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Paul Finebaum ramps up pressure on Ryan Day, Ohio State to repeat, beat Michigan

Danby: Daniel Hager07/11/25DanielHagerOn3
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day shakes hands with Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore following another OSU loss to Michigan at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Michigan won 13-10. © Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Ohio State won its first National Championship since 2015 last season, marking the first title of the Ryan Day era in Columbus. This appeased many critics among the Buckeyes fan base, which had repeatedly accused him of not being able to “win the big one.”

Although Ohio State broke its title drought last season, one drought (that is even more important to some Buckeye fans) is the four-year losing streak to rival Michigan. The Wolverines have won every game since the 2021 season, winning those games by an average of 11.5 points per game.

During an appearance on Friday morning’s edition of “Get Up”, ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum ramped up the pressure on Day and the Buckeyes to not only repeat as National Champions. He also called for them to finally take down the Wolverines this season.

“We saw what happened to Michigan last year,” Finebaum said. “Now, listen, they were without the head coach, they were without their roster, but it’s very difficult to repeat. And remember, Ryan Day, in addition to trying to repeat, he’s got to figure out a way to beat Michigan. He hasn’t done it in so long, I can’t even remember. I think it’s been four straight losses. You just can’t lose to your biggest rival in the biggest game of the year, every single time and hope you have a good lifestyle, in spite of a national championship on his trophy case.”

Ohio State looks to snap four-year streak on Nov. 29

Prior to Michigan‘s four-year winning streak in the rivalry, Ohio State had won eight consecutive matchups by an average of two touchdowns per game. The rivalry quickly went from being heavily one-sided towards one side to being one-sided the other way.

This year’s edition of “The Game” however, will look much different, as rivalry staples TreVeyon Henderson, J.J. McCarthy, Donovan Edwards and Jack Sawyer have departed from their respective programs. First-year quarterbacks Bryce Underwood (Michigan) and Julian Sayin (Ohio State) are set to clash, marking the beginning of a new era in the rivalry.

This year’s edition of “The Game” takes place on November 29 in Ann Arbor. Along with its four-year winning streak, Michigan now owns the all-time series 61-52. Dating back to 2000, the Wolverines are 4-8 against Ohio State in games played at Michigan Stadium. It wouldn’t be crazy to say this game is the most important of the season for both Ohio State‘s Ryan Day and Michigan‘s Sherrone Moore.