Root for a rival? Michigan fans in a quandary as Ohio State, Notre Dame clash

Last season, Michigan football fans were cheering for the Wolverines in the national championship. This year, they’ll have to choose between two of their rivals.

It’s an unfortunate position, but some Michigan fans see a silver lining when Ohio State faces Notre Dame in Monday night’s championship game.

What almost all of them seem to agree on is which school they’d rather see win. A poll this writer posted on social media this week asking that question received more than 1,000 votes. More than 95 percent of people chose Notre Dame.

“I have never, never wanted Ohio State to win any game, no matter who they’re up against,” said Joe Fowler, who held Michigan football season tickets for more than 50 years.

It’s a sentiment shared by nearly all Michigan fans, several of whom claimed (in replies to the poll) that no self-respecting Wolverine devotee could ever pull for Ohio State. The Buckeyes are, unquestionably, Michigan’s top rival. Michigan State is next, at least currently, followed by Notre Dame.

Michigan and Notre Dame last played each other in 2019, a 45-14 Michigan win in Ann Arbor. That same day, Michigan announced the series would return with matchups in 2033 and 2034. The lack of recent games between the programs has only cooled a rivalry that already trailed Michigan-Ohio State in intensity.

As one Michigan fan wrote: “We dislike Notre Dame but hate Ohio (State).”

Don Svenson, an usher at various Michigan sporting events, doesn’t care for either team and may stick with a previous engagement instead of watching the game. He’ll be rooting for the Fighting Irish.

“Their football program is as storied as Michigan’s,” he said. “Also the more that I learn about Marcus Freeman, I see that he is more of a class act as opposed to Ryan Day.”

Several fans mentioned their preference for Freeman, Notre Dame’s third-year coach, over Day, who’s bothered Michigan fans with his comments and behavior since becoming Ohio State’s coach in 2019.

Many fans said they wished both teams could lose, with one saying it was like choosing between moldy cheese and rotten meat.

Notre Dame overcame a stunning loss to Northern Illinois to qualify for the inaugural 12-team playoff. Ohio State lost two regular-season games, including as a 20-point favorite at home against Michigan. Notre Dame and Ohio State each won three playoff games to reach the championship. Michigan went 15-0 last season to capture the trophy in what was the final season of the four-team playoff.

“The good news about (Monday’s) game is that no matter who wins, Michigan still has its national championship and a head-to-head win over the team in their previous meeting,” Michigan super fan Don Thomas said.

“And no matter who loses you get to laugh at ‘em. If Notre Dame loses, you can say they haven’t won (a national championship) since before the fall of the Berlin Wall. And if Ohio State loses, it’s, ‘All that (NIL) money and you couldn’t win a natty.’ Honestly, it’s the best of both worlds.”

For some Michigan fans, their rooting interest on Monday could be affected by where they live or the fandom of their friends or family. Generally speaking, Notre Dame is considered “the lesser of two evils,” as one Michigan fan put it.

Michigan’s 13-10 win over Ohio State on Nov. 30, the Wolverines’ fourth straight win in the series, naturally looms large for Michigan fans.

One such fan was clever to reference certain t-shirts and posters and other commemorative items that will be produced for the national champion.

“I don’t like the possibility of an OSU win,” he wrote, “but the idea that they’ll print the season schedule that ends with a natty but has to still show that UGLY loss to Michigan makes me smile.”

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