In preparation for my best friend, a University of Oregon student, coming to visit Michigan Stadium this past weekend, she texted me asking if she should wear a Michigan sweatshirt in fear of getting heckled by the Michigan student section.
While that would be true if she were a student at Michigan State or Ohio State, the relationship between Michigan and Oregon isn’t one of rivalry. So she could — and should — wear her Oregon gear proud because they’re the No. 1 team for a reason. Michigan knows how that feels, and if I were to walk into Autzen, I would don my maize and blue.
As a student at the University of Michigan from Oregon, the matchup between the No. 1 Oregon football team and Michigan this past weekend meant more to me than my Wolverine counterparts.
But that doesn’t mean the loss as a Michigan fan didn’t sting a little.
Being from Oregon is rare at the University of Michigan, and my love of Portland and being from Oregon has become part of my identity. People just assume I’m a Ducks fan and associate my being from Oregon solely with the Ducks.
Although Oregon is part of the Big Ten now, there is still a distance between Oregon and Michigan fans — especially for Michigan students. This was the first time these two franchises have met since 2007, so there is no history between the programs for recent fans and students.
The same can’t be said for the other new Big Ten teams, especially Washington. The Wolverines and the Huskies have played each other twice in the last year — one of which was the National Championship — followed by Washington defeating Michigan a few weeks ago.
But Oregon and Michigan have a clean sheet, and Wolverines fans don’t resent the Ducks quite yet.
Michigan fans have no reason to hate Oregon at the moment. Michigan’s season has been trending downwards, whereas Oregon’s is trending up.
The Wolverines have been plagued with uncertainty all season. Three quarterbacks fought for the starting position, rotating each one in and out of the lineup until Michigan coach Sherrone Moore ultimately went back to senior quarterback Davis Warren. Fans have been frustrated with the Wolverines’ inconsistencies.
Oregon, on the other hand, has been rock solid all season. It has defeated every opponent thus far, climbing the ranks to its No. 1 ranking. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel has been stellar, and the receiving team and running backs have depth, where touchdowns and offensive points are produced across the board, not just from one player.
While Michigan fans may be jealous of Oregon, thinking about the Wolverines’ season last year, when they were No. 1 and National Champions, most Michigan fans aren’t resentful toward the Ducks. There’s no reason to be.
Because the Wolverines recognize the changes and trajectories each team underwent to get to where they are this weekend. Michigan lost its head coach in Jim Harbaugh, its quarterback in J.J. McCarthy, nearly its entire starting offensive line, and the support coaching staff. Michigan students are incredibly grateful for last year’s National Championship, and this weekend doesn’t take that championship away.
Additionally, most Michigan students expected a loss last weekend. While one can try to be optimistic and look at the positives, Oregon was clearly the stronger team — the rankings and statistics show it.
And that was the overall vibe of the Big House. When Oregon got its first touchdown, Michigan fans knew a beatdown was coming. The Wolverines had some solid plays against the Ducks, but from the jump, it was evident those plays wouldn’t be enough, and relying on only tight end Colston Loveland and receiver Donovan Edwards would not bring Michigan a victory over the No. 1 team.
As long as the Ducks are ranked higher than Ohio State, Michigan fans will root for their success. That’s not to say people didn’t boo Oregon fans or make jokes — they did — but Michigan has bigger fish to fry later in the season.
Michigan students have no hatred towards Oregon — especially me — and are excited to see the new Big Ten team thriving. While the loss stung, the Wolverines are not where they were last year, and neither are the Ducks — they’re just trending in opposite directions.
