2023 Michigan football vs. 2014 Ohio State isn’t even a debate based on resumes

Ohio State fans can’t remember what it was like to beat Michigan, but the idea that their 2014 team would beat Michigan in a hypothetical matchup seems to be the latest coping mechanism.

It’s at least better than crying about cheating. Even Gene Smith got called out for it. It’s soft, which is the perfect adjective to describe Ohio State football right now.

This debate is funny though for a few reasons. For one, it’s hilarious that the only potential bragging right Ohio State fans have right now is that their 2014 team might have been able to beat 2023 Michigan.

Michigan football is the easy winner of any resume debate

Yet, any objective person can state clearly that Michigan had the better season. Ohio State nearly missed the playoff because of a 35-21 loss to 7-6 Virginia Tech (at home).

Michigan football didn’t trail by double digits the entire season in 2023. The Wolverines trailed just once all season in the fourth quarter. In fact, Michigan football led for the entire fourth quarter of every single Big Ten game — another claim 2014 Ohio State can’t make.

It was tied in the second half twice and trailed only once — all season — against four top-10 opponents.

Hell, the Buckeyes needed double overtime to beat another 7-win team (Penn State) plus they were tied in the third quarter with a 5-7 Michigan team.

The two teams obviously won’t play on the field so saying one team or another would win is ultimately pointless. There isn’t any debate about resumes though. Ohio State lost by 14 and was taken to overtime by two teams that didn’t finish the season ranked. Michigan went unbeaten. It’s clear as day.

But I understand why Buckeye fans need to cope so hard after the past three editions of ‘The Game.’

It had to be hard to watch Michigan football win the natty, especially with a 15-0 record. So go ahead and cope, but my how the tables have turned.