Amidst conference realignment and various shifts within the sport, one constant remains in college football: the enduring rivalry between the Michigan Wolverines and Ohio State Buckeyes.
Despite Michigan heading into what could be considered a rebuilding phase for the season, they have managed to clinch victory in their last three encounters with the Buckeyes.
Adding to their recent successes, Michigan made a significant move by recruiting Ohio State’s running backs coach, Tony Alford, and appointing him to the same position under the guidance of first-year head coach Sherrone Moore.
According to reports from FootballScoop and later confirmed by ESPN’s Pete Thamel, discussions between the parties had been ongoing, culminating in Alford’s decision to join the Wolverines’ coaching staff.
Alford boasts an impressive track record during his nine-year tenure with the Buckeyes, particularly in developing talented running backs like Ezekiel Elliott who have gone on to succeed in the NFL.
Having primarily coached in the Midwest since his start as Kent State’s running backs coach in 1996, with a brief detour at Washington in 2001, Alford has accumulated experience at various notable programs such as Iowa State, Notre Dame, and Louisville before his tenure at Ohio State.
In his new role, Alford will be stepping into the shoes of Mike Hart, a former Michigan running back who had been serving as the team’s running backs coach since 2021. Hart temporarily took on the role of co-interim coach alongside Jay Harbaugh for a game during Jim Harbaugh’s suspension, further illustrating the intertwining nature of these coaching positions within the rivalry.