Would you rather beat OSU or make he CFP?

Beat OSU.

Beat OSU, hands down.

Gotta beat OSU to make the CFP. 

2 losses is pretty tough to make the top 4 with.

stupid thread

beat ohio

win the big

make the playoff.

you talking to mork or something?

Beat OSU. Between the two, the playoff finishes ninth.

I like to have my cake, and then eat it.

I'd only rather beat OSU than make the playoff if it means still winning the Big title.

So the only scenario in which we beat OSU and not make the playoff that I would prefer to a scenario in which we lose to OSU but still make the playoff, involves us losing to PSU/Rutger/IU (and even in this scenario, IU might be the only acceptable loss to me), beat OSU to win the division, win the conference title and finish like 5th or 6th in CFP.

Because any scenario that involves us losing to OSU and still making the playoff, necessarily means 1) they lose one of their next three games such that we've clinched the division before The Game and 2) we win the conference title such that we're still a top four team after some chaos in other leagues.

I would prefer that to losing the B1G title game.

If we value beating a rival over winning championships, we're just MSU.  You play/follow sports to be number 1 and I would rather be the B1G champs than beat OSU if I can only do one (which is what your hypothetical amounts to).

Porque no los dos?

Beat Ohio State.

Beat ohio and it's not even close. I'm fifty/50 on whether I'd rather go to the Rose or the Playoff.

Yes. Beat OSU and then let the chips fall where they may.

Both. Alabama can be beaten.

I'm old. I want to win the Big Ten more than the National Championship. Beat Ohio State. Win the Big Ten. Win the Rose Bowl. = Happiness.

I would rather do both! If we beat them we should go on and win the big and make the playoff

We are adherents of the theory that improvement, will lead to victories, will lead to championships.

Yes.

beat ohio.

Wouldn't it be nifty if this site had user-initiated polls? (and points and easy embedding/linking and a login system that worked most of the time and rendering that worked and...)

How about beat OSU + win the Big 10?  Not too concerned with CFP

So you're asking if I want to split my aces then get two face cards?  Yes.

OSU.

Really really stupid. If we don't kick OSUs ass we. can't go to the CFP.

Mine would be beat kick OSU ass, beat who ever the lame ass West throws out there, then make the CFP.

Just beat Penn State. How about that? 

Well we can’t make the playoffs without beating OSU, but yeah beating them is still my top priority

Playoff. Fuck osu

I'm very late to the party, but I have some interesting perspective on this question. I'm an Oklahoma grad, and in 2015, we lost to Texas, but made the College Football Playoff. Based on that experience, I think I would take the CFP 100% of the time, even we get blasted like Oklahoma did against Clemson that year. Having a shot at a championship is an amazing feeling. Plus, people outside if Texas don't really remember our loss to Texas that year, but they remember that we made the playoffs. Plus it is very very easy to sell yourself to recruits when you can point to a playoff apperance. OU's recruiting took a noticable leap after that playoff year.

I’m ok with 1-11 so long as the one win is OSU. The playoff is far less important to me. 

If we beat OSU we make the play off, provided we win the next three games. But if you pinned me down, beat OSU. Beating MSU & OSU is the ultimate goal.

i want to embarrass them at home. Shameless mother effers

We don't need to make these kinds of choices. Beating OSU means, in all likelihood, making the CFP.

Ignoring the fact that these events are all but mutually exclusive, in a world where I could only have one, I'd easily choose Beat OSU. Honestly, a world where we Beat OSU then have a chance at the B1G championship/Rose Bowl but no CFP sounds pretty nice right now. I really want no part of Bama. 

Sorry but if the choice is real I take a National Title or the chance to win it.   And I despise OSU. 

You'll have to do one to get the other

As one who has unfortunately chosen to live in the state that shall not be named for 30 years, a win over that school is truly tres importante.  Having said that, a win over that school virtually guarantees the B1G championship.  Anything after that, I feel like we're playing with house money and enjoying the ride!

Beat OSU, because that needs to happen in order to get into the CFP.

And what people are forgetting is that in that scenario there will always be the Grandaddy of Them All waiting for us...

I know it's not the thread topic but I have a burning, raging desire to see this team decimate psu after last year. Not more than OSU but damn I'm really excited for the psu game and hope this team is ready to shut that shit down.

A lot of people don't understand what a hypothetical is. Anyway I'll be the odd guy out and say CFP. I want this Michigan team to win the NC and it might be good enough to do so.

Beat OSU, but the playoff thing isn't happening if we don't so...

Neither - Michigan isn't ready for the moment yet.  Wait to at least year seven of the Harbaugh regime.

/s

We have a loss, and no two-loss team has ever made the CFP, so it's impossible to make the CFP without beating OSU.

Living near Columbus this is a no brainer for me, but having said that the national title runs through Bama. If I'm being realistic here, we are a year away from being a title contender. The matchup will be key, if we got a favorable matchup like Clemson or ND we have a shot but I am not sure it will fall in our favor. Give me a win against the buckeyes all day. 

Well, if we DON'T beat them... we DON'T make the playoffs, so...