The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State-Michigan Rivalry Reset & Buckeyes Cotton Bowl Update

Podcast: The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Football Talk
Episode: Ohio State-Michigan rivalry reset with Kyle Whittingham hire, update on Buckeyes from Cotton Bowl
Date: December 29, 2025
Hosts: Doug Lesmerises & Bill Landis (Blue Wire)

Episode Overview

Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis broadcast live from Dallas ahead of Ohio State’s Cotton Bowl semifinal (vs. Miami), taking time to dissect the bombshell news out of Michigan—Kyle Whittingham’s hire as head football coach. This episode is a deep dive into the reverberations for the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry, the state of both programs, shifting coaching profiles in the Big Ten, and what fans can expect from the current Buckeye squad in the run up to the College Football Playoff. Doug and Bill blend their trademark humor, Big Ten expertise, and candid speculation to offer a well-rounded panorama of a transformative moment in college football.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Live from the Cotton Bowl: Ohio State-Miami Preview

• Windy Dallas: The hosts joke about tumbleweeds and the famously blustery Texas weather but settle in to discuss the real action: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Miami (03:00).
• Injury Reports: For the first time, CFP mandates daily injury reports leading up to the game; hosts explain designations and ramifications for both teams (04:00, 21:01).
• Miami’s Upset Potential: Cautious respect for Miami’s trenches, combined with Ohio State’s own vulnerabilities, has pundits considering an upset—though both hosts are still working through their final predictions (06:16-07:55).
  • “It’s not like a pure toss up. But I think I understand a Miami lean.” – Bill Landis (06:43)
• Importance of Vibes: Doug and Bill stress that pre-game media access offers valuable insight into team energy and cohesion, which can affect outcomes (08:11-09:20).
  • “When you’re talking about 19, 20, and 21 year olds, [headspace] matters.” – Doug Lesmerises (08:13)

2. Michigan’s Hire of Kyle Whittingham: A New Era for the Rivalry

• Whittingham’s Arrival: Doug recalls how seismic Jim Harbaugh’s 2014 hire was; he draws parallels (and crucial differences) to today’s Michigan (13:00-15:08).
  • “We have reset the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry while the Buckeyes are getting ready to play in the playoff. This isn’t that… But it’s not entirely not that.” – Doug Lesmerises (13:44)
• Michigan’s Crisis: The hosts discuss whether Michigan needs “saving” more now—given ethical/administrative scandal—or in Harbaugh’s early days, when it was purely football (17:19-18:21).
  • “Even that [on-field] success comes with an asterisk… and now it sort of gets tainted.” – Bill Landis (17:37)
• Comparing Resets: They consider “saving” moments at OSU (Urban Meyer after Tressel) and Michigan (Harbaugh, Whittingham) and what it signals for each program's trajectory (18:34-20:51).

3. Parsing the Whittingham Hire

• Is He Unique? Discussion on whether Whittingham—21 years at Utah, clean reputation, big-time winner—was a “unicorn” for this embattled Michigan job (24:06-25:14).
  • “Is [Whittingham] a one-of-one, uniquely qualified for this situation?” – Doug Lesmerises (24:07)
  • “There was an air where I think guys who were in fairly comfortable spots weren’t going to go near the Michigan job right now.” – Bill Landis (24:37)
• Job-Hopper or Builder? Contrasts drawn with other recent Big Ten hires (e.g., Kurt Signetti at Indiana) and what it means to bring an established winner to a blue-blood vs. a rebuild scenario (32:03-32:52).
• NIL Era Aspects: Whittingham’s anti-NIL ethos at Utah may simply be a function of resource limitations, not philosophical opposition—a dynamic that will be different at Michigan (27:22-28:31).

4. Big Ten Coaching Carousel: Matt Campbell at Penn State, Unlikely Outcomes

• Two Cockamamie Processes, Two Great Hires? Both Michigan and Penn State wound up with “home run” coaches through unusual processes—and the hosts question whether consensus positivity is warranted (33:08-36:28).
  • “Is the Big Ten going to go two-for-two in these cockamamie situations?” – Doug Lesmerises (33:09)
• Are Campbell and Whittingham Automatic Successes? Discussion of coaching rankings, legitimacy, and whether their reputations were built at places that do not win by default (36:26-37:46).
  • “Whittingham and Campbell both were specific to those universities in a way that they elevated those programs that did not have really any right to be as good as they were…” – Doug Lesmerises (36:28)

5. Whittingham’s Age and Energy

• Not “Catch a Falling Coach”: At 66, Whittingham is viewed as energetic and ascending, not a retread (29:58-31:57).
  • “Just because he’s 66 doesn’t mean he can’t do that... If you think because he’s 66 he can’t do that, you’re wrong.” – Bill Landis (40:52)

6. Impact on the Ohio State-Michigan Rivalry Dynamic

• Cooling of Hostility? With both Harbaugh and Urban Meyer gone, and two “outsider” head coaches (Day and Whittingham), the tone of the rivalry may shift from animosity to statesmanship and respect (42:19-45:49).
  • “There will be a sense of decorum in this rivalry that maybe hasn’t been present... the last couple years.” – Bill Landis (45:49)
• Shared History: Both Whittingham and Day are Urban Meyer disciples—not rivalry lifers; this could make the dynamic less personal and volatile (46:08-51:32).
• Metaphor for the Era: Sharon Moore’s final act as Michigan coach—defending against a flag plant that never came—serves as a fitting metaphor for the changing atmosphere (48:27-48:36).
  • “The last thing Sharon Moore ever did was defend from an attack that never came.” – Doug Lesmerises (48:29)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On reading vibes at Media Day:
  “If you can read between the lines a little bit, read some body language, there is something to learn from a media day setting.” – Bill Landis (09:20)

• On national attention and the rivalry:
  “Even when Ohio State is on the precipice of a national championship, you find time to talk about Ohio State-Michigan.” – Doug Lesmerises (52:13)

• On Michigan’s new approach:
  “I think maybe [Whittingham] can put his stamp on the rivalry by turning down the heat. And I think Ryan Day... will appreciate that.” – Doug Lesmerises (49:08)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:00: Show opens live from Dallas (Cotton Bowl preview)
• 04:00: New playoff-mandated injury report discussion
• 06:16 – 07:55: Miami's upset potential analyzed
• 08:11: Why team vibes going into big games matter
• 13:00 – 15:08: Jim Harbaugh's arrival vs. Whittingham's arrival—resetting the rivalry
• 17:19: Which Michigan needed saving more—now, or 2014?
• 21:01: Injury reports for Cotton Bowl are released
• 24:07: Is Whittingham uniquely qualified for the Michigan job?
• 33:08: Penn State and Michigan both make unconventional but lauded hires
• 36:28: Are Campbell & Whittingham products of their environment, or legitimately elite?
• 40:52: Why age isn’t a problem for Whittingham
• 42:19 – 45:49: Will the coaching change lower rivalry tensions?
• 48:27 – 48:36: The flag plant metaphor and Sharon Moore’s final act
• 50:36: Urban Meyer is now the “grandfather” of The Game

Tone and Language Snapshot

The conversation is witty, analytical, and relaxed—full of inside jokes, spontaneous analogies (“catch a falling coach”), and honest reflection. Bill and Doug bring a mix of media veteran skepticism and fan-level excitement throughout, keeping the banter relatable while pulling no punches on weighty topics (program ethics, coaching legacies, administrative competence).

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

The hosts expertly break down how the newest coaching changes—specifically Kyle Whittingham at Michigan—might quietly transform the Big Ten, the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry, and the entire college football landscape. They also provide up-to-the-minute insights on Ohio State’s preparation for the Cotton Bowl and deliver candid takes on coaching reputations. Their analysis is peppered with memorable observations, making this a must-listen for fans curious about the future of The Game and the shape of a new coaching era in the conference.