Defensive end Derrick Moore was at the Michigan Wolverines from 2022 to 2025. He was on the 2023 team that won the national championship and beat Ohio State. So when Ohio State won the title in 2024 without first beating Michigan, Moore had something to say.

Before heading to the NFL, Moore delivered one of the most memorable soundbites of the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry during the 2025 Big Ten Media Days. He congratulated the Buckeyes. Then he took it back a little.

"First, I'd like to congratulate them on the win," Moore said on July 24, 2025. "But you know it's not a real win if y'all didn't beat us, so."

Moore’s statement at the media day was straightforward. Ohio State lost to Michigan in 2024 before going on to win the national title. A championship without beating your biggest rival does not feel complete to him.

He closed it out by looking ahead to what would be his final season in Ann Arbor.

"I'm gonna congratulate them on their win, but this year is gonna be different," Moore said.

Ohio State did beat the Wolverines 27-10 in November of the same year. The Buckeyes' dominant victory snapped their four-game losing streak to the Wolverines and capped off a perfect regular season for Ohio State.

Moore Is Now Gearing Up for His NFL Debut With the Detroit Lions

Detroit liked Moore enough to move up for him. The Lions traded 50 and 128 to the Jets just to move up six spots to pick him at 44. Now he’s playing next to Aidan Hutchinson. Two Wolverines. One defensive line.

Moore talked about the Lions' linebacker coach, Kelvin Sheppard, and what drew him to Detroit straight away at the Lions OTA in May 2026.

"Coach Shep holds everybody accountable, and that's the same thing we did at Michigan," Moore said. "Everybody's physical here. Everybody plays gap sound defense, does their job, and just makes a play. I feel like it was the same thing at Michigan."

Two Michigan products on the same NFL defensive line. Moore felt at home before his first regular-season snap even happened.

What do you think about Moore's take on Ohio State's national title? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Farheen Fathima

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi