Getty Image / Ben Jackson
For nearly two decades, the Ohio State Buckeyes dominated their rivalry in embarrassing fashion with the Michigan Wolverines. The Buckeyes lost just “The Game”, as it’s called, just twice between 2002 and 2020. But, Michigan has beat Ohio State soundly two years in a row, both for the Big Ten East title. Presumptive Buckeye starter Kyle McCord knows how important it is for him to change that.
Kyle McCord will enter his junior season with a pretty impressive pedigree. The Southern New Jersey and St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia, PA) product was one of the nation’s top quarterback recruits in the 2020 class before sitting behind Heisman candidate and number-two-overall pick of the Houston Texans, CJ Stroud. McCord did get to start one game in those two years, a win over Akron early in the 2021 season when Stroud was battling a nagging injury. But, meaningful snaps are few and far between for him as well as for the other contender for the job, second-year player Devin Brown.
Most expect Kyle McCord to win the job, though, especially after Brown missed a chunk of spring practice and the spring game with a thumb injury. And, he has one big advantage, as he was high school teammates with Ohio State superstar receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. Harrison is part of a receiver room that is considered by basically everyone to be the best in college football.
I always say if you play quarterback here, you have the keys to the Ferrari,” McCord said. “… The list goes on and on of talent I have around me, and it definitely helps. Whether you’re with the ones or the twos this spring getting reps, there are future NFL receivers around you. If you don’t throw a perfect ball, they’ll still go up and get it for you.
Recently, he spoke to ESPN about the need to beat Michigan, which is how this season will be designed for the Buckeyes.
I think that everybody feels like we have something to prove,” he said. “After last year, how close we were, I think we still have a little bit of a sour taste in our mouth, so we’re coming out motivated.
It’s more than just a football game,” McCord said. “It’s something you live 365 days a year if you come here. It was a surprise when we lost to them my freshman year, and I think it woke a lot of people up. Last year we were confident going into the game. I think we had a good game plan. We knew what we wanted to do in terms of offensive scheme and where we wanted to attack them on defense. To come up short again really makes you take a step back and say, ‘We’ve got to change our approach and some of the things we’re doing.’
At the end of the day, the talk is great, but Ohio State has to prove they’re tough enough to beat Michigan, who has been the much more physical team the last two years.