WARNING: Unpopular Opinion Alert!

I view the present state of the OHIO/Miami "rivalry" in a near identical fashion to that of the Evil Empire/Michigan (with both schools sporting the name Ohio presently kicking the other):

-As long as one side is dominantly kicking the other's ass, it is the most important thing in the world TO THE KICKER.

-However, in both scenarios, the kickees, as judged by independent industry experts, kick the ass of their "rival" when it comes to the actual mission of the university: being a better institution of higher learning.

-Hence, it is easy for the kickee to not really feel too dejected when they are beaten by their rival on the field of play.

I sense that Michigan and Miami hold themselves in similar high regard v their "rivals", and therefore feel they hold the "moral" high ground regardless of wins and losses. However they would certainly revel in a victory over their "rival".

I don't know enough about the history of the academic ratings of OHIO and Miami prior to my time at OHIO in the 80's, but my logical assumption would be that the two were viewed as more academic peers prior to that time, and that it has been the last three to four decades that Miami has been able to solidify itself as a Public Ivy. However I am certain that Michigan has always been viewed as being superior to the Evil Empire academically, and the rivalry there was always more fueled by the two being their respective state's flagships.

One notable difference in the Ohio v Miami/State v Michigan comparison... We are Miami's older brother while Ohio State is Michigan's younger brother.

It makes sense because they have 3,500 students in their business school. Its about a quarter of their school. Ohio's business school is under 1,000 students.

Miami sucks.

And, perhaps, the most important difference between OHIO and that school in Oxford occurred during the last Rebellion. The Hoover History of Ohio University reports that President Howard claimed that Ohio University had more graduates serving as officers in the Union Army than any other college in the state. Also, other researchers have confirmed that Athens and Southeastern Ohio were strongly pro-Union. The situation in Oxford and Butler county was much different, according to the official history of Miami University, The Miami Years, by Walter Havighurst. Not only was the president a southerner, but the university had many students from five southern states. They had alumni who served in the Confederate Congress, a professor who became assistant secretary of war for Jeff Davis, another was a nephew of Jeff Davis and became a Confederate general. The whole chapter on the Civil War period is called, "A College Divided." There was no such division at Ohio University at the time. The university, like the surrounding area, was solidly pro Union. The 1863 gubernatorial election shows this very clearly. While Athens County and every county to the southeast of Athens all voted for Ohio alumnus John Brough, the pro-Union candidate, Butler county stands out as the only county in Southwestern Ohio that voted for the Peace Democrat (Copperhead) Clement Vallandigham. SO, IN SUMMARY, MIAMI EVEN SUCKED 1861-65, WHICH SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE ANY BA MAN OR WOMAN.

^Interesting, of the mistaken impressions I regularly have about alma mater, people think that I graduated from Miami when I say I graduated from OHIO. This is not as common as mistaking OHIO with the Evil Empire, but it happens more than I would have ever thought, likely because of the use of the moniker "Miami of OHIO".

That's like asking me to choose which one of two methods of slow, agonizing methods of death I would rather experience.