Four weeks before the season, four-star cornerback Aaron Scott poked the bear in his commitment to Ohio State, which pissed off the Michigan fanbase.
There might be 118 days until "The Game," but it's never too early to stir the pot when talking about the magnitude of the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry. Whether recruiting violations, controversial calls, polar-opposite coaches, or everything in between, this old-fashioned rivalry brings out the best and worst in both institutions, whether loved or hated.
Nonetheless, when it came to 2024 6-foot, 180-pound four-star cornerback and Springfield, Ohio, native Aaron Scott and his commitment to the Scarlett and Grey, it sent a sublimate message to "That Team Up North" that the annual game is more than just a rivalry; it's personal.
In the era of social media and NIL, things can get out of hand, but at the same time, it can be fun to poke fun, which is exactly what Scott did Sunday night.
In a video picked up by On3, a national recruiting site that measures estimated NIL values and predicts pledges, Scott was seen cleverly choosing the Buckeyes over the Wolverines by digging out an Ohio State jersey placed in a Michigan backpack.
For those who haven't figured it out yet, the top 50 prospect's final two schools were the Wolverines and Buckeyes, making the situation that much funnier.
An Ohio State recruiting reporter, Garrick Hodge, chimed in with his own thoughts on the situation.
"Aaron Scott had one of the more entertaining Ohio State commitment announcements I can remember, complete with smoke effects and faking out the room he was going to Michigan," Hodge wrote.
Although Scott won't be in Columbus until next year, it's safe to assume Michigan fans won't forget this moment for a bit, especially considering the Buckeyes and Wolverines' series will shift to Ohio State next fall, and both programs will likely be vying for a conference title.
Jim Harbaugh looks for third-straight win over Ohio State
After struggling year in and year out against Ohio State, Jim Harbaugh has found his groove and has led his team to back-to-back wins in the series, which included a 45-23 thrashing last season.
If the Wolverines were to beat the Buckeyes again, it would mark Michigan's first three-game winning streak since a stretch from 1995-1997, where Michigan outscored Ohio State a combined 64-36.
Michigan leads the all-time series 60-51-6, dating back to 1897. The game was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19 complications but was resumed the following season.
The 118th edition of the rivalry takes place on Nov. 25 in Ann Arbor to closer out the regular season. Kickoff is set for noon ET on FOX.
