While The Game is still a big deal to the fans of the programs, it doesn’t mean nearly as much in the grand scheme of the college football season.
Ohio State football is coming off a national championship season, and for some that still isn’t good enough.
Despite a magical four-game run in the College Football Playoff, the main thing that some will remember about last season is the Buckeyes falling 13-10 to the Wolverines in Columbus, marking their fourth straight loss to Michigan. While many have come to grips with the fact that a loss to That Team Up North doesn’t define a season, there are others who still think that the only thing that matters is beating Michigan.
I’m not saying that the Michigan game isn’t the most important game on Ohio State’s schedule each year, it just doesn’t have the same juice as it used to in college football. Prior to the College Football Playoff, The Game used to be massive since the Buckeyes and Wolverines were often battling for the Big Ten title, as well as to stay in the hunt for a national championship.
Now that the playoff has expanded to 12 teams, as well as the Big Ten eliminating divisions, there are more opportunities for the programs to meet after the final game of the regular season, which has never happened before.
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Of course, right now Ohio State fans can’t stand Michigan since the Wolverines have won each of the four games since 2021. Despite the Buckeyes missing out on chances to play in the Big Ten Championship Game in each of those seasons, Ohio State has made the playoff in two of the last four years, so it’s not like falling to Michigan has been as detrimental as it used to be.
Even though the results have been tough for Buckeye Nation to stomach, the losses have actually helped Ohio State in the years they made the playoff following a loss to Michigan. Ryan Day put together an outstanding game plan in 2022 that almost led to the Buckeyes upsetting Georgia in the Peach Bowl.
Last year’s loss left a bitter taste in the mouths of Jack Sawyer and a number of other seniors, resulting in Ohio State rallying in the playoff to win it all.
What has made the losses sting so much over the last four years is how they have happened. In 2021, Jim Harbaugh finally was able to beat Ohio State after years of trying as Michigan’s head coach. Not only did the Buckeyes lose in Columbus in 2022 for the first time since 2000, who knows how much of the loss can be credited to the cheating Connor Stalions did for the Wolverines.
Then last year felt like the time to snap the losing streak with Sherrone Moore bringing in a mediocre Michigan team into Ohio Stadium yet somehow broke Ryan Day’s brain and made Ohio State play the game Michigan wanted them to play.
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Is the rivalry still one of the most intense in all of sports? There is no doubt about it. Ohio State fans hate Michigan, and Michigan fans hate Ohio State. Maybe I’m just getting older and softer since I don’t get quite as broken up about the Wolverines beating the Buckeyes these days.
Last year is a perfect example why, since Ohio State still had a bigger goal left to accomplish. Had the loss to Michigan kept the Buckeyes out of the playoff, then we would have been having a different conversation on what should be done with Ryan Day and the football program.
I have seen a number of people saying that Ohio State’s national championship last year is a “Mickey Mouse title” because they didn’t beat Michigan. If that’s the case then I’m happy to book my tickets to Disneyland. I’m sure if you ask any Buckeye player, they’ll gladly take a national championship ring over a pair of gold pants. Despite wins over Michigan being memorable, they raise banners at Ohio Stadium for national titles, not wins over the Wolverines.
What will be interesting to see is when the teams end up playing more than once in a season. We almost saw it in 2006 when there was the possibility the teams could meet in the BCS National Championship Game after the 42-39 win by the Buckeyes in the memorable battle between the teams. 2022 also gave us a shot at a rematch had both teams won their CFP semifinal games.
Inevitably we are going to see a Big Ten Championship Game or a College Football Playoff game between the Buckeyes and Wolverines. Just imagine if they do match up in the Big Ten Championship Game where fans will be at full tilt in back-to-back weeks.
The Game still has plenty of importance when it comes to pride for both players and fans on both sides, we just have to start wrapping our heads around the fact that when it comes to the college football landscape it doesn’t mean as much as it used to. If we’re being honest, all the big rivalries have been diminished by the expansion of the College Football Playoff.
There is still massive demand for the Ohio State-Michigan game, as evidenced by the huge ratings it does every year, it’s just not the eliminator game that it has been in the past.