Michigan and Ohio State fans may not care for each other, but their rival programs need each other, says Urban Meyer.
Meyer spoke with columnist Dave Briggs of the Toledo Blade this week about the obsessive nature of the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry, which he says “occupies every second of your being.”
“When I tell people that, some people believe it, others are like, ‘c’mon.’ But it does, from the second you wake up to when you go to bed. That’s reality when you’re involved in that rivalry,” Meyer told Briggs.
Despite all the hatred and competitiveness between the two teams, Meyer said they have a symbiotic relationship as well.
“One program can’t survive without the other,” Meyer said. “I laughed when I heard the Big Ten suspended Jim Harbaugh and people said, ‘They’re looking to leave the Big Ten.’ That’s … no. .. stop it. These programs can’t survive without each other.”
More Urban Meyer on Ohio State-Michigan: “One program can’t survive without the other. I laughed when I heard the Big Ten suspended Jim Harbaugh and people said, ‘They’re looking to leave the Big Ten.’ That’s … no. .. stop it.” https://t.co/cTEGXv1EuD
— Dave Briggs (@DBriggsBlade) January 18, 2024
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With Michigan having won three straight over the Buckeyes and capturing its first national championship since 1997, the pressure on Ryan Day, Meyer’s successor, is immense heading into the 2024 season.
A number of Ohio State’s top players have already announced they are returning to school, potentially setting up for a monster season in Columbus.
Day certainly needs one.