Another thing that gets brought up a lot is "record against rival" and frankly I think that is a terrible way to make this decision with one notable exception.
Here in Ohio State land there are some fans who think either that tOSU should fire Ryan Day or that Ryan Day should be on the hotseat because he's lost three straight to our hated cheating rival up north. I hate losing to them as much as anyone but I'm not on board with canning Ryan Day or even for him to be on the hotseat for numerous reasons. First among those is that even in the past three years with those losses, Ryan Day's last three tOSU teams have gone 11-2 with a RoseBowl win, 11-2 with a CFP appearance and only a long FG from an NC, and 11-2. If 33-6 is not good enough, who are you going to hire?
Beyond that, there is another issue with "record against rival". Rivals aren't a constant. If you just say "Ohio State beat Michigan", I'm happy but I need context to know how big of a deal it is. If you are talking about 1970, 1972, or 1974 when Ohio State gave Michigan their ONLY loss of the year, that is a big deal. If you are talking about 2008 when Ohio State's win was Michigan's NINTH loss of the season well I'm glad the Buckeyes didn't lose because that would have been embarrassing but at the end of the day how much credit should Tressel get for beating a team that finished 3-9?
Day's teams have lost three straight to Michigan, those three Michigan teams finished with zero, one, and two losses. In the 19 years prior to that Day, Meyer, and Tressel's teams won 17 games against Michigan. Only one of the 17 Michigan teams that Day, Meyer, and Tressel beat finished with less than three losses. My point is that not all Michigan teams are alike (the same concept applies no matter what school we are talking about). Here are the results of Ohio State's games against Michigan teams that finished with less than three losses dating back to the beginning of Woody's tenure:
- 2023 L to a team that finished undefeated, Day
- 2022 L to a team that finished 13-1, Day
- 2021 L to a team that finished 12-2, Day
- 2011 L to a team that finished 11-2, Fickell
- 2006 W over a team that finished 11-2, Tressel
- 1999 L to a team that finished 10-2, Cooper
- 1997 L to a team that finished 12-0, Cooper
- 1992 T with a team that finished 9-0-3, Cooper
- 1991 L to a team that finished 10-2, Cooper
- 1989 L to a team that finished 10-2, Cooper
- 1988 L to a team that finished 9-2-1, Cooper
- 1986 L to a team that finished 11-2, Bruce
- 1985 L to a team that finished 10-1-1, Bruce
- 1980 L to a team that finished 10-2, Bruce
- 1978 L to a team that finished 10-2, Hayes
- 1977 L to a team that finished 10-2, Hayes
- 1976 L to a team that finished 10-2, Hayes
- 1975 W over a team that finished 8-2-2, Hayes
- 1974 W over a team that finished 10-1, Hayes
- 1973 T with a team that finished 10-0-1, Hayes
- 1972 W over a team that finished 10-1, Hayes
- 1971 L to a team that finished 11-1, Hayes
- 1970 W over a team that finished 9-1, Hayes
- 1968 W over a team that finished 8-2, Hayes
- 1964 L to a team that finished 9-1, Hayes
- 1956 L to a team that finished 7-2, Hayes
- 1955 W over a team that finished 7-2, Hayes
That is a whole lot of L's and honestly that isn't really saying anything about Michigan nor Ohio State. It is simply a reflection of the fact that it is REALLY difficult to beat a team that finishes the season with less than three losses.
Earle Bruce had a winning record against Michigan (5-4-1) but he went 0-3 against Michigan teams that finished with <3 losses.
Woody Hayes is a legend not just at Ohio State nor even in this league but nationally and 6-6-1 against Michigan teams that finished with <3 losses.
Tressel only ever had to face one Michigan team that finished with <3 losses.