The confetti was still falling in Las Vegas when the Michigan fandom hit X (Twitter) like it was the Super Bowl halftime show. Ryan Day led Ohio State to their 9th national title, secured on January 20th, was either the great comeback story of the 2024 season or, as some salty Wolverines claim, Lebron James’ infamous “Mickey Mouse” championship. James Yoder, a well-known Michigan insider, led the charge, roasting Ryan Day and unleashing a rant that could make even Skip Bayless take notes.

“Never in the history of Ohio State football will an Ohio State fan be able to wear a 2024 National Championship shirt and brag about, ‘Hey, we won a national title after beating you guys.’ That can’t happen,” Yoder declared. Shots fired. Ohio State fans, understandably, aren’t here for the shade. And to be fair, the Buckeyes’ playoff run was nothing short of spectacular. After a gut-wrenching loss to Michigan in Week 14—a 13-10 heartbreaker against a five-loss Wolverines team—Ohio State was low-key left for dead. Fans were in meltdown mode. Jack Sawyer’s tears during Michigan’s flag plant at Ohio Stadium became the highlights of the evening.

Ohio State literally got stripped of their Big Ten title game hopes. They slid into the new 12-team playoff format as the No. 8 seed. Old-school fans couldn’t help but note that, under the old four-team format, Ohio State wouldn’t have sniffed the playoff glory. But once the playoffs began, it was like Ryan Day and Co. flipped a switch and went full John Wick on the competition.

The Buckeyes tore through the playoffs like they were on a revenge tour. First up, a 42-17 thrashing of Josh Heupel’s Tennessee Volunteers. Next, they handed undefeated Oregon their first loss in a 41-21 dismantling that silenced Autzen loyalists for good in Rose Bowl, Pasadena. Then came Texas in the semifinals, and let’s just say the Longhorns gave a good run for the money. A commanding 28-14 victory punched their ticket to the title game, where they capped it off with a 34-23 win over Notre Dame. 4 straight wins against top-10 teams? That’s not luck; that’s legendary.

But Michigan fans? They’re not buying it. Yoder doubled down on his Twitter tirade, saying, “Ohio State is the beneficiary of the best luck in history… I am here proclaiming Michigan as co-national champions. Or, if you think that’s not acceptable, let me say this as a backup: it’s like our son won a national championship. We taught him everything, beat the hell out of him for four straight years, and his entire life he finally—you know—let his n-t strap down and won a trophy of his own.” Look, it sounds funny, and all, does he have a point, after all? Is Michigan State superior to Ohio State? Superior school? Yes, maybe. Superior football? Let’s find out.

Breaking the Ohio-Michigan tracks record and beef: Ryan Day’s kryptonite?

Let’s unpack the numbers, shall we? Michigan fans love to throw shade, but the Buckeyes’ receipts speak volumes. Since 2000, Ohio State boasts 3 national titles to Michigan’s one. In the AP Poll era (1936-present), it’s OSU 9, Michigan 3. And when it comes to the College Football Playoff (2014-present), the Buckeyes have 6 appearances and 7 playoff wins compared to Michigan’s 2 appearances and 2 wins. Head-to-head this century? Ohio State is up 17-5. Ohio State literally ran laps and circles over Michigan.

Of course, Michigan fans will point to Ryan Day’s 1-4 record against the Wolverines and 4 consecutive losses. Fair criticism, no doubt. Gotta give that Michigan, they low-key still own Ryan Day. Losing to your arch-rival stings, especially when it’s coupled with Jack Sawyer crying on national television and Michigan planting flags on Ohio State’s field. But what Day’s squad accomplished since that Michigan loss is nothing short of miraculous. Tony Petitti even called it “the greatest run in college football history.” Hyperbolic? Maybe. Impressive? Absolutely.

For Ryan Day, this championship run felt like a Hollywood redemption arc. After the Michigan loss, rumors swirled about his job security. The Buckeyes looked broken, and Day’s emotional post-game press conference painted the picture of a man on the brink. But football, like life, is about how you respond to adversity. Safe to say, Ryan did pretty well.

As the dust settles, one thing is clear: Ryan Day and Ohio State are under the microscope. Winning a title doesn’t erase four straight losses to Michigan, but it does buy Day some breathing room. If Ryan loses again to Michigan, they finna cook Day to his grave. For now, Michigan fans can keep their “Mickey Mouse” slander, and Ohio State fans can rock their championship merch with pride. Because in the end, trophies speak louder than tweets. And as the Buckeyes hoist their ninth national title, one thing’s for sure: the rivalry’s as fiery as ever, and we’re all here for it.