Following Ohio State's unexpected defeat against Michigan on Saturday, Vice President-elect JD Vance faced online criticism after praising his team's performance. Despite the Buckeyes entering the game as heavy favorites, they suffered their fourth consecutive loss to their rivals. Vance took to X (formerly Twitter), commending the OSU seniors for their conduct throughout their college careers and expressing pride in the team. However, many online users disagreed with Vance's positive assessment, with some even questioning his support for the team in light of a post-game brawl. Some users criticized the Buckeyes' performance and expressed disappointment in Vance's remarks. Others questioned his judgment, suggesting that his support for the team after the loss and the ensuing brawl was misplaced.

The upset loss jeopardizes Ohio State's chances of securing a spot in the Big 10 championship game and the College Football Playoffs. The post-game altercation between players from both teams added another layer of controversy to the rivalry. Law enforcement officers intervened to break up the fight, and videos circulating on social media appeared to show players being pepper-sprayed. Michigan running back Kalel Mullings criticized the incident, stating it was "bad for the sport." This isn't the first time Vance's Ohio State allegiance has been a topic of discussion. He previously acknowledged the potential impact of his fandom on the presidential election in Michigan, a key battleground state. The Democratic National Committee even attempted to leverage this connection during their campaign strategy. Despite these concerns, the Trump-Vance ticket ultimately won Michigan. Vance had also suggested that he and Trump would attend the game if they were victorious.