Has Michigan Replaced Ohio State At The Top Of The Big Ten?

After two decades of dominance by Ohio State, the Michigan Wolverines have beaten the Buckeyes convincingly in the last two meetings - but has Michigan replaced Ohio State at the top of the Big Ten pecking order?

After two decades of dominance by Ohio State, the Michigan Wolverines have beaten the Buckeyes convincingly in back-to-back meetings - capturing two Big Ten Championships and two-straight trips to the College Football Playoff as a result. 

Although Michigan has been on a hot streak as of late, there is still some question about whether or not the Wolverines have officially replaced the Buckeyes at the top of the Big Ten pecking order. 

Appearing recently on an episode of The Herd, Fox Sports' Joe Klatt still gives the edge to the Buckeyes, but says a third straight win by Michigan would officially place Michigan at the top of the Big Ten mountain.  

“This is what is so fascinating, is that I would classify both of the last two wins for Michigan as upsets,” Klatt said. “I don’t think that Michigan beats that Ohio State team six out of 10. I think they might beat them three or four out of 10. I’m not saying it’s drastically a difference, but you saw in the game against Georgia with Ohio State, the talent level is very clear. There’s some things that happened in that game — I'm not taking anything away because Michigan, they did have an identity and they beat Ohio State thoroughly.

“What I am trying to say is that I don’t think that would be the case if they did it a third time. They have a team that is likely going to be favored to win the Big Ten East, is going to be ranked higher than Ohio State to start the year. And they’ve beat them their last two games. So your initial premise — there’s not an argument. You can’t push back against that. Who’s the class of the Big Ten currently, today as we speak? It’s Michigan.

“And that’s even with the talent that Ohio State has accumulated over the last few years, Michigan does have a clear identity and it’s an identity, by the way, that is specifically to beat Ohio State. They target them and they specifically look at them and they’re like, ‘What we do, gives you trouble,’ and that’s what’s so fascinating about it. This year, that the East Division and this is the last year that we’re going to have divisions in the Big Ten. Penn State is going to start in the top five, Ohio State’s going to start in the top five and Michigan is going to start in the top five. That is going to be an absolute great run in that division.”

You can watch the full exchange with Joel Klatt and Colin Cowherd below: