Ohio State QB Kyle McCord makes feelings on Michigan crystal clear

Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord adds fuel to the Michigan fire before even starting a game.

Although we have yet to see Kyle McCord start a game for the Ohio State Buckeyes, he has already made it abundantly clear how he feels about The School Up North in the Michigan Wolverines.

In a recent interview with ESPN’s Heather Dinich, McCord left no stone unturned on where he stands on one of college football’s most important rivalry games. While he has yet to play many meaningful snaps the last two years, McCord is seen as the favorite to win the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback job over Devin Brown to replace the two-time Heisman finalist C.J. Stroud at the helm.

Here is what McCord told Dinich about the rivalry that will forever define the Big Ten Conference.

"“It’s more than just a football game. It’s something you live 365 days a year if you come here. It was a surprise when we lost to them my freshman year, and I think it woke a lot of people up. Last year we were confident going into the game. I think we had a good game plan. We knew what we wanted to do in terms of offensive scheme and where we wanted to attack them on defense. To come up short again really makes you take a step back and say, ‘We’ve got to change our approach and some of the things we’re doing.'”"

Keep in mind Ohio State has yet to beat Michigan head-to-head since McCord came to Columbus.

That seems to be readily apparent in the Ohio State football building. 2023 has to be different…

"“I think everybody had a clear vision of what it’s going to take to win, because obviously the last two years we haven’t done enough to do that. I can say with confidence, I think that’s the No. 1 goal in every person’s mind in the building every single day we walk in is to beat them.”"

Ryan Day inherited an fantastic program from Urban Meyer in 2019, but three straight loses to Michigan would ruin all credibility he has with the fanbase and will become their new John Cooper.

Ohio State QB Kyle McCord touches on the importance of the Michigan rivalry

For as great as it is to see the rivalry Ohio State has with Michigan in a good place after being so grossly one-sided in the Buckeyes’ favor for much of the 21st century, I don’t really know what is going to happen if the Wolverines prove victorious in the Big House in November. It probably gets Michigan to Indianapolis again, while it could be a potential nail in the coffin for Day in Columbus.

I mean, what do you do if Day doesn’t work out? You’d probably try to see if Luke Fickell will leave Madison after only one year, or if Mike Vrabel wants to give it the old college try again after having great success in the NFL in Nashville. Like, you are going to need a coach of that ilk, and probably one with Ohio State ties, to kick Day to the curb. Regardless, it will be up to guys like McCord now.

McCord was a five-star coming out of high school, but he is very much unproven as a college quarterback. He comes to a team that has had an absurd amount of success under center of late, whether that be the late Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields or most recently Stroud. The goal is to win Big Ten titles, make the playoff on the reg and be a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. That is the bar!

No matter what, McCord will have to play up to his potential to defeat Michigan in The Big House.