For an entire offseason, a strong segment of the Ohio State fanbase spent more time talking about and celebrating a potential "hammer" being dropped on Michigan football by the NCAA than their own team's national championship.
Whether it was accounts or websites like Buckeye Scoop or Eleven Warriors, all you saw from many Ohio State fans was that the "hammer" was coming and "Michigan cheated."
Ohio State loses to Michigan football again
Yet, the "hammer" never came. The wins over Ohio State and the championships will live on forever.
Vacated wins and postseason bans were always wishful thinking, despite the intentional misinformation. Michigan football broke a minor rule. Ohio State breaks minor rules every year, just like when it self-reported violations to the NCAA before the 2024 season.
But Michigan football didn't cheat to beat Ohio State, because it didn't have to. The Wolverines were simply better, tougher, and more physical. It's why over the past four years, Michigan has produced more NFL draft picks.
Signs had nothing to do with that, just like they had nothing to do with winning the national championship. The NCAA even reported that Connor Stalions had no impact on the football program after he was fired in October of 2023.
The results after he left, were the same as before. A 49-0 win over Michigan State. A nine-point road win over Penn State, a top-10 team, without head coach Jim Harbaugh, or even the 30-24 win over Ohio State, also without Harbaugh.
If Stalions and his sign-stealing were the only reason, Michigan would have faltered down the stretch in 2023. It didn't and that's what really angers Ohio State fans deep down. Their team could have written an entirely different narrative about Michigan football from 2021-2023, if they could actually win "The Game."
Ryan Day hinted strongly that the first two losses (2021 and 2022) were because Michigan cheated. Yet, once that was completely removed, and even once Harbaugh was removed, Ohio State still couldn't meet the moment.
So their fans started cheering for the NCAA to make things right, even though Michigan football won the national championship "fair and square."
Everyone knows it. How could anyone possibly believe Stalions helped Michigan beat five top-15 teams in a span of six games, with only one of those games played at Michigan Stadium?
Michigan only trailed for about 15 minutes in all five of those games, never by more than a single score. This was one of the greatest college football teams ever.
Ohio State fans know it. They just can't admit the truth to themselves, which is fine. In a way, it makes the past four years even better.
And Friday, well, that made 4-0, feel like 5-0.