The Ohio State-Michigan rivalry gained a new layer of intrigue as Chase Herbstreit, son of former Buckeyes quarterback and current ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit, committed to Michigan.
The class of 2025 quarterback from St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati made his choice public with a resounding “Go Blue,” as first reported by Hayes Fawcett of On3.com.
“BREAKING: Class of 2025 QB Chase Herbstreit has Committed to Michigan. The 6’2, 195-pound QB joins Bryce Underwood as the second scholarship QB in the Wolverines’ ‘25 Class. Is the son of former Ohio State QB Kirk Herbstreit … ‘Go Blue!’” Fawcett posted on X.
The announcement quickly ignited passionate responses from both fanbases.
Michigan supporters embraced the decision, relishing the addition of a Herbstreit to their roster. For Ohio State fans, however, the move felt like a betrayal.
Barstool Ohio State labeled the situation a “house divided,” echoing the sentiment of many OSU faithful.
Eleven Warriors noted that Chase had long dreamed of playing for Ohio State, heightening the sting for Buckeye Nation.
Some fans added fuel to the fire with bold predictions, including one declaring, “In two years, the greatest thing to happen in the history of college football will be Chase Herbstreit planting the flag in the middle of the Horseshoe!”
The controversy even drew skepticism about Michigan’s motives.
“Ohio’s Tate,” a Barstool Sports personality, questioned whether Chase was being strategically used in the rivalry.
“Does Kirk Herbstreit not realize his son is being used as a pawn in The Game?” he asked on X. “Kid is a 0-star QB and behind Bryce Underwood. Michigan is using him to troll Ohio State and nothing else. And they fell for it.”
Chase Herbstreit’s recruitment process was relatively low-profile.
Despite his famous last name, his 247Sports profile lists no other reported offers, and he was unranked by the platform. However, On3.com rated him as a three-star prospect.
Herbstreit took over as the starting quarterback for St. Xavier midway through his sophomore year, leading the team to a playoff victory that season.
Over his high school career, he threw for 3,120 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions, per MaxPreps.
His senior season showed marked improvement, with 18 touchdown passes, just five interceptions, and 649 rushing yards with eight scores on the ground.
Chase joins Michigan’s 2025 quarterback class alongside five-star recruit Bryce Underwood, who officially signed his letter of intent during the early signing period.
Let’s be clear, Chase was not a highly sought-after recruit. We’re not talking about some five-star can’t-miss quarterback with 60 offers to chose from.
Realistically, he probably won’t see much playing time in Ann Arbor, especially with Underwood coming to town. But hey, you never know.
Of course, the reason why his decision to commit to Michigan has caused such a commotion is because of his father.
Besides being one of the most respected voices in all of college football, Kirk Herbstreit is well-known for his Ohio State ties.
He’s been outspoken about the “toxic” portion of the Buckeye fan base in the past. He once stated that having to be around those types of fans is what forced him to move from Columbus to Nashville years ago.
Needless to say, Chase’s decision to commit to Michigan won’t quiet the noise coming from those “toxic” fans.
Again, no one is making Chase out to be the next Kyle McCord. (Sorry, I couldn’t help it.) … But of course his decision to commit to the Wolverines is going to be a huge talking point for obvious reason.
What are your thoughts on his surprising decision???
