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Has Ohio State’s coach ever lost four games in a row to Michigan? What you need to know

Posted on by L. Dreeye
Has Ohio State’s coach ever lost four games in a row to Michigan? What you need to know

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Ryan Day knows what’s at stake when Ohio State football faces Michigan on Saturday in “The Game.”

His That the game Buckeyes fans use to determine if the season is a success. After losing, frustration begins to build over time, as evidenced by Day’s comments this week on his weekly TV show, “Game Time with Ryan Day.”

REQUIRED READING: Ryan Day: Losing to Michigan ‘one of the worst things that ever happened to me’

Entering the 120th meeting this Saturday against Michigan, Ohio State is not only the No. 2 team in the nation, but also the current betting favorite to win the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes also lost three straight games to “That Team Up North.”

In 2023, Day became the first Ohio State coach since John Cooper from 1995–97 to lose three straight games to Michigan. He’ll try to avoid an even worse streak in 2024, which he will also share with Cooper and which would place him among a group of coaches who have had their own issues with the Wolverines.

Here’s what you need to know about Day’s record against Michigan and the historic losing streak he’ll look to reverse when Ohio State takes on Michigan at noon ET on Saturday:

REQUIRED READING: Ohio State vs. Michigan Predictions, Odds: Who Will Win College Football Game in Week 14?

Ohio State football coach loses to Michigan four times in a row?

Yes. Three Ohio State coaches have lost four straight games to Michigan: A.E. Herrnstein, John Wheels and John Cooper. If the Buckeyes lose their fourth straight game to Michigan on Saturday, Day will become the fourth coach in program history to lose four straight games to the Wolverines.

The first coach to lose four straight games to Michigan was Herrnstein from 1906 to 1909.

Wheels owns the longest Buckeyes losing streak for an Ohio State coach against Michigan, as they lost six straight games from 1922 to 1927. Wheels’ Buckeyes were shut out by the Wolverines four times.

Cooper also suffered several losing streaks against the Wolverines, including the program’s last four-game setback against Michigan, losing four straight games from 1988 to 1991. Ohio State and Michigan tied in 1992 before the Buckeyes lost 28–0 in 1993. , giving Cooper a 0-1-5 record in his first six games against the Wolverines.

He also lost three games against Michigan in 1995–97 and two more in 1999–2000, giving him an abysmal 2–10–1 record against the Buckeyes’ most important opponent on the schedule.

History of Ohio State coaches losing four times in a row to Michigan

Here’s the full story of Ohio State’s coaches, who have lost four straight games to Michigan:

A.E. Herrnstein:

  • 1906: Michigan 6, Ohio State 0
  • 1907: Michigan 22, Ohio State 0
  • 1908: Michigan 10, Ohio State 6
  • 1909: Michigan 33, Ohio State 6

John Wheels

  • 1922: Michigan 19, Ohio State 0
  • 1923: Michigan 23, Ohio State 0
  • 1924: Michigan 16, Ohio State 6
  • 1925: Michigan 10, Ohio State 0
  • 1926: Michigan 17, Ohio State 16
  • 1927: Michigan 21, Ohio State 0

John Cooper

  • 1988: Michigan 34, Ohio State 31
  • 1989: Michigan 28, Ohio State 18
  • 1990: Michigan 16, Ohio State 13
  • 1991: Michigan 31, Ohio State 3

REQUIRED READING: Blame game: OSU coach Ryan Day suffers most from UM losses, even when players are at fault

Ryan Day’s record against Michigan

  • Ryan Day’s record against Michigan: 1-3

Day enters Saturday’s game against Michigan with a 1-3 record against the Wolverines.

Since winning his first game against Michigan in 2019, Day has led Ohio State to losses in each of its last three meetings against Michigan. Earlier this week, Day spoke of his disappointment over Ohio State losing three straight games to its Big Ten foe — even calling the loss to Michigan one of the worst things to happen to both him and his family.

“We know what’s at stake. We felt what it was like not to win this game, and it’s bad. Honestly, this is one of the worst things that has ever happened to me in my life,” Day said.

“Other than losing my dad and a few other things, this is honestly, for my family, the worst thing that has ever happened. Therefore, we will never allow this to happen again, and this has been our approach throughout the season.”

Whether Day can avoid that pain against Michigan—and avoid joining the Buckeyes’ notorious group of coaches—remains to be seen.