The Michigan football victory over Ohio State, and the subsequent Ohio State victory over Notre Dame, have created a unique history in the rivalry of the programs.
It is also indicative of the controversial state of college football. This is the first time one of the programs has succeeded the other in winning a national championship the following year. It is only the third time a team has lost two games and won a national championship, with Minnesota doing it in 1960 and LSU in 2007.
Coincidentally, LSU beat Ohio State in 2007 to win the national championship. Another indicator of an evolving college football landscape is the fact Ohio State has never won a national championship and lost to Michigan in the same season.
Michigan football won the battle, but did Ohio State win the war?
Following their fourth straight loss to Michigan, Ryan Day was almost certainly going to be fired or step away from the program. It had been over thirty years since Michigan football won four in a row, and the Ohio State faithful had abandoned their head coach.
The only way to move on from their embarrassing performance in Colombus was to win a national championship. The team rallied around Ryan Day and saved his job. The loss will not be easily forgotten, but a bandage has been put on the wound. Buckeye faithful can happily celebrate their national championship, while Wolverine fans won't let them easily forget the black eye on their season.
How did Michigan football do what others could not?
This has been a well-studied question since November. Playing into Michigan's strength on the defensive line and conservative play calling by Ryan Day contributed to the 13-10 loss. But the most significant factor is not X's and O's or personnel-related.
The reason Ohio State can lose to Michigan football and beat the likes of Oregon, Texas, or Notre Dame, is because those teams are not the Wolverines. The pressure of the moment caused Ohio State to break from what makes them successful, which is scheming one-on-one coverage for their receivers and throwing the ball.
They tried to beat Michigan at their own game and lost. When they did open up the pass, Will Howard likely felt the pressure of the moment and threw two interceptions. That is something uncharacteristic of his usual efficiency, and something he has only done against Michigan on the season. Even their kicker, Jayden Fielding, missed two field goals on the day, something he had not done up until that game or since then.
What is next for Ryan Day?
The Buckeye head coach is likely locked in for the near future with Ohio State. Could he pull a Jim Harbaugh and leave on a high note for the NFL? Possibly. After all, he is well aware of the pressure with the position and there may be no saving his job with another loss to Michigan.
Nobody would blame him if he decided to leave, the thrashing he received from fans and university supporters after that loss was bordering dangerous proportions. However, his job security is reassured as he becomes the third Buckeye head coach to win a national championship in the 21st century.
The four-team college football playoff ended with a Michigan national championship and the first year of the extended playoff started with an Ohio State championship. The rivalry between these two historic rivals is most definitely alive and well again.