Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer is frustrated with losing to the Michigan Wolverines and decided to return for his senior season to get another chance to beat them.
At Big Ten media day on Tuesday, Sawyer expressed how deeply last year’s third consecutive loss to Michigan affected him and how it influenced his decision to stay in Columbus for another year.
“I felt like I let not only Ryan Day down but also the entire city,” Sawyer said about last year’s defeat (via Adam King of 10 TV). “For me, it’s about coming back, and many of us feel the same way. We didn’t want to leave without having one more shot to do this the right way.”
In other words, beating Michigan.
“We know what’s at stake when we play those guys,” Sawyer continued. “Our goals and aspirations for the season hinge on that one game in November. They hate us, we hate them, and that’s the way it has to be. That’s the way we want it to be.”
Before 2021, Ohio State had an eight-game winning streak against Michigan, with the most recent being a 56-27 victory in 2019 (the teams did not play in 2020 due to the pandemic-shortened season).
However, Michigan has won each game since 2021. Last November, the Wolverines secured a 30-24 victory over the Buckeyes on their way to a national championship.
Michigan is now rebuilding, having lost head coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback J.J. McCarthy to the NFL this offseason.
With Ohio State likely having one of the most talented rosters in the country, it would be very disappointing if Sawyer and his teammates cannot break their losing streak against the Wolverines in 2024.
