Alright, folks, buckle up! Michigan alum Dave Portnoy just roasted the Ohio State’s cocky antics ahead of the playoffs. Classic Portnoy, right? Dave Portnoy is absolutely roasting the Buckeyes, like a Thanksgiving turkey, and it’s glorious. It’s pure Michigan: a blend of self-deprecating humor and fierce competitiveness. You know, Michiganders can be introspective, but when it comes to rivalry, they bring the heat. This Portnoy rant perfectly captures that spirit. But let’s be real, all this witty trash talk probably isn’t doing much for the Buckeyes’ pre-game nerves. With Michigan serving up wit, Ohio State might need more than a game plan for their playoffs—they’ll need a therapy session.

Ohio State’s advertising strategy is doing wonders on the internet. Just a day before their showdown against Tennessee, Ryan Day and the team dropped a bombshell on X, screaming, “It’s football season. Buckeye nation. Bring your name, whether you’re in the shoe or on the road. Watch the feet of its fans and win graciously and victoriously in the future. Well, community, behave like champions, uphold traditions, create memorable moments, and keep the standard of excellence. Show respect to all. Go bucks, go bucks, go bucks, go bucks.” But what caught everyone’s attention was Dave Portnoy’s shots at the team’s video with a long series of laughing emojis. “😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂”

Well, it looks like the loss to Michigan won’t be fading from the headlines anytime soon for Ryan Day and the team. But the question here is: Is Ohio State ready to flash their strong game against Tennessee? It’s not a new thing that the team is under pressure, and after what happened against Michigan, this game is very crucial for them. The team is starting with their QB, Will Howard, but even with him, their win seems like a tall mountain to climb. Will’s success this season is quite evident. But then we can’t ignore the fact that he lost against Oregon and Michigan.

Moreover, Will Howard couldn’t break the three-loss streak against Michigan and recorded a completion rate of 57.6 percent. That doesn’t sound so well. Also, Ryan Day’s boys are going to go up against one of the strongest rushing offenses in the nation, ranking 9th with a record of 232 yards per game. Fighting that with an offense of 169.2 yards per game is not a joke. Let’s just hope Ohio State takes this jab from Dave Portnoy seriously and pulls up their game against the Vols.

Ohio State’s much needed victory

Let’s just be clear on one thing: this game is going to be a do-or-die situation for Ryan Day and Ohio State because it’s not just the playoffs they’ll lose but also put Coach Day’s tenure with the team in jeopardy. Yeah, Ross Bjork made it clear that the team will stick with him, but for how long? First, the team went flat against Michigan, and now they’re facing a must-win game against the Vols to even have a shot at winning the natty. This game is huge for their fans.

Luckily, the cold weather might give them a slight edge. They struggled in the cold against Michigan, but they’re used to it. As quarterback Howard said, “We practice in it every single day. I’ve played in very cold conditions.” The forecast for the Tennessee game is around 22 degrees, so they should be prepared. But let’s not forget that the Vols are no strangers to cold-weather games either. They dominated Vanderbilt in snowy conditions. Their quarterback, Nico Iamaleava, has already shown he can handle extreme weather, giving the Vols a bit of an advantage. So ultimately, it comes down to how the Buckeyes perform that particular day.

Fun fact: Not only are Ryan Day and Ohio State looking for a loophole to win this game, but even fans are trying their best to support them. One of the Buckeyes fan pages, Buckeyes Network, threw down the gauntlet with a contest, among other things. Their IG story urged fans to action, saying, “Tickets are cheap. Don’t let the Vols snag these seats.”

The struggle is real on and off the field. Moreover, who needs a big brand strategy for marketing when your fans are up there handling the business? Now it’s going to be interesting to witness this much-awaited showdown. It’s not just a battle of glory, but a battle of pride.