EDITED TITLE: Should the results of The Game stand on their own?

Submitted by Dallas Walmart… on
So, after listening to Sam and Ira discuss the scenarios that would put two B1G teams (Ohio State and Michigan) in the CFP, I was left wondering whether that is something that most Michigan fans really want.  Obviously, we want Michigan to win the national championship, but that's still within the team's control and doesn't require both teams getting in (although, admittedly, a second chance wouldn't hurt if we slip up in Columbus).  What say you?  If you could choose to have Michigan make the CFP even if they lose The Game (but at the cost of Ohio State making the CFP even if they lose The Game), would you do it?
 
For my part, I say no.  For those inclined to just post tl;dr, you can stop here.  For those who want to think more critically, my breakdown of the possible outcomes is below.  I'm assuming that if both got in they would not play again until the championship game, if at all.  
 
Scenario 1: M wins in Columbus and wins the CFP without playing OSU a second time.  Awesome result, no benefit to M that OSU also got in to CFP; big benefit to OSU for getting in to CFP (e.g., recruiting).
 
Scenario 2: M wins in Columbus and wins CFP, beating OSU for the second time.  Again awesome result, but not significantly better than M winning in Columbus and has added downside of the benefits to OSU of making the playoff and probably the championship game (see scenario 1).
 
Scenario 3: M wins in Columbus, and neither M nor OSU wins CFP.  Still a very good result for M, but no benefit to M that OSU got in (while still providing benefit of CFP appearance to OSU).
 
Scenario 4: M wins in Columbus, and OSU wins the CFP (without beating M).  Benefits to M of getting in the playoff are probably substantial, but as a fan I don't want OSU fans to be able to say to me "yeah, you beat us, but look at these rings."
 
Scenario 5: M wins in Columbus, and OSU beats M in the playoff.  Horrible result.  Wipes out much, if not all, of the joy that comes with winning in Columbus.  Also seems totally unfair, since M would have beaten OSU on their own field.  Why should they get a second chance? 
 
Scenario 6: M loses in Columbus and wins CFP without playing OSU a second time.  Great to win a championship, but tarnished somewhat by OSU fans being able to say that "you still couldn't beat us."
 
Scenario 7: M loses in Columbus and wins CFP, beating OSU in the CFP. He who laughs last laughs best and all, but again don't want any boost to OSU recruiting for making the playoff, or to their fans that they beat us in Columbus and making some argument that we're really only 1-1 against each other at that point.
 
Scenario 8: M loses in Columbus, and neither M nor OSU wins CFP.  Benefits to M for making the CFP in recruiting/prestige, but if we're not going to win the national championship then going to another high-level bowl after an 11-1 season doesn't seem like it would slow down recruiting or the Harbaugh hype train much.
 
Scenario 9: M loses in Columbus, and OSU wins the CFP (without beating M a second time). Horrible result, with some consolation that we made the CFP (which is possibly offset by the fact that we lost the first game).
 
Scenario 10: M loses in Columbus, and OSU beats M in the playoff.  Nightmare result, although possibly offset by the brief excitement of having won a playoff game against a top tier team (Alabama?).
 
Overall, I say let The Game have the highest stakes possible, and to the winner go the spoils.  
 
EDIT: Some of you apparently read the title and assumed the question was "Do you want Ohio State to get into the CFP regardless of what happens in The Game?"  Would have thought that was an obvious "no" for all of us (this is a Michigan blog after all), but edited the title anyway to help avoid the inevitable comments about "why would we want Ohio State to have nice things?"
 
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SLS

October 18th, 2016 at 1:12 PM ^

No.

I want Michigan to win in Columbus and win the CFP, which hopefully we do by beating OSU by enough that they don't make the playoff. Why would I want them to make it as well, and even give them the chance of winning it all?

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Dallas Walmart…

October 18th, 2016 at 1:22 PM ^

My gut reaction was that I definitely want Ohio State out if they lose to us, even if that means we're out if we lose to them.  But I wanted to think it through more thoroughly before posting about it.  In my mind, the analysis of the different scenarios confirmed that taking the position of extreme hatred for Ohio State is not only what I do naturally, but also what is rational as a Michigan fan.

Joined: 10/20/2011

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mGrowOld

October 18th, 2016 at 1:12 PM ^

I only want one team to go.

And what in the hell is going on with the posts today?  "How to fix Notre Dame", "How to fix the BIG12", "Experience Spartan Football" and now this.

Do some of us feel collectively like we need to somehow help out our rivals?  I sure as fuck don't.  Let em all rot and lose every game 78-0.

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BoFan

October 18th, 2016 at 1:13 PM ^

The best scenario is M wins in Columbus and M beats OSU in the championship game. Why would anyone want 2nd best. I bet Harbaugh and the team would love to beat Ohio and play them again in the final. NO FEAR!

Joined: 03/09/2012

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SirJack II

October 18th, 2016 at 3:54 PM ^

Yes, and I recommend everyone enjoy the feeling of brimming with confidence without wringing their hands over this or that team or scenario. We are on the cusp of a golden age of Michigan football, so enjoy the ride. 

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FreddieMercuryHayes

October 18th, 2016 at 1:16 PM ^

I want both teams to make the playoff only if UM is the one to make it after losing to OSU. Otherwise it's ridiculously stupid for any other team who didn't win their conference to make the playoff.



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Rabbit21

October 18th, 2016 at 1:40 PM ^

Nope,

I want the playoffs to be between teams that have NOT already had their arguments.  That was the main reason I hated that LSU-Bama championship game in 2011(?), let's get some fresh matchups in the playoffs, even if it means Michigan ends up on the bad side of the ledger.  There's a defined path to the playoffs and sneaking in after the fact will feel cheap.  

But mostly if Michigan beats Ohio State, I don't want any sort of precedent established that let's those assholes sneak in.

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trueblueintexas

October 18th, 2016 at 2:42 PM ^

There were many Michigan fans hoping Michigan would somehow stay ahead of Florida after losing to OSU in 2006. That was with a two team playoff.

If the current format is to provide a playoff of the four best teams in college football, I think we have to allow for a potential rematch periodically. 

For example: 

- Big 12 has every team with at least 2 losses (very real possibility).

- That leaves the ACC, B1G, SEC and Pac-12 to have a go at four slots.

- Washington wins out but then loses by 10+ points to a southern PAC-12 team with 2-3 loses in the PAC-12 championsip game.

- Michigan/OSU is a very well played and close game 1-3 points decided in the last seconds. 

It would be hard to argue that Michigan & OSU both belong in the playoff and Washington should be left out, simply because Washington gave up 13 points to Rutgers and only scored 48.

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MGoCombs

October 18th, 2016 at 3:29 PM ^

I think that's what made the LSU-Bama thing so infuriating. I was willing to accept the concept of no rematches, despite thinking Michigan deserved to be in that year, but don't turn around later on and say, "well yeah, but SEC."

I agree with you that the no rematches policy changes a bit with four teams. It should be reserved for a rare instance like you shared above. If there's no other 1 loss teams except those non-champs from the three "good" P5s, then you have to accept the possibility of a rematch.

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DualThreat

October 18th, 2016 at 1:26 PM ^

At what point did the Michigan fan base ever start even considering wanting Ohio State to win anything, get any accolades, or otherwise exist with any nice things?

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Hab

October 18th, 2016 at 1:29 PM ^

Only in this scenario:

UM wins The Game. 

OSU is paired with Bama and gets blown out.  Michigan wins its CFP semifinal and then blows out Bama.

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Everyone Murders

October 18th, 2016 at 1:25 PM ^

It's not a bad question, but I think OSU's had more than enough success the past ten years or so.  I'd like to see Michigan beat them decisively in Columbus, and not see them again until Ann Arbor 2017.

That would be good for recruiting, and good for my psyche. 

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