Ohio State Buckeyes

Harbaugh refuses to say who he's rooting for in Buckeyes vs. Spartans

Published Nov. 19, 2015 5:09 p.m. ET

foxsports

It may be an understatement to say Jim Harbaugh's first season as head coach of the Michigan Wolverines has been a success. Entering Saturday's game against Penn State, Harbaugh's team is 8-2 on the year, with losses in the season opener against Utah and later in a fluke last-second defeat to Michigan State.

This weekend, those same Spartans play in the Big Ten's game of the week against the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes. A win by Michigan's hated rivals from Ohio would set up a winner-take-all game for the Big Ten East Division next week in Ann Arbor.

That may leave some Wolverines fans feeling ... conflicted.

And while Harbaugh — deep down inside — may be rooting for the Buckeyes to knock Michigan State out of the picture, he isn't saying so publicly:

Harbaugh scolds @stoney16 for saying he can't root for OSU because of hate: "why would you associate the word hate with collegiate sports?!"
— angelique (@chengelis) November 19, 2015

Harbaugh won't say 'go Bucks" on @StoneyandBill :" What's best for Michigan. I'd say it but I won't because you're telling me to say it."
— angelique (@chengelis) November 19, 2015