Shocking way Ohio State can get over Michigan hump

In this year’s edition of The Game, the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes were the clear favorites over the Michigan Wolverines. Despite going 6-5 on the road and facing an Ohio State team desperate to defeat their rival after a three-year lull, the Wolverines pulled off the upset, 13-10.

This was a defensive battle in the cold and Ohio State had every opportunity to take control of this game but wasted their chances. Jayden Fielding missed two field goals within 38 yards, Will Howard threw two bad interceptions and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly insisted on running the ball up the middle on first down as Ohio State failed to get pressure against Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant.

It’s clear that Ohio State has a serious case of the yips when it comes to Michigan right now. So what is the answer to overcome this hurdle?

Firing Ryan Day is not the solution, despite that being the call of many Ohio State fans and even many media outlets right now. Day is an excellent recruiter, a good coach who wins a lot of games (67-10) and he has enough humility to relinquish control of certain aspects when he feels it best helps the team. A perfect example of this was when Chip Kelly was given the offensive play duties to lead the team and focus on the team as a whole. Not all coaches are willing to do this, but the best coaches put their egos aside for the good of the team.

Let’s be clear: If Ohio State lets Day go, they won’t find a better head coach. In the long term it will either be a step backwards or a sideways movement. Although Day should stay, he, his coaching staff and the entire program need to make a big change in how they handle Michigan.

The answer to overcoming the Michigan problem is to stop caring about Michigan and obsessing about this game. It clearly takes a toll on everyone in this program and has resulted in this team playing tight and not looking like themselves on the field. Treating this matchup like any other game could result in Ohio State getting out of its own way – playing loose, having fun and actually using its weapons on the outside rather than trying to beat the Wolverines at their own game hit.

For the traditionalists out there, the idea of ​​not caring much about the best rivalries in college football seems far-fetched. However, as the entire college football landscape has changed, “The Game” really doesn’t matter that much anymore.

This matchup at the end of the regular season has long had major implications for the national championship and the College Football Playoff. During the BCS era, losing a regular season game usually destroyed the dream of a national title that season. In the current four-team playoff format, two losses often meant you were left out of a playoff birth. Not only was The Game a heated rivalry, but it was often the difference between a shot at making history or just another missed season.

With Division I college football now adopting a 12-team playoff format along with the NIL, we are already seeing powerhouse programs lose multiple games left and right. The Georgia Bulldogs have lost twice and the Alabama Crimson Tide have lost three games. The Bulldogs are still firmly in a playoff spot despite not looking particularly good, and the Crimson Tide still have a glimmer of hope until more results are achieved.

In an expanded Big Ten Conference with many strong teams, a team with two losses should be virtually a lock for the playoffs. Depending on the year, one or two three-loss teams might sneak in. It’s hard to imagine Ohio State regularly entering The Game less than 11-0 or 10-1. That means the outcome, other than the seeding, typically doesn’t have a significant impact on the Buckeyes.

Ultimately, a national championship should be more important than a win over Michigan. Achieving both is desirable, but a trophy and bragging rights throughout college football are the pinnacle of success.

For Ohio State, the loss to Michigan this year is painful, but it gives them time to rest since they don’t have to play in the Big Ten Championship. In a grueling NFL-like schedule, time to rest might not be a bad thing as this team prepares for a tough playoff run.

The players, coaches and even fans can vent their frustrations and focus on the task at hand. “The Game” used to be the main quest because it got in the way of the end goals, but this year it shouldn’t have been the main quest and never will be again.

Ohio State will always hate Michigan. Michigan will always hate Ohio State. While the hatred is real, this historic rivalry no longer means much more than a game against Penn State or even Indiana.

In the NFL, the Super Bowl winner could have lost twice to his hated division rival in the same year and still captured the ultimate prize. As college football becomes more and more like the NFL, programs must adapt to that mentality.

If Ohio State can do that, they will win many matchups against the Wolverines again. However, a loss shouldn’t derail a season or cause panic. The self-imposed pressure must change inside and outside the building for the Buckeyes to make significant progress.