I like this common opponents idea that you‘re basing your entire argument on. It makes sense.
this season, UoM and tOSU had six common opponents - a sample size three times that of what you’re using. Rutgers, Nebraska, MSU, Indiana, PSU, and Maryland.
Michigan went 5-1, outscoring opponents by a combined 194-121 (+73 point diff)
Ohio State went 6-0, outscoring opponents by a combined 287-85 (+202 point diff)
Clearly, based on your 1997 Nebraska/Michigan argument, you must believe that Michigan got lucky as fuck in Ann Arbor last month and caught some lightening in a bottle.