The stage for the 2025 college football season has already been set with storylines that border on the dramatic, the historic, and the downright shocking. Among the most anticipated games of the year will be the clash between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Michigan Wolverines, a rivalry that has defined generations of college football fans. This time, however, the talk heading into The Game is far different than usual. For the first time in decades, Michigan has announced that a true freshman will be its starting quarterback, the highly touted Bryce Underwood, and while the decision has been met with excitement in Ann Arbor, it has fueled even louder voices in Columbus that the Buckeyes are primed to deliver one of the most brutal defeats Michigan has ever experienced on the football field. The bold proclamation, that Ohio State will crush Michigan like no team ever has before, is not mere banter—it is rooted in a mix of history, roster construction, and the current state of both programs.
The choice to start Bryce Underwood represents both promise and vulnerability for the Wolverines. On one hand, Underwood is considered one of the most talented quarterback recruits to come out of high school in recent memory, a player with exceptional poise, arm strength, and athletic ability. Michigan fans are right to believe he could grow into a program-defining figure over time. On the other hand, placing him directly into the fire of the Big Ten as a freshman, and most importantly, into the crucible of the Ohio State rivalry, might be too much too soon. The rivalry is no ordinary game. It is the most pressure-packed environment in college football, where every snap is scrutinized, where fanbases remember outcomes for decades, and where the slightest mistake can shift momentum permanently. Throwing a freshman into this battle is akin to marching into war without full armor, and Ohio State knows this better than anyone.
The Buckeyes are entering 2025 with renewed purpose after the pendulum of this rivalry has swung back and forth over the past few years. Michigan’s breakthrough wins earlier in the decade gave the Wolverines a taste of dominance after nearly two decades of Buckeye control. However, Ohio State has not forgotten what it means to dictate terms in the rivalry, and this year, Ryan Day’s squad looks loaded with veteran leadership, unmatched offensive firepower, and one of the most suffocating defenses in the nation. This combination spells disaster for a young quarterback like Underwood, who will be asked to do the impossible: lead his team against the best Ohio State unit in years, in a game that will define both programs moving forward.
The offensive side of the ball is where Ohio State plans to deliver the knockout blow. The Buckeyes are returning a roster stacked with weapons. Their receiving corps, consistently ranked as the best in the nation, boasts multiple future first-round NFL picks. Their running game is powered by both speed and power, capable of chewing up yardage and wearing down defenses. Most importantly, Ohio State has stability and experience at quarterback, a luxury Michigan simply cannot match. While Underwood is a talented prospect, he will be asked to stand toe-to-toe with a polished, confident, and proven Buckeye quarterback who has already been tested in hostile environments. That contrast alone could set the tone for a lopsided contest, with Ohio State’s offense moving efficiently down the field while Michigan struggles to keep pace.
Defensively, Ohio State looks equally terrifying. The Buckeyes have been steadily rebuilding their defense into a unit that can rival their best squads of the early 2000s. Their defensive line is fierce, anchored by edge rushers who can pressure quarterbacks relentlessly and interior linemen who clog rushing lanes. Their linebackers play with speed and intelligence, while the secondary has become a no-fly zone for opposing quarterbacks. For a freshman quarterback, this is a nightmare scenario. Underwood will be forced to make split-second decisions against disguised coverages, relentless blitz packages, and defensive backs capable of capitalizing on even the smallest mistake. For Ohio State, this presents the perfect storm: a chance to unleash their defensive fury on an inexperienced quarterback and turn the game into a showcase of dominance.
It is important to understand why so many voices believe Ohio State is not only going to win, but win in unprecedented fashion. Rivalry games tend to be close, regardless of rankings or talent gaps. The emotional intensity, the preparation, and the history often level the playing field. But this time, the factors appear stacked in only one direction. Michigan, despite being one of the most consistent programs in recent years, is entrusting the most critical position on the field to someone who has never played a snap of college football. The Wolverines will have to rely on their running game and defense to buy Underwood time, but even those areas do not measure up to the loaded roster Ohio State is bringing to the table. The Buckeyes’ edge in experience, depth, and firepower is overwhelming. For many, this feels less like an evenly matched rivalry and more like a statement game waiting to happen.
The psychological aspect cannot be overlooked either. Ohio State enters 2025 with a chip on its shoulder, fueled by years of questions about whether Michigan had permanently seized control of the rivalry. Every Buckeye player and coach has heard the noise, and they are eager to silence it. Delivering a crushing defeat to Michigan would not only restore Ohio State’s dominance but also send shockwaves through the college football landscape. Meanwhile, Michigan’s players will be under enormous pressure to protect their young quarterback and prevent disaster, but pressure often exposes weaknesses rather than hides them. If Ohio State can land early punches, forcing Michigan into a hole, the floodgates could open in ways rarely seen in this rivalry.
There are echoes of history that make the current scenario even more striking. The Ohio State-Michigan rivalry has seen legendary matchups, from the Ten-Year War of Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler to modern classics that decided conference titles and playoff berths. Blowouts have occurred, but they are rare, and when they do happen, they become part of the rivalry’s lore. A truly historic rout, the kind being predicted now, would be remembered for decades, etched into the memory of both fanbases. For Michigan, it would be a scar symbolizing the risks of trusting a freshman quarterback in the most hostile of environments. For Ohio State, it would be a triumphant return to supremacy, a declaration that the rivalry belongs once again to the Buckeyes.
The stakes go beyond pride. The winner of this game often dictates the path to the Big Ten Championship and the College Football Playoff. A dominant Ohio State win would all but guarantee their position as conference favorites and national contenders. Conversely, a humiliating loss for Michigan could derail their entire season, casting doubt on coaching decisions and forcing the program to confront uncomfortable questions about its direction. For Bryce Underwood, the outcome will shape his early legacy. A heroic performance would make him an instant legend in Ann Arbor, but a crushing defeat would place an unfair burden on his shoulders, a reminder of how brutal college football can be to those not fully prepared.
Ohio State fans are already brimming with confidence, some even suggesting that this year’s edition of The Game will not just be a victory but an annihilation. They believe their team has the talent to hang 50 or more points on the Wolverines, while holding Michigan to single digits. While predictions can be hyperbolic, the sentiment captures the belief that this is not just another meeting, but an opportunity for Ohio State to reestablish total control. Michigan’s faith in Underwood might pay off in the long run, but in the short term, it may prove catastrophic against a Buckeye team that smells blood in the water.
The narrative of 2025 will ultimately be written on the field, but everything leading up to the showdown suggests the conditions are right for Ohio State to deliver a performance unlike anything seen before in this rivalry. The combination of their veteran roster, offensive firepower, defensive dominance, and psychological motivation makes them a juggernaut. Michigan, meanwhile, is entering the contest with a talented but untested freshman at the most important position, tasked with carrying the hopes of a program in one of the most unforgiving environments in sports. History says rivalry games are unpredictable, but logic says this one could be brutally one-sided.
As the countdown to The Game begins, one thing is certain: all eyes will be on Bryce Underwood and the gamble Michigan has made. He may very well grow into a star, but Ohio State is ready to test him in ways no defense has before. The Buckeyes have the chance to not only win but to humiliate their greatest rival, to deliver the kind of crushing defeat that reverberates for decades. For fans in Columbus, the prospect is thrilling. For those in Ann Arbor, it is terrifying. For college football at large, it is yet another reminder that the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry is not just a game—it is a crucible, and in 2025, it may burn hotter than ever.
