Just days before their highly anticipated rematch with No. 1 Oregon in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, No. 8 Ohio State fans seem to be stuck in the past. Despite cruising to a commanding win over No. 9 Tennessee in the first round, Buckeyes nation appears unable to shake the sting of their regular-season finale loss to their archrival, Michigan.
Former Alabama head coach and college football legend Nick Saban has some candid advice for Ohio State supporters: let it go.
“These Ohio State fans, they’ve got a psychotic obsession with Michigan, and they need to get therapy or something to get it fixed,” Saban said during a Friday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
“They’ve got a chance to win the national championship, and here you are, nobody’s excited about their opportunity to play because they lost to Michigan. It was a tough game; they lost because of some of the mistakes they made. Those are correctable things.”
Saban, who has faced and conquered some of the fiercest rivalries in college football, went on to express his confidence in Ohio State’s potential to go all the way. Despite their No. 8 ranking and prior defeat to Oregon earlier this season, Saban believes the Buckeyes might be the most talented team remaining in the playoff field.
“I think this is probably the most talented team [in the field] if they play to their standard,” Saban remarked. “Offense, defense, they’ve pretty much got it all.”
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Still, Ohio State’s preoccupation with Michigan has cast a shadow over their postseason run. Before the much-hyped showdown against “That Team Up North,” head coach Ryan Day made headlines when he described losing to Michigan as “the worst thing that’s happened” to his family aside from the death of his father.
The emotional stakes only grew after Michigan secured their victory, with postgame tensions erupting into a scuffle between players from both sides.
Day stood by in visible frustration, watching Michigan players plant their flag on Ohio State’s field—a scene emblematic of the rivalry’s intensity.
But as Saban noted, dwelling on the past won’t change the present. The Buckeyes are now just three wins away from a national title, with the opportunity to avenge one of their regular-season losses looming against Oregon.
If they can channel their energy into what lies ahead rather than fixating on what’s behind, their playoff dreams remain very much alive.
Ohio State’s rematch with Oregon is set for Wednesday, Jan. 1, at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN. It’s a pivotal moment for the Buckeyes, who have the talent and opportunity to reclaim their season and, potentially, their place atop college football.
For fans, it’s a chance to redirect their passion toward supporting their team in the ultimate pursuit of glory.
