World reacts as Ohio State legend has “shocking message” for Michigan

Maurice Clarett defends Michigan.

While most Ohio State Buckeyes fans and alumni are pocking fun and sending bad wishes to the archrival Michigan Wolverines amid an NCAA investigation into allegations of sign stealing, one Ohio State legend is actually standing up for Michigan.

This week, Ohio State Buckeyes legendary running back Maurice Clarett, who helped lead the team to a national title back in 2002 as a freshman, defended the Wolverines from criticism, suggesting that the NCAA should be the ones facing criticism due to the association’s “silly rules.”

“I can go back and forth with the Michigan and OSU banter. It’s fun and comical on lots of levels. I can take the jokes about my past and all of the above…. In all honesty I think the investigation into Michigan for the hamburger, sign viewing or whatever it is is another reason for everyone to be mad at the NCAA. I’ve spoken up for Michigan in both cases. It’s actually stupid. Good scouting gets you all of the signs and signals you want. Michigan is a good football team and it’s actually healthy to have wins/loses go both ways. In all of this… realize who we all should be mad at and it’s the NCAA and it’s silly rules,” Clarett said in a post on X.

“I always say that there’s far greater issues of concern than hamburgers, sign viewing, tattoos and all of the other silly things that are in place to keep college sports in its current state. If the NCAA wanted to tackle real issues it would be about the “education” most student athletes receive when on campus,” Clarett said in a follow-up post.

It’s pretty surprising to see an Ohio State player stand up for Michigan like that, and the college football world had a lot to say about it as a result.