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College football rivalries are arguably the lifeblood of the sport, and there is one iconic Big Ten program with multiple.
Out of the 18-team league, the Ohio State Buckeyes are one team most college football pundits highlight as a beloved team, while others do nothing more than despise them.
Regardless of which side of the fence college football fans are on, one analyst suggests that if it were up to the college football community, the Buckeyes would be the most hated team in the sport.
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“The Film Guy Network’s” Brooks Austin weighed in about the Buckeyes and why their greatness gets overshadowed by a perhaps cocky mystique.
"Ohio State was overwhelmingly mentioned," Austin said. "I think that's due to the fact that they've had (five) losing seasons since World War II. Just constantly great. I mean, just always at the top. They're constantly beating your favorite team, whether it be in the regular season or in big-time football games. They're great."
The Buckeyes are a few years removed from winning a national title themselves, adding to the potential proposed hatred the fans might have for them.
Nonetheless, coach Ryan Day is unbothered by the criticism he receives from the outside world, especially surrounding his quarterback, Julian Sayin.
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“For Julian, this is somebody who hasn't played a lot of football, and he competes,” Day said after the Cotton Bowl. “This guy right here has a very, very bright future ahead of him...now he's gotta learn from this."
Sayin is back for another season, which means the Buckeyes’ pressure-filled expectations regarding their need for excellence will return right alongside them.
Beloved or hated, Ohio State has been categorized one way or another. It’s a program that is deep-rooted in history, and when it comes to it, it’s very difficult not to have an opinion about it because of how legendary it is.
And there’s a good chance that, no matter what, opinions about Ohio State will continue to surface, regardless of whether it’s positive or negative.
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