Derrick Moore Calls Out Ohio State: “It’s Not a Real Win If Y’all Ain’t Beat Us”
In the wake of Ohio State’s latest national championship win, Michigan defensive end Derrick Moore has reignited the most storied rivalry in college football with a comment that’s echoing far beyond Ann Arbor.
Speaking at a summer youth camp in Detroit, Moore didn’t mince words. Microphone in hand, the rising junior turned to the crowd and said, “Y’all can put up whatever banners you want. But it’s not a real win if y’all ain’t beat us. Simple.”
The crowd erupted. Phones went up. And within minutes, the quote had gone viral.
Moore, known as much for his thunderous hits as for his fiery leadership, wasn’t just stoking flames—he was lighting a bonfire at the heart of the Big Ten. The Wolverines had beaten Ohio State three straight years before the Buckeyes captured their elusive national title in a controversial playoff format that saw Michigan narrowly excluded after a one-loss season. That wound still stings in Ann Arbor.
“They didn’t go through us,” Moore said in a post-camp interview. “That title? It’s got an asterisk the size of The Big House. We were built for that smoke. And everyone knew it.”
The stats back up his defiance. In the 2024 season, Moore was a wrecking ball on the edge—posting 12.5 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, and earning unanimous All-Big Ten honors. His relentless motor helped Michigan maintain its top-5 defensive ranking for a third consecutive season. But the Wolverines’ heartbreaking semifinal loss to Oregon, thanks to a controversial pass interference call, left them watching from home as Ohio State rolled through a weaker-than-expected Alabama squad and then took down Washington in a snowy New Orleans title game.
For Ohio State fans, Moore’s comments are sour grapes. Buckeyes linebacker C.J. Hicks responded on X, posting: “Tell 55 [Moore] to worry about actually making the game before he talks rings.”
But inside Schembechler Hall, Moore’s words are gospel. He’s quickly becoming the emotional backbone of the 2025 team—leading workouts, challenging younger players, and, as one coach described, “bringing the edge Michigan football was built on.”
Head coach Sherrone Moore didn’t denounce the comments. When asked about them, he smirked and said, “That’s Derrick. He plays with passion. That’s what we need to get where we’re going.”
The countdown to The Game has already begun, and it’s not even August. Set for November 29th in Columbus, it’s shaping up to be more than just another rivalry game—it’s a potential playoff play-in. And thanks to Moore, it now comes with the added drama of a national champion looking to prove its legitimacy and a Michigan squad determined to remind everyone who ruled the Big Ten when it mattered most.
“This year,” Moore said, voice rising like a pre-snap chant, “they’re gonna have to come through us. And when they do, we’ll see who’s holding the trophy in January.”
The fire is lit. The war drums are pounding. Derrick Moore has spoken—and college football will be listening.
