The lengths to which Michigan and Ohio State fans will go to spite one another are legendary. For enthusiasts of both schools and their football programs, these lifelong grudges can border on petty and absurd, yet they wouldn’t have it any other way. The very idea of a Michigan fan wearing scarlet and gray is unconscionable, just as the thought of a Buckeye faithful donning maize and blue seems unthinkable. Well, in theory, at least.
Kirk Herbstreit has had his share of drama with Ohio State fans in recent years. The former OSU quarterback and longtime ESPN college football host has feuded with the fanbase, calling out their “lunatic fringe” and pointing out how Tennessee took over their stadium in the CFP. He has tried to defend himself by claiming he is simply aiming for objectivity and that he remains an “Ohio State junkie.” His appearance at Michigan’s spring game, sporting UM-branded gear, is unlikely to help his cause, despite the legitimate reason behind it.
Isaiah Hole of Wolverines Wire captured a photo of Herbstreit while he was in town to watch his son Chase in his first season playing for Michigan.
Michigan dad @KirkHerbstreit pic.twitter.com/7WDd5jUBZu
— Isaiah Hole (@isaiahhole) April 19, 2025
Kirk seemingly tried to maintain a low profile, opting for Michigan blue outerwear without any logos. However, the interior of his jacket displayed the Michigan M logo, which surely won’t be forgotten the next time he shares critical views about OSU fans. To be fair, the ESPN analyst had previously acknowledged that the Buckeyes didn’t actively recruit Chase (his son Zak plays for Ohio State). “Ohio State didn’t really pursue him to the point of offering him a scholarship,” Herbstreit told Pardon My Take. “They were close.” Furthermore, he mentioned, “I know that 80 percent of [Ohio State] people are thrilled and 20 percent are jackasses. I just decided, it’s one thing to take shots at me, but if you take a shot at me, and you want to get into a fight, it’s not hard for me to do that. So I just try to ignore that stuff the best I can and stay focused on the positive.”
