Having played as a QB for the Buckeyes for over four years, Kirk Herbstreit has always embraced his loyalty to Ohio State Football. Even as a seasoned commentator, when CFB fans expect him to be unbiased, the Buckeyes loyal never forgets his OSU roots and does not shy away from his OSU fandom. “At the end of the day, I’m no different than anybody sitting on their couch. I just prepare and talk about it,” Herbstreit during the CFB Championship between the Buckeyes and Fighting Irish on Jan 20. “I’m an Ohio State junkie. And so when they do well, and I’m able to enjoy it, there’s nobody more thrilled than me.” He even refused to perform the traditional champions’ pick ritual before the game kicked off that night at Atlanta. However, the 55-year-old found himself in hot water when he chose to go against the very Buckeyes’ loyals.

Before the high-flying national title cleared the air for Ohio State fans, things were largely chaotic for the Buckeyes nation, especially for Ryan Day. Fire Ryan Day’s claim had skyrocketed following the historical fourth straight heartbreak from arch-rival Michigan Wolverines.

Things got so cranked up that some fans demanded Ryan Day’s head on social media and launched death threats on his family members, forcing the veteran fifth-year coach to recruit security personnel for the sake of safety. Herbstreit did not hold back in calling out the hypocrisy of certain fans on his podcast and received immediate flak for the same.

”Ohio State fans, some portion, have always been upset with me. It was never like, ‘What am I gonna do, the Ohio State fans are upset with me?” Herbstreit divulged in a recent interview, putting the OSU fans on notice. Just a few days in, and Herbstreit found himself on the hot seat again. The internet community woke up and found the most controversial Ohio State advocate in the opponents’ gear. Well, don’t get it wrong; it’s just a dad performing his duty to his son, who chose to walk on a different path.

Just like his father, Chase Herbstreit is also a huge fan of the Buckeyes and was eyeing a commitment to OSU before going to arch-rival Michigan. Chase visited Michigan’s campus and facilities this past weekend as part of a big final recruiting weekend for the Wolverines.

A few images from the trip on his social media are swirling over the lore, and fans spotted him posing alongside his father, the certified pro-Ohio State guy, in the blue coat with a maize lanyard around his neck. The sight alone was enough to raise eyebrows, but what took the shock factor to another level was Zak Herbstreit – current walk-on tight end at OSU – the elder sibling of Chase, chiming in on X with a sticker message that said, ‘‘You are the chosen one.”.

Interestingly, while Chase is the first Herbstreit to commit to Michigan, his father never really beat the Wolves while playing for the Buckeyes. Can you smell a heated debate over the dining table? Well, some fans do, and quite logically so.

Kirk Herbstreit’s family drama has been on full display in the comment section

Not only just Kirk Herbstreit but the entire bloodline was attached to the Buckeyes in some way or the other. Kirk’s wife, Alison, was a cheerleader at Columbus for a long time. While two of Chase’s brothers, Tye and Jake, played football at Clemson, his other brother, Zak, is a walk-on tight end at Ohio State who just won a natty. So, finding the youngest of all, one of the top recruits in the class of 2025 on the opponent’s field, would be hard for any loyal family.

And for obvious reasons, it’s not only an inside matter of the analyst’s family; the entire OSU fanbase senses a rift over dinner. ‘‘Awkward family dinner,” one of them wrote in the comments, sensing the heat underneath. Another fan echoed the sentiment, noting, ”No loyalty’‘ with a sobbing eyes emoji.

Yes, you may find some solace in phrases like ‘his life, his choice’ or ‘he has the right to decide his future even if it needs to stand out,’ if you’re too diplomatic to let your raw emotions out just as they are. But deep down, you also know how absurd it is to see someone who rips the Ohio State’s opponent in every other game in their arch nemesis’ jersey. ”You have become the very thing you swore to destroy,” a nondiplomatic fan said your word out loud. Some started to give wings to their intuition, reading between the expression, ”Kirk doesn’t seem very happy, pained smile.”

The same whetted humor popped out from another fan: ”Kirk looks like that other dad on the internet that’s trying to smile but holding back tears.” We all know that Kirk is a die-hard Ohio State faithful, but he is an amazing dad, too, who doesn’t leave his son alone on his path.

Some sane fans put the two sides of the story perfectly without making them contradict each other: ”House divided, but I like the young man’s choice to make his own new path and not follow his dad’s old path.”

Bottom line: it’s what it is. Kirk Herbstreit might be just in the middle of his script on how to destroy OSU’s rivals on his next podcast or live assignment; till then, enjoy your daily dose of polemic!