If Michigan is ‘America’s Team,’ what is Ohio State football? Ryan Day responds

COLUMBUS, Ohio — If Michigan deserves to be called “America’s Team” for the criticism it faced in the wake of its advanced scouting scheme, what should we call Ohio State football?

Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh suggested that identity for his team Monday. It came during his first press conference since being suspended for the final three games of the regular season. Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti ruled that Harbaugh should be taken from the sidelines as Michigan’s punishment for recruiting staffer Connor Stalions’ years-long in-person scouting in violation of NCAA bylaws and, in Petitti’s determination, the league’s sportsmanship policy.

If that suspension holds after a Friday hearing over Michigan’s request for a temporary restraining order, Harbaugh will also miss The Game against Ohio State the next week.

“This has got to be America’s team,” Harbaugh said. “America loves a team that beats the odds, beats the adversity, overcomes what the naysayers, critics, so-called experts think.”

Harbaugh’s perspective does not jive with the public response to the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal in Major League Baseball, or reaction to the New England Patriots’ “Spygate” case. Time will tell on public opinion of Michigan and its coach as the NCAA and Big Ten investigate the situation further.

Day was asked Tuesday whose team Ohio State is. Day continued his stance on avoiding direct comment on allegations against or actions by Michigan. However, he did have a response.

“Good question,” Day said. “It’s been a long road to get to November, and each team has its own identity. Each team has its own dynamics, has its own journey. So here we are, in November, and I can tell you this: Coming to work every day with these guys, the consistency, the maturity, the competitiveness, the look in their eye, this is a great team to be around. Great guys.

“I go back to this: It’s about these guys on the team. It’s about the guys that put it on the line every single Saturday in the game and put the work in here. So we’re gonna do it again this week and keep swinging.”

If Ohio State and Michigan both win this weekend, they will meet as 11-0 teams for the second year in a row to decide the Big Ten East champion. It may also determine whether one team continues pursuit of the national championship and the other begins an offseason of transition.