Coming off the heels of a historic baseball win over the Buckeyes, Michigan has profoundly made a statement to their bitter arch-rival in all four major sports. Getting back to football, though, the Michigan Wolverines did the unthinkable six months ago, only to watch the Buckeyes go on a four-game tear the likes of which we haven't seen before.
Now that there is a 12-team playoff in effect, "thee game" has become less relevant in the eyes of the Buckeyes' brass, for obvious reasons. Bragging rights for winning that contest will never evaporate, unless a unusual circumstance like this past year happens. Ohio State is college football's king, with one glaring flaw. The measuring stick is still and will always be "thee" Michigan/Ohio State war because they play yearly. That is the November national championship that will never end.
For Michigan's sake, some are still basking in the glory of its championship. Winning the four-team playoff and beating everyone who was placed in front of them made them feel more invincible. It takes away some of the illustriousness knowing that the silver bullets couldn't match that distinguishable feat because Michigan reality checked them into irrelevance, even if it lasted for a short moment.
The Buckeyes can have their recognition, but they didn't even play in their conference championship because they choked in the biggest game on their schedule. Ask a Buckeye in November, and they will say that beating Michigan is all that matters regardless of anything. In January, that motive changed because of the changing landscape of college football.
By sampling some random fans they would probably say a national championship if you do not account for the regular season which includes all rivalry battles. This isn't any normal matchup though, its "thee" world's most bitter rivalry period.
When it comes down to it winning a national title trumps everything, unless you can't win the most important 60 minutes on your schedule. These things are going to happen more often now that 12 teams will be involved in the postseason tournament. College football is ruining itself in that manner, but as long as money is made, it is a debate that will rage on until it ceases to exist.