The 2025 college football season is right around the corner, and while the Michigan Wolverines don't play Ohio State until the final week of the season in late November, sparks are already flying in the heated rivalry.
Michigan begins the year against New Mexico on Saturday Night, as the Wolverines look to get off to a strong start on the 2025 season. Ahead of their season opener, the Wolverines had multiple press conferences with their coaches.
Elevenwarriors.com shared a quote from Michigan running backs coach Tony Alford. He made a bold take on the Michigan and Ohio State rivalry, taking a jab at Ohio State before the year began.
Alford Takes a Shot at the Buckeyes
The question that sparked Alford's shot at Ohio State was about recruiting for Sherrone Moore. After answering the question, identifying all of the ways that Michigan is different than other schools, he took an unprompted jab at the Buckeyes.
"You wanted me to say something really bad about that other place," Alford said. "I'll say it, yeah, we're better."
The "other place" that Alford refers to is Ohio State, a school he has ties to. Alford previously spent nine years at Ohio State as their running backs coach and left for Michigan in 2024.
While Alford has expressed his respect for Ohio State for his time there, now with the Wolverines, he's not holding back on praise for his current team over his former team.
He's taken jabs at Ohio State before, and this latest one comes just a few days ahead of the beginning of the 2025 college football season. Both schools won't face off until November 29th, but until then, these comments will linger.
MORE: Vikings trade idea acquires new weapon for Michigan's JJ McCarthy
Michigan isn't ranked inside the top-10 teams at the beginning of the year, while Ohio State is ranked 3rd overall. For the next few months, more shots will be fired by both teams as their matchup approaches.
But, compared to Michigan's start against New Mexico, Ohio State has a much more challenging beginning to the year. They face Texas, the top-ranked team in the Nation. The game is at Ohio State, but the Longhorns are one of the top teams this season.
The Wolverines could start the year off strong, while Ohio State falters out of the gate with their toughest matchup of the year in week one.
Over three months until the Michigan-Ohio State matchup, the sparks are already flying, as Wolverines running back coach Tony Alford is taking shots at his former team, saying that Michigan is better.
MORE NCAAF NEWS:
- Oregon receives negative injury update involving 5-star freshman
- College football updated polls: AP Top 25, Coaches Poll rankings released for 2025 season
- Abdul Carter calls for fellow Penn State star rusher Micah Parsons to get paid
- Oregon's Jeremiah McClellan reveals reason for Ohio State commitment flip
- Notre Dame football's interest in joining Big Ten revealed