Despite conference realignment, the changing of the sport, and everything in between, one thing in college football remains true: The rivalry between the Michigan Wolverines and Ohio State Buckeyes never ends.
As Michigan enters the season in what may be a bit of a rebuilding year, they’ve won the last three games against the Buckeyes.
Michigan struck again Wednesday, as they poached Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford and signed him to the same position on first-year head coach Sherrone Moore’s staff.
FootballScoop reported the sides were in talks, and ESPN’s Pete Thamel confirmed that Alford would be taking the job shortly later.
Sources: Ohio State RB coach Tony Alford is expected to be the next running backs coach at Michigan. He's informed OSU officials that he's leaving. Football Scoop first reported him as a target.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 13, 2024
Alford has been with the Buckeyes for the past nine seasons, his longest stint of any of his previous college coaching jobs. His time at Ohio State resulted in great success in the rushing game, with multiple backs being drafted to the NFL including Ezekiel Elliott.
Alford has coached exclusively in the Midwest since becoming Kent State’s running backs coach in 1996, with the exception of a one-year stint with the Washington Huskies in 2001. His resume includes time at Iowa State, Notre Dame, and Louisville before coming to Ohio State in 2014.
Alford will replace Mike Hart, a former Michigan running back who had served as the team’s running backs coach since 2021 and was the co-interim coach alongside Jay Harbaugh for Michigan’s 35-7 win over UNLV while Jim Harbaugh served a three-game suspension.
