Ohio State and Michigan have been butting heads not just on the field but outside the field as well. Last year, Ryan Day stood first on the podium, holding a Natty. But Sherrone Moore won the prestige fight. In the iconic “Game”, he toppled the Buckeyes for the fourth time under Day. The loss stings harder than it sounds. The beleaguered head coach started to get death threats over the humiliating night. In a breathtaking comeback, Day made it to the championship cut and eased the anti-OSU sentiment a bit. But it seems Sheronne Moore is still gearing up to dish another blow his way. This time, the key weapon is a 6-foot-5 quarterback.
The Ohio State Buckeyes are still looking to bolster their 2026 quarterback class. They missed the boat on No. 1 quarterback Jared Curtis. They lost Jonas Williams to USC and Brady Hart to Texas A&M. Now, they keep three-star QB Nathan Bernhard in the bullseye. But Sherrone Moore seems to pose a threat.
Nathan Bernhard, a product of Ashland High School in Ashland, Ohio, will visit Columbus on April 7 to make up his mind one final time. Michigan extended an offer to the QB on April 4, starting an intense Big 10 race between two powerhouses.
Bernhard has already been high on the UM connection. The way he praised their staff when he picked up an offer on Thursday was a legit red flag for Ohio State. “I’m extremely interested in Michigan,” Bernhard said. “I’ll just have to see how these next couple of days and weeks develop. I think they’re really high up there for me.”
There must be. Why wouldn’t they? Nathan possesses a unique ability to make a contribution to the defense as a DB as well. That’s not just for the show! Look at his numbers. In his junior high school season, Bernhard’s team reached a 12-1 finish. His stats? Well, 2,895 passing yards. 1,221 rushing yards. 46 touchdowns. Even more insane is the fact that he only had four interceptions. No wonder he has over a dozen D1 offers. The three-sport phenomenon has also featured on the basketball court and the varsity track team.
Michigan offered Ashland (Ohio) High QB Nathan Bernhard last week, and he plans on making a decision this spring.
The Wolverines are a top contender.
“I think there’s really something unique there that a lot of places don’t have”
More from the QB: https://t.co/FavYPTKhlk pic.twitter.com/Wl0Dn7T8PB
— Ethan McDowell (@ethanmmcdowell) April 6, 2025
About Michigan? Well, Bernhard likes the richness of culture in Ann Arbor. He is also a fan of the university’s academic excellence over the years. There are so many areas he finds appealing. “I think there’s really something unique there that a lot of places don’t have,” the QB kept the school way above the competitors.
And you’d wonder why an Ohio native would choose anything other than the Buckeyes. Well, back in February 2023, when Nathan Bernhard was 15, he received an offer from Penn State. He cleared his future choice then. “I grew up a Buckeye fan, the whole family did. But I’m open to any opportunity,” he said. “It’s definitely been a dream of mine, playing for a D-1 school and playing football at the highest level.”
So, despite being a Buckeye fan, he’s keeping the main thing the main thing! The dream is to play for a D-1 team. Ryan Day and his staff still have a last chance to snag him on the campus permanently. The 2026 class QB is considering one last-minute observation in the Buckeyes’ pursuit before making a final call. One slip in Day’s plan might leave an elite prospect in the rival’s backyard.
Nathan Bernhard wants to be sure of OSU’s desperation for him
Coach Fessler continues to be the glue in pursuing the standout 2026 athlete. Bernhard said to Letterman Row about Fessler, “I’m visiting Ohio State on Monday. He also texted me right after Michigan offered, too. He’s been telling me that I’m in their top group of five or six guys and that they’re really interested. I’ve heard similar before from them, so I’ll get a better feel when I visit. I’m going to try to make a decision sooner rather than later.”
But expressing emotion over the phone and backing it up with your voice, body postures, and entire being is a whole different story. Bernhard needed that gap to be filled before he put his trust in the Buckeyes’ hands. When asked about whether his OSU visit could drift him away from the Wolverines, the No. 32 quarterback said to ON3 journalist, “I’ll see how serious they are on Monday.”
All the Ohio Day recruiting staff and coaches will have a crucial task on their backs this Monday. But if they fail to swoop him in, it will barely hurt anything other than their ego against the rival. They already have three super-talented QBs lined up to take up their chance at the starting gig. Redshirt sophomores Lincoln Kienholz and Julian Sayin looked to be poised in their grit and determination to win the job at Columbus. While it’s not possible for both of them to take the chair at once, the loser can still get a year to develop into a fiercer prospect in 2026.
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