback Tavien St. Clair and All-American wideout Carnell Tate, was electric. The defense, coached masterfully by Jim Knowles, suffocated opponents and created momentum-changing plays in every postseason game.
It was a championship earned, not gifted. And for head coach Ryan Day, the victory silenced critics who had questioned his ability to win on the sport’s biggest stage.
“Coach Day deserves all the credit,” said former Buckeye linebacker Bobby Carpenter. “He kept this team together, made the right adjustments, and proved he can bring a title to Columbus.”
Yet, even in the afterglow of victory, there remains a lingering sense of incompletion. Because back in late November, inside Michigan Stadium, the Buckeyes lost 27–24 to their archrival. Again.
The Michigan Problem: A Painful Pattern
The loss marked Ohio State’s third straight defeat in The Game, a once-unthinkable streak for a fanbase accustomed to dominance. From 2004 to 2019, the Buckeyes won 15 of 16 matchups against Michigan. But in recent years, the rivalry has flipped.
Under Jim Harbaugh and now Sherrone Moore, Michigan has imposed its will, winning with physicality, discipline, and a psychological edge that Buckeye fans find deeply unsettling. While Ohio State has remained elite nationally, the Wolverines have become the kings of the Big Ten.
“It’s hard to fully enjoy the championship when you’ve lost to that team again,” said lifelong fan Mike Reilly from Dayton. “Beating Michigan isn’t just a goal—it’s a requirement. And we haven’t done it in three years.”
Social media was flooded with mixed reactions following the title win. On Buckeye message boards and Twitter, many fans celebrated the championship with tears of joy—but others posted clips of the Michigan loss, questioning how a true “complete season” could include another defeat to the Wolverines.
Ryan Day: Savior and Scapegoat?
Ryan Day finds himself in the odd position of being both a national championship coach and a focal point for fan frustration. His record now stands at 65–9, and he’s brought Ohio State to two CFP championship games in five years. Still, his 1–3 mark against Michigan continues to be a sore spot.
“There’s no doubt Ryan Day is a great coach,” said Tim May, a longtime Buckeye beat reporter. “But in Columbus, if you can’t beat Michigan, your legacy will always be incomplete.”
Some fans argue that the national title absolves Day, particularly because Ohio State’s playoff run included impressive wins against SEC and Big 12 powers. Others believe that beating Michigan should remain the gold standard, and that the three-year losing streak overshadows even the biggest postseason accomplishments.
“You can win it all, but if you keep losing to Michigan, the pain sticks,” said Jennifer Davis, an OSU alum. “That game defines our season more than any playoff game ever will.”
Player Reactions: “We Wanted It All”
Inside the locker room, players have echoed similar sentiments. In post-championship interviews, multiple Buckeyes acknowledged that the Michigan loss still stung.
“We’re proud of what we did—bringing a title back to Columbus is everything,” said linebacker C.J. Hicks. “But we wanted it all. That includes beating Michigan.”
Star wideout Carnell Tate, who torched Texas for two touchdowns in the national title game, was even more candid.
“Losing to Michigan hurts, man. We work for that game every day. Yeah, we won the natty—but we didn’t check every box.”
Those comments reflect a broader truth about the Ohio State program: the rivalry with Michigan isn’t just one game on the schedule. It’s the heartbeat of the season. A national title might be the goal, but The Game is the standard.
Fanbase Divided: Joy vs. Justice
For many Ohio State fans, the 2024–25 season has sparked deep conversations about what really matters. Is the national championship the ultimate measure of success? Or does failing to beat Michigan disqualify the season from being called “complete”?
“I get it—it’s a great feeling to be champs,” said Steve Nolan, who runs a popular Buckeye podcast. “But there’s an emotional scar from that Michigan loss that no trophy can fully heal. It’s like winning the war but losing the battle that mattered most.”
Others push back on that sentiment.
“Come on—we just won a national title!” said Tara Whalen, an OSU grad and season ticket holder. “Do we really want to be so spoiled that we can’t celebrate? Michigan had their moment. Ours was bigger.”
The debate has become central to offseason conversations across Buckeye Nation. Tailgates, sports bars, online forums, and alumni groups are all wrestling with the same conflicting emotions: pride in the ultimate achievement, and bitterness about the one loss that still burns.
The Road Ahead: 2025 Season of Redemption?
The silver lining for Ohio State is clear: the future remains blindingly bright. The Buckeyes return a loaded roster, headlined by quarterback Tavien St. Clair, receivers Brandon Inniss and Jeremiah Smith, and a defense that features future first-rounders at every level.
They’ll likely open the 2025 season ranked No. 1. And once again, the journey will culminate in The Game—this time in Columbus.
For fans, that final matchup may determine how they feel about the entire season. A win over Michigan, combined with another deep playoff run, could finally deliver the elusive “complete” campaign.
“Next year, we want both,” said St. Clair during spring practice. “We’re coming for that Michigan game. And we’re coming for another ring.”
National Perception vs. Local Expectation
Interestingly, the national media has been far more forgiving of the Michigan loss. Analysts praised Ohio State’s resilience, calling their playoff run one of the most impressive in modern history. ESPN’s Rece Davis even argued that the loss may have been a necessary wake-up call.
“This team refocused after that game,” Davis said. “They used it as fuel, and they were unbeatable in the playoff.”
But for those inside the state borders, that kind of rationalization doesn’t always fly. The Ohio State-Michigan rivalry is tribal, personal, and generational. It defies logic and often resists context. A national title can’t erase the memory of another late-November heartbreak.
Conclusion: Celebrating with an Asterisk?
Ohio State fans find themselves in uncharted emotional territory. They are national champions—a distinction that 100-plus programs dream of but rarely attain. Yet the joy is complicated, the celebration tempered by a recurring nightmare in maize and blue.
In time, the pain of the Michigan loss may fade, and the glory of a national title may stand tall on its own. But for now, the 2024–25 season will go down as both a triumphant return to the top and a haunting reminder that in Columbus, one game still defines everything.
As the trophy sits gleaming in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, Ohio State fans are already circling one date on next year’s calendar: November 29, 2025. That’s the day they hope to make a statement—not just to Michigan, but to themselves.
Because for Buckeye Nation, national championships are expected.
Beating Michigan is essential.
