Getty Image / jamie Sabau
There’s no debating that Michigan football currently owns Ohio State football. After nearly two decades of the inverse being true, it’s the Wolverines that are firmly in control of the rivalry with three straight wins.
On Wednesday, they reminded the Buckeyes on who has the upper-hand. Michigan pried away Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford for a lateral move.
Sources: Ohio State RB coach Tony Alford is expected to be the next running backs coach at Michigan. He's informed OSU officials that he's leaving. Football Scoop first reported him as a target.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 13, 2024
Coaches leaving for lateral moves among programs of relatively equal stature rarely happens. And, it’s hard for me to remember any coach leaving Ohio State for Michigan for a lateral move, or vice versa.
Plus, Tony Alford was going to get to coach arguably the best running back room in the country. TreVeyon Henderson decided to return to school despite having a good chance to be the first running back drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft next month. That alone would’ve been a great headliner to any running back room.
Plus, arguably the nation’s top running back, Quinshon Judkins, transferred from Ole Miss to Ohio State in the offseason. There hasn’t been a two-headed monster like this in the Big Ten for a long time. Apparently, that wasn’t enough for Tony Alford to stay.
Alford has been at Ohio State since 2015, and has been coaching in college since 1995. It’s unclear at this stage what motivated the Ohio native and Colorado State alum to leave the Buckeyes for Michigan.
Michigan needs a running backs coach at this late juncture after parting ways with program legend Mike Hart last week. Hart was considered to be a candidate to replace the departed Jim Harbaugh. Ultimately, the job went to offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore as Michigan looks to defend their national championship.