Who do you want to win the ND vs. OSU game?
August 14th, 2022 at 2:25 PM ^
Agreed
August 14th, 2022 at 2:31 PM ^
How is this even a question?
Out of conference W/L is used as one of the tie-breakers for the B1G title. Sure, its one of the last tie-breakers to be considered, but it's a tie-breaker stat nevertheless. If you are a UM fan, you are rooting BIG TIME for ND to upset that team down south.
#GoBlue
August 14th, 2022 at 3:25 PM ^
If Michigan is having to rely on OOC W/L to win the conference then:
#1 we clearly didn't take care of business and likely have at least two losses and would get slaughtered in any potential playoff
#2 we're going to have a perfect OOC record anyway.
August 14th, 2022 at 8:42 PM ^
You're vastly overthinking this.
Bad things happening to OSU = Good.
August 15th, 2022 at 9:58 AM ^
This. As for the B1G, it really comes down to beating OSU as every non-OSU B1G champion, since they started the division 9 years ago, has had to beat OSU on the field to get there. Just beat them in November and the rest is secondary.
August 15th, 2022 at 1:51 PM ^
We've beaten them once in 10 years. We haven't won at Columbus since 2000 (!!!). So yes, let's absolutely try to beat them and also hope for what's best for us in the event we don't beat them (which is them beating ND).
August 15th, 2022 at 4:39 PM ^
Didn't realize that it's been that long in Columbus and this year's game will be like going into a hornet's nest but I didn't think we'd win last year so........I really think this year's game - I know it's early - comes down to us moving the ball against their shitty defense. I've pretty much concluded that they'll score some points against us, it's just a matter of outscoring those hillbillies
August 15th, 2022 at 11:21 PM ^
It hasn't been. JT WAS SHORT
August 15th, 2022 at 1:48 PM ^
We wanted (needed) OSU to beat MSU last year. Had they not done that, we would not have been division champs. No trip to Indy. No CFP.
Did you still want MSU to beat OSU because it would have been bad for OSU? If you did, uh, you aren't even a Michigan fan. At some point you have to care a little bit more about your own team than you hate your rivals.
This is not hard. You're oversimplifying it.
So no, bad things happening to OSU is not always good if it negatively impacts Michigan.
August 14th, 2022 at 4:09 PM ^
About a month ago, people were commenting on a post that they wanted Ohio State to beat Notre Dame. More than a few people. It seemed to me to be irrational shark frenzy group attack syndrome. Not me, people. If I had my wish it would be:
(Insert any team)-- 60
Ohio State-- 0
August 14th, 2022 at 5:01 PM ^
No, it's unquestionably better for Michigan if OSU wins. All but eliminates ND from playoffs and means that a M loss to OSU could still mean that Michigan gets into the CFP at 11-1 (but far less chance of that if ND beats OSU because that would mean both would almost certainly be ahead of Michigan in the final standings).
There is a negligible chance that OOC w/l is the conference tiebreaker. There is a far greater chance that Michigan finishes 11-1 with a loss to OSU.
Plus, Michigan competes more directly with ND for recruits. We need Marcus Freeman to flop on the field to hurt this recruiting momentum.
If you are rooting for ND, you are rooting for what's bad for Michigan. You are rooting to cut off your nose to spite your face.
EDIT: didn't read down before posting but I see most people are thinking correctly about this.
August 14th, 2022 at 5:59 PM ^
Agree with this. As much as I hate OSU it's better for us if they beat ND...especially with recruiting
August 14th, 2022 at 10:08 PM ^
This is the conundrum of course. A ND win legitimizes all this freeman hype. Then we have another regional power with NIL rolling. However, last season we all had a glimmer of hope before the game because we saw them as beatable. Oregon wasn’t that great. Ohio state knew they had flaws. We replicated what Oregon exposed.
If Ohio state tastes their own blood in game one, they will have to fight ghosts of last year. Stroud heisman hype is put on chill for a month or two while we run the table. I like a month of September and October being the highest ranked team in the league and also being defending champs. Recruiting battles are relevant to later years when we may be two time defending champions with JJ in year 3 getting heisman hype. And hopefully Jadyn Davis in the fold reeling in big time receiver commits. And a euro d line no one saw coming. So my vote is F osu
August 15th, 2022 at 8:58 AM ^
Good points. A ND win does impact our recruiting, but possibly only in the short term. Either way I think they're a long shot to beat OSU.
August 15th, 2022 at 10:06 AM ^
Yeah, I guess this is the other side as I want to see OSU lose every game possible but there is the recruiting side. We seem to go head-to-head far more against ND than OSU. In the end, it comes down to beating OSU in November. Very good things happen with that result
August 14th, 2022 at 6:13 PM ^
No. An ND loss virtually eliminates them from the CFP. Which is something I’d rather happen than OSU potentially be 12-1 and make the playoff while we sit at home 11-1 because ND gets a slot.
Notre Dame being one less team in contention for an at-large spot benefits Michigan more than something extremely far down the tie-breaker list. Michigan is going 3-0 in non-conference so OSU wouldn’t win that tie-breaker.
An OSU loss does nothing to help Michigan except allow Michigan fans to laugh at OSU’s misery.
August 14th, 2022 at 9:43 PM ^
Your logic takes no accountability for Michigan's results. Michigan keeps winning = recruiting becomes elite....regardless of the result of ND vs Ohio State. Michigan goes back to mediocre results = mediocre recruiting results. This whole whataboutism logic concerning Notre Dame is complete and utter nonsense. I'd rather see Notre Dame in the playoff than OSU. I'd rather see Notre Dame win a natty than OSU. Michigan. Just. Needs. To. Keep. Winning. Period!!!
Most importantly- Fuck Ohio State!!!.....which is apparently something a few people here are losing sight of.
August 15th, 2022 at 1:55 PM ^
Michigan's game results are independent of ND's this year but their recruiting is most certainly not independent. Even if Michigan is elite, it will be harder to recruit against ND if ND is also elite. We would prefer ND not be elite, that Marcus Freeman not actually be a good coach (accepting that OSU will be regardless).
August 14th, 2022 at 6:21 PM ^
I'm rooting for the comet.
August 15th, 2022 at 4:45 PM ^
Right there with you
August 14th, 2022 at 7:08 PM ^
Bullshit.
You don't have to root BIG TIME for ND to win.
1. You could easily just root a teensy weensy bit for ND to win.
2. If you are a Michigan fan, you should know you don't root for our rivals...EVER.
So what do you do in this situation?
You root BIG TIME for OSU to LOSE!! You don't root for Notre Dame.
You root that OSU is fucking awful, turnovers, missed tackles, you actively root against the Buckeyes. If ND wins as a result...so be it. But you'll never catch me rooting for either team (or MSU) to win a football game.
August 14th, 2022 at 2:32 PM ^
I'm hoping for an Ohio state beat down. Noter Dame has a lot of hype on the recruiting trail with their new head coach and the guy needs to be brought down a peg. A Notre Dame win validates their hype and hurts us even more in future recruiting cycles
August 14th, 2022 at 3:02 PM ^
Not if Notre Dame then falls apart as the season progresses. Remember, this is the first game of the season for both. I'm hoping for Notre Dame to embarrass OSU in Columbass on Sept 3rd and then watch Notre Dame get exposed the rest of the season.
August 14th, 2022 at 4:02 PM ^
This is the correct rooting interest.
August 14th, 2022 at 8:21 PM ^
If ND beats OSU, they aren't falling apart against that easy schedule.
ND winning hurts UM more than OSU winning does, full stop
August 14th, 2022 at 5:08 PM ^
If they win at OSU, very small chance they fall apart against the rest of their weak schedule.
Obviously, it would be a good thing, but simply not reasonable. We're rooting for ND to be bad this year. We're rooting for Freeman to be all hype and no substance. If that's true and they somehow still manage to beat OSU, great.
Unfortunately, we know enough about OSU to know they won't be bad.
August 14th, 2022 at 6:34 PM ^
What are the chances ND wins at Columbus and then later goes 8-4? Basically zero
August 15th, 2022 at 9:03 AM ^
That’s what Virginia tech did
August 15th, 2022 at 1:57 PM ^
The exception kind of proves the rule though.
August 15th, 2022 at 9:00 AM ^
That is the ideal scenario
August 14th, 2022 at 4:09 PM ^
I'm trying to look at it as a win-win. Either way, one team I hate is going to sustain an early season loss. I'd kind of like OSU to just win a yawner by a couple of touchdowns, tamping down any ND hype, on the recruiting trail and elsewhere. Meet OSU with both teams undefeated and kill them ourselves.
But if both teams stumbled to an unedifying ND win, I'd be okay with OSU doubting themselves for the rest of the season.
August 15th, 2022 at 12:08 AM ^
The cloud of doubt in Columbus all season is what I’d like to see emerge out of week 1. Our games will be boring by the second half. The showcase of future talent will feel better know Ryan Day’s luster may soon wear off once we beat them as well. ND can steal recruits from us but they can also steal from osu with Freeman able to boast of it in living rooms. This could be a net win for us in games that matter in the future since we play osu every year and not ND.
If we can’t recruit on par we have ourselves to blame. Micro view we get back on par w osu in another couple cycles. Even without a natty I’m ok with that. Being 1-2-3 with osu and usc is an enviable position in the coming years. As long as we are not perpetually 3rd.
August 14th, 2022 at 7:09 PM ^
One win isn't going to do that. Just like one win over OSU didn't elevate us into rare air.
Plus it's early in the year.
ND can beat OSU and lose games on the year. That OSU game isn't going to mean what you're saying it will.
August 14th, 2022 at 7:47 PM ^
If ND wins that game they easily get to 9-3 (maybe even better). If they lose that game in embarrasing fashion they could still lose 4 games total and it makes Marcus Freeman much less desirable on the trail for future cycles. Anything to put the brakes on their future recruiting momentum.
And as much as I hate Ohio State (which I hate them the most obviously) I also really hate Notre Dame. So really its choosing between two similar evils where I see one being more beneficial to UM in the long run
August 14th, 2022 at 10:34 PM ^
Again.
We just beat OSU and won the B1G Championship Game.
What momentum are you talking about?
Recruiting doesn't work like that. One win doesn't change a recruiting class.
Also, the game is at OSU! Meaning, ND won't have recruits at the game and won't get an opportunity for the huge win, great atmosphere, get recruits caught up in the moment, type of scenario.
The recruiting argument is completely hollow. If ND loses, they're not going to lose momentum from recruiting either.
It's asinine to think this game (or any game) can do that to a class. If ND loses at OSU...35-31, you really think Marcus Freeman and company are going to lose momentum? Of course not.
And if they win 35-31...they're not going to gain it anymore than they already have.
August 14th, 2022 at 10:37 PM ^
Kansas beat Texas last year...they're class was worst than it was the previous two seasons.
OSU lost to us last year and finished with the #4 class...where are they this year? #4.
August 15th, 2022 at 6:51 AM ^
I made it clear that I wasn't arguing the not the result of one game would be the difference factor but the result of a bad season. If they go 11-1 then yeah obviously they won't lose recruiting momentum. But if they lose 4 or 5 games then they could and they won't lose 4 or 5 games unless they lose to Ohio State. Their other potential losses would come from BYU and Clemson. The rest of their schedule has a lot of gimme games. Ohio state is a most lose or they will have a good season
August 16th, 2022 at 1:12 AM ^
It still doesn't matter...what is going to matter is their end of the year record and where they finish.
OSU plays a part in that, but all of these scenarios are pointless.
If they go 11-1 and lose to OSU, versus 10-2 and beating OSU...it's not going to be some huge difference at the end of the year.
The CFP is much more important and an OSU win getting them to the CFP is obviously an easier path. That's it.
ND is going to have recruiting momentum. They have a young black head coach who has always been a rock star recruiter and they're still ND.
If purple face Brian Kelly can recruit to ND, Marcus Freeman can get those some kids...and the same ones who weren't coming to play for Kelly.
One game against OSU isn't this huge prize. ND is here to stay. Losing to OSU isn't going to slow them down, going 6-6 is what slows them down...and that ain't happening. So the only other options are they fail to meet NDs expectations over a long period of time and the shine wears off OR Freeman leaves.
August 15th, 2022 at 1:58 PM ^
It's not just the win, it's what a win would likely mean: that Freeman can coach. Sure, it would be ideal if ND gets lucky and beats OSU and then flops but odds are not high of that.
August 16th, 2022 at 1:03 AM ^
Freeman can coach.
Fans may be "jury's still out," but recruits aren't.
Same with Mel Tucker.
One win over OSU doesn't mean he can coach, lol. So he beats OSU and goes 6-6...he can coach? But if he loses and goes 11-1 and into the CFP, he can't coach?
In the words of Bubbles from The Wire, "Y'all equivicating like a motherfucka."
August 14th, 2022 at 2:33 PM ^
This brings up something Sun-Tzu, to my recollection, never addressed. He did say - “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” This scenario is a bit different.
My preferred result would be a 7 OT game, with a score of 2-0. If ND prevails in that, I’d be “ok” with it.
In a way, I’d prefer the home team win that opener, so, it has the potential to put Michigan in a stronger post season spot - and, of course, Michigan could control its own destiny (which, at this time, it does,)
A Bucks win in their opener, with an ND win over Clemson in South Bend later this year - could eliminate the ACC from playoff consideration. And, there’s nothing wrong with that.
August 14th, 2022 at 2:35 PM ^
Meteor.
August 14th, 2022 at 3:10 PM ^
Rumor has it, a house sized meteor, comet, or asteroid, would level an area approximately 1.5 miles in diameter. I think the aforementioned celestial body should aim directly for the “O” at midfield of the Shoe.
August 14th, 2022 at 3:24 PM ^
For reference, a big-house-sized-meteor recently leveled an area of 44,825 mi².
August 14th, 2022 at 4:18 PM ^
Eric, a “big house” sized celestial body would be most appropriate, and - bring an additional element of flair, or style to the occasion. It’s probably fair to say, most of us would be fine with a meteor of any sized house - finding it’s way to the Shoe…
August 14th, 2022 at 3:30 PM ^
Nothing of value would be lost.
August 14th, 2022 at 3:24 PM ^
That should do it…
August 14th, 2022 at 4:18 PM ^
All we need is Brent Musberger voice in the background saying “you’re looking live at the shoe here in Columbus, Ohio where the Almighty has intervened to wipe out both sides of evil… “