Three-game win streak over Ohio State provides Michigan added confidence: 'The expectation is to win'

Michigan Wolverines football flipped the Ohio State rivalry upside down in 2021, the first of three-straight victories over the Buckeyes. Those three wins have given the Maize and Blue an added confidence heading into the 2024 clash between the two bitter rivals, even though U-M is more than a three-touchdown underdog.

“Totally,” senior quarterback Davis Warren said of if there’s a boost in belief. “I mean, you come in when I was a freshman, and that win in ‘21 — I’m looking up at the pictures right now — was really one for the ages for us as a program. And then these last two years, just really dominating.”

That was much-needed for the Michigan program, which had lost eight in a row against Ohio State coming into the 42-27 win in 2021.

The Wolverines turned things around in the regular-season finale for a number of reasons, but the most notable was its improved play in the trenches. Michigan dominated offensively, rushing for a combined 731 yards and 11 touchdowns in those three meetings. Ohio State, meanwhile, was held to 363 rushing yards.

“Both in ‘22, going down there and getting that win, and then last year to win up here … it really starts with the guys up front, the big boys,” Warren continued. “They know how we’ve won the game the last couple years, what it’s come down to, and I think they have confidence they can do that.

“I’m sure a lot of them — just like I’m going to talk to [former Michigan quarterback] J.J. [McCarthy] this week — are going to get some tips and tricks. I know they’ve been talking to those guys that have moved on to the next level, and understand how important this game is and how it starts with them. I think that confidence is going to show on Saturday.”

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Michigan finally achieved bowl eligibility last week, sitting at 6-5, while Ohio State is 10-1 and the betting favorite to win the national championship. The rivals are in completely different positions, but Michigan has the edge in the rivalry and plans to play fearless.

“I would say after the end of the ‘21 season, there was never a shadow of doubt in anyone’s mind that we are the more physical, the more dominant team, and we’re the team that should ultimately come out victorious,” Michigan graduate safety Quinten Johnson said.

“Doubt and fear — I don’t think that has entered anybody’s mind, especially the guys on this roster. Being nervous or not being able to embrace the moment, that’s not necessarily in anybody’s mind because the expectation is to win.”

Michigan going to ‘live off the hatred’ at Ohio Stadium

Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said the atmosphere at Ohio Stadium Saturday will be more “hostile” than ever, with both teams looking to put a stamp on the regular season.

Johnson and his teammates, though, can’t wait to get in front of the sea of red, where they won 45-23 in their last trip to Columbus in 2022.

“Early in the game, when the game has started, the atmosphere, the ambience, it’s everything you think it should be for a rivalry of this caliber,” the Michigan safety said. 

“Being a little bit older, it’s exciting to be able to go back into an environment like that and live off that hatred, really feed off it. It’s something that’s very enjoyable.

“It’s not a shocker: They don’t like us, we don’t like them. Being able to go into Columbus and embrace that villain role, embrace being the underdog in a moment like this, it’s something that’s very motivating. It’s something that every guy in the locker room can look at and look up to.

Being able to silence the crowd, like we did the last time, is something we can find a lot of fulfillment in.”

Michigan is out of contention for the national championship and Big Ten title, but one of its primary goals is to beat the Buckeyes, and that’s still in play.

“You come to Michigan to beat Ohio,” Johnson said. “That’s one of the pillars of the Michigan football program, and it’s definitely motivated to go out and do. It doesn’t necessarily change the fact of where we are in the season, but it definitely is one of the defining moments of your career here at Michigan.”