The Hate Index was developed in 2012 to measure the relative fanbase hatred between Michigan and the Big Ten (with Notre Dame tossed in). Two perspectives are assessed: the view of U-M fans toward an opponent, and the view of the opponent fanbase toward Michigan. Rarely is the feeling precisely mutual, and often it evolves and changes over time.

[Last Updated: October 2022]

Scale:

ROARING HOT RIVALRY Can’t stand this school. Wish they would lose every week and it’s must-see TV when they are struggling. Disparaging references are fair game throughout the year. At times, fans get more satisfaction out of the opponent’s failure than their team’s success.

ICE COLD NON-EXISTENT RIVALRY Either complete indifference or complete respect. There is no tangible emotional charge at all when you see this opponent on the schedule. When they play someone else you really don’t care if they win or they lose.

Team by Team:

MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS
All-time highest heat: 2007 “Little Brother”, the 1950s (when MSU joined B1G), 1978/79 “arrogant asses”, 2001 Spartan Bob, recently with Trouble with the Snap/Devin Bush. For a historical chart of the intensity of MSU and other Michigan rivalries – click here.

OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
All-time highest heat: 10 Year War (1969-1978), the mid-1990s, 2006, 2016 (JT was short). For a historical chart of the intensity of Ohio State and other Michigan rivalries – click here.

OHIO PERSPECTIVE	MICHIGAN PERSPECTIVE
You might think that the hate for TTUN would ease up a tad given the Buckeyes’ recent dominance, wouldn’t you? You’d think. HA! Nope–not even an inch. Many of the most cherished Buckeye traditions have their roots in this rivalry. They (try to) X-out Ms, they don’t like to say the word “Michigan” unless it’s in that ‘don’t give a damn’ song. They hate Michigan so much it actually bleeds into when they play MSU just because the Spartans have Michigan in their name.	Michigan fans see the Buckeyes’ success but we quickly revert to the view that Ohio fans are rubes and the team cheats. We want to win but not like that. But…we still think we should match or beat them on the field. They are the measuring stick. The breakthrough victory in 2021 re-elevated this rivalry to 10-Year-War heights.

NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH
All-time highest heat: Many spikes: 1909 ND first win, 1910 game cancellation, 1947 national title debate, the 1970s/1980s tight games, 2012 series cancellation..on and on. For a historical chart of the intensity of Notre Dame and other Michigan rivalries – click here.

NOTRE DAME PERSPECTIVE	MICHIGAN PERSPECTIVE
Without Michigan on the schedule, it’s just not burning. But a comment here or there from the coaches can set this aflame even if we don’t play, ask Knute Rockne and Fielding Yost. Or more recently with the Hoke “chicken” comments. There’s so much history between these teams–right back to 1887 when Michigan literally taught the Irish how to play this game.	When Irish AD Jack Swarbrick passive-aggressively delivered the letter canceling the series in 2012 it steamed M fans. But with ND gone from the schedule, this went from a boil to a simmer. When we play it’s always a big deal, look no further than the hype leading up to the 2007 game when both teams were spiraling at 0-2. Natural Enemies indeed.

PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS
All-time highest heat: Late 1990s and 1997’s Judgment Day. Recently: mid-2010s with Harbaugh & Franklin.

PENN STATE PERSPECTIVE	MICHIGAN PERSPECTIVE
Penn State fans pretend it’s nothing. Unrivaled, they like to declare. This is total bull. Michigan (or OSU) is their white-out night game almost every year. They measure themselves against these schools in an unfulfilled quest for respect since they entered the B1G three decades ago. The tension has played out on the recruiting trail as well. Many PSU fans feel (and resent) that a mob jury ripped Paterno’s legacy to shreds and are the most vocal that something should happen to Bo.	For starters, while it’s easy to dislike opposing coaches James Franklin has set a high bar in this category. U-M fans find the cult-like fan vibe in Happy Valley at best weird & creepy and at worst, dangerous. While not a real “rival” – there’s definitely some heat here in our relationship. Exhibit A: It’s undeniably really fun when Penn State loses (see Illinois 9OT in 2021) and that tells you something.

WISCONSIN BADGERS
All-time highest heat: Hmm, the late 1990s, early 2000s?

WISCONSIN PERSPECTIVE	MICHIGAN PERSPECTIVE
Since Alvarez arrived Wisconsin views itself as on par or better than Michigan. They will remind you of their recent Rose Bowl appearances. The lack of mutual respect burns them enough to drink (even more).	Oh boy. The 2022 hoops postgame (Juwan slapping a Badger assistant) flipped this into the heat territory. On the gridiron, there’s been some increase in respect for the Badgers recently. And Madison is probably the B1G school/campus that U-M alums feel is most akin to Ann Arbor. But the lingering belief is that the Badgers are perennial gridiron frauds.

IOWA HAWKEYES
All-time highest heat: 1980s at the height of Hayden Fry vs. Bo, particularly 1985’s #1 vs. #2 battle.

IOWA PERSPECTIVE	MICHIGAN PERSPECTIVE
Similar to Illinois, Michigan fans would be very surprised how much the Hawkeye faithful dislike the maize and blue. Perhaps it’s Bo-era jealously, and/or the warped view that they belong at the table with the Michigans of the world. That’s what they crave. Getting their tractor doors blown off the 2021 B1G title game didn’t help them in the respect department.	The heat is not reciprocated here. There’s a historic kinship between Michigan and Iowa – from Forest Evashevski to Bump Elliott, to president Mary Sue Coleman and others. And their fans wave at the kids in the hospital. Sure, it sucks to play at Kinnick at night but no tangible hatred lingers. I genuinely felt bad for the humbled Hawkeye fans during the 2021 B1G title game and that says something about our feelings.

ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI
All-time highest heat: Bob Zuppke/Red Grange mid-1920s, Bo/Mike White/Gary Moeller-fired imbroglio in the early 1980s

ILLINOIS PERSPECTIVE	MICHIGAN PERSPECTIVE
Another case that might surprise Michigan fans on how much the Illini CAN’T STAND Michigan. The latest? The whole 2020-21 B1G hoops title snub–that really chapped their orange asses. They are constantly jabbing at Michigan but no one here (or anywhere else) cares. It’s baffling. The only possible explanation: this is a case where a proud history of gridiron glory in their DNA (dating back to Red Grange) probably hurts more than it helps.	We actually have a cool historic tie to the Illini program as Yost donated to the Memorial Stadium construction to honor a former U-M player lost in WWI. But beyond the Zuppke era and very briefly with the Mike White vs. Bo thing in the early 80s, the Illini are totally irrelevant on the gridiron. At least the 2021 B1G basketball title bitterness got a Michigan reaction: a huge laugh. Hunter Dickinson calling them “annoying” is the extent of the attention we’ll give this.

NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS
All-time highest heat: 1997 national title debate and the fallout.

NEBRASKA PERSPECTIVE	MICHIGAN PERSPECTIVE
If Nebraska could figure out how to win a few big games this would warm up. And ready to add flames: There’s always the whole unsolvable 1997 co-national championship thing.	Another team with a historic tie to Michigan–in 1898 Yost was head coach in Lincoln. Reviews from the 2021 trip to Lincoln left fans raving about the courteous & respectful Huskers fans. The only thing keeping from three flakes is the existence was Scott Frost (and his role in the 1997 postseason vote). Now that Frost’s gone it will take something to warm this up.

PURDUE BOILERMAKERS
All-time highest heat: Mid-1960s/Bob Griese nipping us in 1964?

PURDUE PERSPECTIVE	MICHIGAN PERSPECTIVE
Again, no offense but it’s difficult to locate the loyal members of the Purdue pigskin fanbase. I’m certain they would like to get more respect from Michigan fans than they actually do. (None.)	This actually flared up a couple of times over the years, most recently in 2017 after the Wilton Speight injury, and medical facility disaster. But the heat is fleeting at best, and nothing tangible seems to linger.

MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS
All-time highest heat: mid-1920s to mid-1940s. Gophers beat Michigan in 9 straight!! Before that, 1903 – the 6-6 tie that sparked the Jug. For a historical chart of the intensity of Minnesota and other Michigan rivalries – click here.

MINNESOTA PERSPECTIVE	MICHIGAN PERSPECTIVE
The Gophers have a loyal fanbase but it’s tough for them to harbor much venom toward Michigan given the domination since the Bo-era. Some out there remember the heyday of this rivalry that basically settled the national title each year.	If/when we lose the jug this warms up. PJ Fleck, with his Buckeye roots, has an opportunity to turn this up but they have to be better, and certainly most consistent, on the field. Sorry Gopher fans but you are still very “Minnesota Nice”.

RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS
All-time highest heat: Mid-2010s, Chris Ash/Harbaugh tussle on and off the field.

RUTGERS PERSPECTIVE	MICHIGAN PERSPECTIVE
Bitterness lingers with the Chris Ash-Harbaugh stuff, and there’s the matter of the 78-0 thing. RU fans (as much as they exist) fancy themselves like a mini Ohio State.	This heated up with the Harbaugh summer camp-in-NJ thing and with Michigan’s inroads with top Jersey talent. Still, U-M fans don’t give a damn about Rutgers. Some even will argue they didn’t actually play in the first (legit) college football game…we did. :)

NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS
All-time highest heat: 1990s/early 2000s with the Fitz/Rose Bowl teams

NORTHWESTERN PERSPECTIVE	MICHIGAN PERSPECTIVE
I’m really just guessing here because again, a proper testbed of passionate Wildcat fans is tough to find. The George Jewett trophy, introduced in 2021, isn’t ever going to be put in anyone’s face but – it’s a trophy and something to play for.	Fitz could say or do something weird to heat this up for sure. Honestly, this series could use it. He’s definitely got it in him. Like the Gophers, The Cats just need more consistency on the field. It doesn’t help that Ryan Field is mostly full of maize and blue when we visit Evanston.

INDIANA HOOSIERS
All-time highest heat: Uncertain. You probably have to look to hoops with Tom Crean or Bobby Knight?

INDIANA PERSPECTIVE	MICHIGAN PERSPECTIVE
Sending out an ABP searching for a truly passionate Hoosier football fan. That said, it must burn a little that they’ve been SO CLOSE to beating U-M many times in recent years (COVID doesn’t count). This is one of the rare cases where basketball might be the only variable that could heat things up between fan bases. Tom Crean almost did but now he’s in the extended Harbaugh family – I mean I’ve seen the dude on the sidelines at Michigan Stadium. Oh well.	Michigan has dominated Indiana football like no other team in the last few decades. And we stole their most promising assistant coach in Mike Hart. It doesn’t help that half of Memorial Stadium is speckled in maize & blue when we visit. Again, I’m not sure exactly what it would take to heat this up beyond something happening on the hardwood?

MARYLAND TERRAPINS
All-time highest heat: Just hasn’t happened.

MARYLAND PERSPECTIVE	MICHIGAN PERSPECTIVE
Just haven’t had a lot tangible between us that would move the needle here, but there’s been a lot of noise and trash talk in hoops lately thanks to Hunter Dickinson and his perceived recruiting snub.	Mostly very cool but it’s had its moments on the hardwood, particularly with the Juwan-Turgeon dust-up in 2021. But Michigan has enough on its mind to worry about Maryland. Added to this, the Terps almost became like a sister program when DJ Durkin left to go there. That didn’t go so well. The only hope of gaining any rivalry steam is more heat on the hardwood.

Feedback? Hit me on Twitter. Thank you for all the feedback, particularly Craig Barker of HSR, Steve Clarke of WTKA, and Seth Fisher of mgoblog for their input on the latest cut.