Michigan Star Derrick Moore Questions Ohio State’s Title Claim: “A Championship Ain’t Real If Y’all Ain’t Beat Michigan First”

In a bold statement that’s reignited the fiercest rivalry in college football, Michigan defensive end Derrick Moore didn’t mince words when he addressed Ohio State’s 2024 national championship win. Speaking during a media session ahead of fall camp, Moore gave credit to the Buckeyes for capturing the title—but made it clear he views it as incomplete without a win over Michigan.

“Look, congrats to them or whatever,” Moore said, pausing with a grin. “But it’s not a real win if y’all ain’t beat us. Straight up. You gotta go through The Team to be the real champs.”

The quote, already making the rounds on social media, has sparked a fresh wave of chatter ahead of the 2025 season. While Ohio State ended its season as kings of college football, avenging back-to-back losses to Michigan with a dominant run through the playoff, Moore and his teammates aren’t ready to concede moral ground in the rivalry.

A War of Words in a Historic Rivalry

The Michigan–Ohio State rivalry is steeped in tradition, animosity, and championship implications. For two straight seasons (2021 and 2022), Michigan held bragging rights with hard-nosed wins that derailed the Buckeyes’ playoff dreams. The tide began to shift in 2023, when Ryan Day’s team edged out a narrow victory in Ann Arbor, silencing some critics and keeping Michigan from a potential three-peat in the Big Ten.

Then came 2024. With Michigan navigating life post-Jim Harbaugh and battling through a transition year, Ohio State found itself reloaded and locked in, finishing the regular season 11–1—ironically, with its only loss coming once again to Michigan in The Game. However, thanks to a chaotic conference landscape and a resume bolstered by wins over Penn State and Oregon, Ohio State still found its way into the College Football Playoff.

The Buckeyes went on a tear from there, dispatching Texas in the semifinal and cruising past Alabama in the national championship to claim their first title since 2014.

But not everyone in Ann Arbor is ready to let them wear the crown uncontested.

Moore: “We Were the Best Team They Never Beat”

Derrick Moore, entering his senior season and widely projected as one of the top edge rushers in the Big Ten, was a force for Michigan’s 2024 defense. Though the Wolverines missed out on the Big Ten Championship, they did beat Ohio State 27–24 in November behind a ferocious pass rush, including 1.5 sacks and 3 tackles for loss from Moore himself.

“We took their lunch money that day,” Moore said. “They got rings, sure. But they didn’t get past us. And we ain’t forget.”

Moore’s comments reflect a sentiment shared by many inside Michigan’s locker room—that beating your rival is still the ultimate litmus test. Titles matter, but to players like Moore, true validation comes through winning “The Game.”

When asked if he watched Ohio State’s national title win, Moore responded flatly: “I watched, but I wasn’t impressed. Alabama ain’t Michigan. That ring got an asterisk next to it.”

Ryan Day Responds, Buckeyes Stay Focused

While Ohio State hasn’t officially responded to Moore’s comments, Buckeye head coach Ryan Day has previously emphasized his team’s focus on “the standard” and blocking out outside noise.

After last year’s playoff run, Day credited the team’s toughness and resilience—notably without directly referencing the Michigan loss.

“I think we showed what this team is made of,” Day said in January. “We learned from every step of the season, and we finished the right way.”

Still, the subtext has been impossible to ignore. For all their postseason dominance, the Wolverines remain the one team Ohio State couldn’t solve in 2024. And for a program with a “Beat Michigan” clock hanging in its locker room, that’s a blemish that can’t be easily dismissed.

A Collision Course in 2025

The 2025 season is already shaping up to be a showdown of epic proportions. Both teams return elite talent, and both are considered early favorites to reach the 12-team College Football Playoff. Michigan, under head coach Sherrone Moore, has loaded up in the portal and on the recruiting trail, while Ohio State has the reigning national championship trophy—and possibly the best receiving corps in the country led by Jeremiah Smith.

All signs point toward another high-stakes clash in late November, this time back in Columbus.

“That game gonna decide everything,” Moore said. “I don’t care who wins what before then. You want the belt? You come through us.”

Moore also hinted that Michigan’s defensive front is aiming to make a statement all season long, especially against the Buckeyes’ prized quarterback room.

“They say they got QBs? Cool,” Moore laughed. “Bring all of them. We’re comin’. We remember.”

NFL Scouts Watching Closely

Moore’s fiery words might stoke the rivalry flames, but his play on the field has been just as explosive. With 9.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss in 2024, Moore was a constant disruption and earned All-Big Ten honors. He enters the fall as one of the top pass-rushing prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft.

“He’s got the body, the burst, the bend—all the tools,” one NFC scout told The Athletic. “But what separates him is the motor. He plays angry. You love that.”

Moore’s leadership has also become a cornerstone of Michigan’s locker room, especially after the departure of multiple veteran captains to the NFL.

“He doesn’t talk unless he means it,” said linebacker Ernest Hausmann. “So when D-Mo says they ain’t champs ‘til they beat us—believe he gonna back that up.”

A Statement Heard Across the Big Ten

While Ohio State’s national championship serves as the ultimate recruiting tool, Moore’s words serve as a reminder that the war is far from over. With the Big Ten expanding and the playoff format shifting, rivalries are expected to evolve—but the heat between Michigan and Ohio State refuses to cool.

Whether Moore’s comments will be used as bulletin board material in Columbus remains to be seen. But one thing’s certain: this year’s edition of The Game just got even more personal.

“Y’all saw what we did last time,” Moore said, standing tall. “They gonna have to see us again. And this time, we finishing the job.”

As the 2025 season looms, Derrick Moore’s message is clear: national championship or not, the path to true supremacy still runs through Ann Arbor. And if the Buckeyes want to silence the noise, they’ll have to do it the old-fashioned way—by winning The Game.