Social Reactions: Ohio State Loses Both The Game and the Narrative in a Devastating Loss in Ann Arbor

I think the most frustrating thing about losing such a ridiculously hyped matchup against a hated rival (other than the fact that Ohio State just lost a ridiculously hyped matchup against a hated rival), is that in the immediate aftermath of said game, there's this Wacky Races-style rush to try and either establish some kind of narrative that the outcome of the game has created, or, if you're an Ohio State fan specifically, to figure out that One Thing that can be fixed so it never ever happens again.

The former is kind of understandable, I guess, in that the outcome of The Game creates some kind of perceived narrative finality to the ongoing scandal happening at Michigan. The Wolverines win, Harbaugh is back for the Big Ten Championship, and all is well. Except that's not really the case! The NCAA is continuing their investigation, as are the feds on a separate matter. Harbaugh still hasn't signed an extension with the university, and there are indications that this whole mess could impact Michigan well into next season.

And as for the Buckeyes... who the hell knows. I am not a big believer that a team/player/coach can be snakebit, or cursed, or whatever, but I do think that a few things are true: Michigan's defensive line was much better than Ohio State's offensive line on Saturday. Kyle McCord generally struggles going through his progressions. Ryan Day didn't have a creative response for what Michigan's defense was doing, whereas Sheronne Moore definitely did in response to Ohio State's defense. Linebackers were an extreme liability against Michigan's tight ends. Etc.

There's no magical button that can be pressed to fix all of those things, and the truth is that despite all of that, Ohio State still had a chance to win at the very end. That they didn't means that Ryan Day and company get to spend the next calendar year working to see if they can make the necessary changes to get over the hump on Saturday, November 30th, 2024.

And we get to sit and stew about it until then.

THE TEAM

This is all I got for you, but I think it sums things up pretty well anyway:

— Chop (@okmiyan_) November 25, 2023

THE ALUMNI

I want to win just so I can talk crazy
— Maurice Clarett (@ReeseClarett13) November 25, 2023

- #FTTUN pic.twitter.com/iesnB3NfCr
— Liam McCullough (@LiamMcCullough2) November 25, 2023

pic.twitter.com/3jMTUUg9De
— Demetrius Knox (@Meech_Dream14) November 25, 2023

3 in a row.. something has to change
— Drue Chrisan (@DChrisman91) November 25, 2023

Never acceptable.
— Billy Price (@b_price53) November 25, 2023

To add if players arent doing good or their job consistently its coaches jobs to get the players in that are but then its also a coaches job to instill confidence and have trust and prepare players so again theres not a one person blame situation in a team loss pic.twitter.com/d51NxEefJW
— Gareon Conley (@_gconley8) November 25, 2023

I dont even know if we can blame Day for this one yall. Players gotta make plays
— DeVier Posey (@DPo8) November 25, 2023

At a @Vol_Football touring colleges with my daughter. Sad @OhioStateFB lost, but Im still repping the team. Will get them next year pic.twitter.com/G92dTe29kR
— Ben Hartsock (@BenHartsock) November 25, 2023

Maybe an unpopular opinion, but I think our defense played well. That last long drive by Michigan was gross, but they still held them to a field goal. We needed some offensive production in critical moments. Our defense played tough and hard though and Im proud of their effort
— Michael Bennett IV (@mike96bennett) November 25, 2023

Ya hate to see it
— Tyvis Powell (@1Tyvis) November 25, 2023

THE REST

Was this a TD catch for Michigan or nah? pic.twitter.com/cBzycDrlQa
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 25, 2023

This is the absolute worst thing about todays Ohio State loss; That Team can lean fully into its self-manufactured we are the victim, actually narrative, and the national media will gladly hand wave away two-plus years of wanton rule breaking and multiple scandals. https://t.co/6wqsTH0GOS
— Andy Vance (@AndyVance) November 25, 2023

Michigan WR Roman Wilson on whether Ohio State has gotten tougher over the years:

No. Definitely not. I told the receivers this whole week: Youve got guys back there this is a thing I thought too guys who you want to put on the Louis V, the thousand-dollar outfit. You
— Alejandro Ziga (@ByAZuniga) November 25, 2023

Marvin Harrison Jr on Kyle McCord:

"Hes done a good job all year handling all the pressure and expectations that come with being a quarterback at Ohio State. Im super proud of him. Before hes my quarterback hes my friend and Ill always support him through the ups and downs. pic.twitter.com/PdaCTIfQAh
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) November 25, 2023

Mood. pic.twitter.com/0KYNPPJTaE
— Josh Poloha (@JorshP) November 25, 2023

Per his contract, even though Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh was suspended for today's game against Ohio State, he is due a $500,000 bonus for Wolverines winning Big Ten East and advancing to conference title game: https://t.co/3komQBCLdy
— Steve Berkowitz (@ByBerkowitz) November 25, 2023

Michigan fans celebrating by taking pictures on Ohio States team bench. Also taking some of the poles as souvenirs pic.twitter.com/XRvL6WPAvs
— Kellyanne Stitts (@KellyanneStitts) November 25, 2023

The scene after the game. Kyle McCord consoled by teammates as they head into the locker room pic.twitter.com/eEsgwlxB2m
— Kellyanne Stitts (@KellyanneStitts) November 25, 2023

They're not listening. pic.twitter.com/8YGZxruZMy
— John U. Bacon (@Johnubacon) November 25, 2023

Ryan Day on losing The Game:

"We're all disappointed. We know what this game means to so many people. To come up short is crushing because you invest your whole year in it. We know at Ohio State what this game means. There is a locker room in there that's devastated."
— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) November 25, 2023

Who did this??? pic.twitter.com/yJtxzEM5rx
— JAY RICHARDSON (@JayRichardson99) November 25, 2023

Ryan Day is 56-7 as a head coach. At .888, if he keeps this pace for 5 more seasons he will be ranked just ahead of Knute Rockne in 1st place all time in winning percentage among college football coaches with 10+ seasons.

3 losses are to Michigan so his job is in question.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 25, 2023

Me in 20 years: He did tombstone that charlatan Dabo at least and his one win over Michigan did lead to the cheating scandal. https://t.co/Nx0MykOeu5 pic.twitter.com/9k034T1Yum
— Don Proton (@proton_don) November 25, 2023