Michigan keeps stealing recruits from Ohio State

Michigan is having no issues with poaching players from well within Ohio State territory.

The tides have turned considerably in Michigan’s favor over Ohio State in their football rivalry.

For years, the Buckeyes dominated the Wolverines. Urban Meyer never lost to the school up north. However, Ryan Day is becoming a closer facsimile to John Cooper than many in Buckeye Nation would ever like to admit. Ohio State has lost the last two installments of The Game, has not beaten Michigan since 2019 and is losing its grip on its fertile recruiting ground in-state as well.

2024 offensive tackle Ben Roebuck committed to Michigan on Wednesday. Although he is only a three-star, Roebuck became the eight native Ohioan to commit to Michigan since the Buckeyes’ most recent loss to the Wolverines during Thanksgiving Weekend. Roebuck had 23 offers, including ones from Tennessee and Penn State. It should be noted that Ohio State never offer him.

Even if the Buckeyes were unable to hand the 6-foot-7 offensive tackle prospect from Lakewood a scholarship, this quote shared out by On3’s social media recruiting expert Hayes Fawcett is telling.

"“I was an OSU fan growing up, but then I grew up and realized that Michigan was the place to be.”"

Is this is a big deal or are we making a mountain out of a mole hill when it comes to this rivalry?

Ohio State keeps losing in-state talent on the football field to arch rival Michigan

Look. I don’t think losing a three-star in-state is all that big of a deal. Ohio is well-known for its strong high school football programs. Michigan has plenty as well, but Ohio is by far and away the most talent-laden state in midwestern region of the country. Over the years, plenty of Ohio guys go to Michigan. Let’s just hope they are three-stars and not the Charles Woodsons of the world…

What Roebuck’s commitment suggests is this is not a coincidence that top-flight football players in-state will cross the border north and go play for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan. Although Harbaugh is not for everyone, his program has developed a strong identity over the last two seasons. The Wolverines have won the Big Ten twice and reached the College Football Playoff in both instances.

Frankly, the biggest thing to sink one’s teeth into in this is prospective college football players like Roebuck grew up wanting to play for the Buckeyes. Not saying it has gotten anywhere as decadent as it did under Mack Brown during the 2010’s demise of Texas, but it does not take much for a blue-blood to pull back just a bit. Over time, Harbaugh is outperforming Day massively.

Simply put, Day and the entire Buckeyes program cannot lose to Michigan for a third time in a row.

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