Michigan and Ohio State football go together like peanut butter and jelly — if the peanut butter absolutely hated the jelly’s very existence.

Few schools in college football are as inextricably linked, as recent realignments showed: Texas and Oklahoma; USC and UCLA; Washington and Oregon. But for no two teams does that ring more true than the Wolverines and Buckeyes, whose rivalry is referred to simply as “The Game.”

Even so, Ohio State’s roles — both alleged and confirmed — in the Michigan sign-stealing scandal that has rocked the college football world only serve to deepen the deep, intrinsic dislike these programs have for each other. Ryan Day has largely stayed out of Michigan’s scandal, going the “no comment” route time and time again. Michigan has gone out of its way to implicate Ohio State in a scandal of its own. Fans of both programs, meanwhile, have sparred on message forums with regularity.

Michigan’s ultimate acceptance of the Big Ten-mandated, three-game suspension of coach Jim Harbaugh puts the matter to bed — until the NCAA investigation proceeds, which could take any amount of time. But Michigan-Ohio State on Saturday is going to be the most contentious meeting in recent memory between two teams playing for a playoff spot for the second time in three years (both teams, of course, made it in 2022).

Here’s a look at how we got to this point, and what the future could hold for the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry.

Michigan beats Ohio State for first time since 2011

The Michigan vs. Ohio State in 2021 had buzz around it both teams entered as one-loss teams. The winner of the game would make the Big Ten championship game and, with a win in Indianapolis, the College Football Playoff.

The Wolverines dominated Ohio State 42-27 to snap an eight-game losing streak to the Buckeyes. The Michigan running game proved to be the difference, as Ohio State put up 458 yards of total offense and didn’t turn the ball over. But 297 yards from the Wolverine ground game gave them the win and CFP berth (after a rout of Iowa in the Big Ten title game). Michigan would go on to get beaten by Georgia in the Orange Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal.

 Michigan beats Ohio State for second straight year

The next season, the two teams found themselves in a similar spot: Although both teams made the CFP, neither knew that was an option heading in, as a very specific set of circumstances allowed it to happen.

The next season, the two teams found themselves in a similar spot: Although both teams made the CFP, neither knew that was an option heading in, as a very specific set of circumstances allowed it to happen.

 Michigan is implicated in sign-stealing scandal

On Oct. 19, Yahoo Sports reported Michigan was being investigated for illlicitly stealing other teams’ signs in games the Wolverines were not playing to gain an advantage. Staffer Connor Stalions was thought to be the head of the operation, and he was promptly suspended by the school.

Ryan Day declines comments on investigation

A day after it was reported every Big Ten school — sans one — linked Stalions to purchasing tickets to their games, Ryan Day was curt when asked about the investigation:

“Anything regarding that I’m not going to comment on that today,” Day said during his media availability. “I don’t want to get into that right now.”

Yahoo did, however, report Ohio State staff members were aware of some shenanigans, and “changed things up” to help the Buckeyes.

Big Ten coaches call for swift action against Michigan on heated call

Day’s name wasn’t specifically mentioned in this particular story, so this comes with a speculation tag. However, it is an extremely educated guess.

Ahead of Michigan’s Nov. 4 game against Purdue coming off a bye week, Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti held a conference call with Big Ten coaches. In that call, Harbaugh hung off as the other Big Ten coaches explained to Petitti what a significant advantage having their signs would grant the Wolverines. They called for quick action against Michigan, saying things couldn’t stand as is.

 Blog wars begin in earnest, Ryan Day’s brother implicated in leaking Michigan sign-stealing

If this were a television script, this would be the “jumping the shark” moment.

MGoBlog and Eleven Warriors two of the top blogs not just for Michigan and Ohio State, respectively, but in the country. Their message points are nesting grounds for rumors, including one by the former on Oct. 28 that suggested Day’s brother, Christopher Day, who became the manager of a PI firm in 2021.

Less than a week later, rumors from outlets local to Ann Arbor began to swirl that Michigan was investigating Day’s brother for potentially submitting the evidence of the operation himself.

Ryan Day’s family cleared of involvement in Michigan investigation

As Day continued to “no comment” his way through questions about Michigan, Petitti reached out to the NCAA looking for answers about his family’s potential involvement.

The NCAA confirmed Day and his family were not involved, putting that rumor to bed in the reporting cycle of the saga. Day and his family reportedly received threats due to the rumors.

 Ohio State, Rutgers, Purdue implicated in sharing signs to unseat Michigan

After Michigan beat Ohio State for the second year in a row last season, the Wolverines alleged Ohio State and Rutgers (helmed by former OSU staffer Greg Schiano) gave Purdue the Wolverines’ signs in the hopes Purdue would defeat Michigan in the 2022 Big Ten championship.

Michigan defeated Purdue 43-22 in that game. But it was a serious allegation nevertheless given the rumors around the Wolverines.

 Ohio State, Rutgers, Purdue implicated in sharing signs to unseat Michigan

After Michigan beat Ohio State for the second year in a row last season, the Wolverines alleged Ohio State and Rutgers (helmed by former OSU staffer Greg Schiano) gave Purdue the Wolverines’ signs in the hopes Purdue would defeat Michigan in the 2022 Big Ten championship.
Michigan defeated Purdue 43-22 in that game. But it was a serious allegation nevertheless given the rumors around the Wolverines.

 Ohio State, Rutgers, Purdue implicated in sharing signs to unseat Michigan

After Michigan beat Ohio State for the second year in a row last season, the Wolverines alleged Ohio State and Rutgers (helmed by former OSU staffer Greg Schiano) gave Purdue the Wolverines’ signs in the hopes Purdue would defeat Michigan in the 2022 Big Ten championship. Michigan defeated Purdue 43-22 in that game. But it was a serious allegation nevertheless given the rumors around the Wolverines. Wisely: No affirmation or denial.

Now, Day gets ready for one of the biggest games of his coaching career against Sherrone Moore’s Wolverines. Michigan is looking to win and likely punch a ticket to its third straight College Football Playoff, where Harbaugh could ostensibly coach (as it will occur after his three-game suspension). The Buckeyes are looking for their fourth CFP appearance in Day’s five seasons, and second in a row.

Despite the intrigue from fans in this rivalry, Day has clearly tried to avoid addressing it directly. Both teams will look to make a statement Saturday. But regardless of the outcome on the field, the battles of 2023 between Michigan and Ohio State were just as much in the court of public opinion as they were on the gridiron. After Saturday, it will be time to rest their cases.