As Ohio State prepares for another high-stakes matchup against Michigan, the Buckeyes are taking a page from their rival’s merchandise playbook. The Wolverines, currently embroiled in a sign-stealing scandal that has sidelined coach Jim Harbaugh, have been seen wearing “Michigan vs. Everybody” apparel. In response, the Buckeye NIL collective, The 1870 Society, is selling “Ohio Against the World” merchandise, setting the stage for a game between two top-five teams eager to prove themselves to the rest of the world.
The mantra “Ohio against the world” dates back before the investigation of Michigan and has been embraced by Buckeye coach Ryan Day as natural progression for his team. Despite being technically underdogs for their upcoming game against Michigan with BetMGM giving them 3.5 points as of Monday, Ohio State has embraced the underdog narrative. The team’s No. 2 rankings in both CFP and Coaches Polls suggest that this game could have serious playoff implications.
This week is expected to bring plenty of trash talk between the two teams as they vie for a spot in the Big Ten title game.