Michigan Wolverines’ new head coach Kyle Whittingham might’ve arrived at Ann Arbor only recently, but he knows his rival very well. When asked which Big Ten coach carries the most cash in his wallet, Whittingham answered Ohio State Buckeyes’ Ryan Day.

“That's a great question. I'm going to tell you probably Ryan Day,” he said in a rapid-fire round with ESPN’S Ian Fitzsimmons. 

Whittingham, 66, was chatting with the ESPN host for a segment on Big 1G Football and made this revelation on July 31. The segment soon took Whittingham by surprise when Fitzsimmons made a revelation about him on the same question.

“Kirk Ferentz was number one. You were number two,” he told Whittingham, who laughed it off. 

There were a couple more questions, and Whittigham answered them all just as well as the first one. The Wolverines’ new head coach was in attendance for the Big Ten Media Days in Chicago. 

Questions about the dynamic he and Day share were expected as the two stand at the opposite ends of one of the fiercest college football rivalries. Whittigham must correct the outcome from the last time his team faced the Buckeyes. 

In 2025, the Buckeyes defeated the Wolverines 25-7 on their home turf at the Big House. This game marked Michigan's worst loss to Ohio State since 2011 and intensified the rivalry like never before. 

Whittingham, who spent 21 years as the Utah Utes head coach before taking the job at Ann Arbor, is up against Day, who finished 12-2 overall last year. 

The pressure of the animosity between these two programs and a comeback from last year’s 7-2 record is crushing. Whittingham, however, revealed that the dynamics on the field do not spill over into their relationship.

Kyle Whittingham reveals he does not “hate” Ryan Day

On July 31, Kyle Whittingham made a strong statement to put a stop to any speculation over the unpleasant feelings between himself and Ryan Day. 

“I just think that a rivalry can be intense and emotional without the hatred factor,” he said in an X post by Matt Fortuna. “I don't think there's any place for that personally. I think Ryan Day is a good person. And to sit here and say, I hate Ryan Day, I'd be making c*** up. That's not true.”

The Wolverines have faced a series of defeats in the past few years. Apart from underwhelming performances on the field, the program was marred by controversies like sign-stealing in 2023 and the legal fallout from former HC Sherrone Moore’s dismissal in 2025. 

That has not deterred Whittingham, whose agenda is simple: win.

“Hate is a strong word, but I want to win that game as badly as anybody in Ann Arbor,” he added. 

Who wins over whom will be seen on November 28. The Buckeyes have the home ground advantage. Will they repeat their past success?

What are your thoughts? Tell us in the comments.

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar