Urban Meyer has long cemented his legacy as one of the greatest head coaches in Ohio State history. While leading the Buckeyes to a national championship during the 2014-15 season was monumental, what truly endears him to fans is his perfect 7-0 record against the Michigan Wolverines. Now retired from coaching, Meyer watched Ryan Day take over on the Ohio State sideline, while Michigan made a surprising move by hiring Kyle Whittingham to replace the fired Sherrone Moore.

The twist? Whittingham isn't just any coach—he's a close friend of Meyer's, having served as his defensive coordinator at the University of Utah back in 2003 and 2004. That friendship put Meyer in an awkward spot when asked about Michigan's latest hire. The former Buckeye didn't hold back on his initial reaction: "I'm a Buckeye, so my first thought was, 'What?'"

But as a true competitor and friend, Meyer quickly shifted gears. "He's my friend. Kyle and I are really close, but it didn't take long for me to put two and two together," Meyer explained. "Not only did I tell him that I think it was a great move, but it was exactly what that school in Ann Arbor needed. They fell into the perfect guy."

Whether Whittingham lives up to that billing will largely depend on how he develops quarterback Bryce Underwood. Whittingham has already outlined a collaborative approach to grooming his young signal-caller, noting a "tag team approach" between offensive coordinator Jason Beck and quarterbacks coach Koy Detmer Jr. "It's just polishing up some things with Bryce, footwork things, some throwing motion nuances, and obviously teaching the scheme," Whittingham said. For Buckeye fans, the hope is that Whittingham's friendship with Meyer doesn't translate into success on the field when these two storied programs collide once again.