Michigan probably doesn't deserve a rematch
It was billed as the Game of the Century.
I'm not sure if it was the greatest game I have ever seen (or even the greatest Ohio State-Michigan game I have ever seen), but it was very good. But as great as the game was, it leaves a complicated aftermath.
The Buckeyes have punched their ticket for Arizona. Now the question will be who takes them on.
Some will say, after Ohio State's 42-39 win over Michigan Saturday, that there should be a rematch for the national title. I'm not in that line of thinking, but the closeness of the Wolverines' loss will certainly make it interesting over the next few weeks.
I don't favor a rematch for a few reasons. OSU coach Jim Tressel said earlier this week that a team should win its conference in order to play for the national title. This was a very gutsy statement to make, in the days before the big game, but I think the coach has a point.
Ohio State is considered by almost everyone to be the best team in the country. Saturday was Michigan's shot to knock it off. Though it was a valiant effort, the Wolverines came up short. Even if Michigan were to play Ohio State and beat it, that still wouldn't really prove anything. Ohio State plays Michigan twice. The two teams split. Which is the champion? Michigan.
I'm not saying the system is fair, but we don't know how USC, Florida, or Arkansas would do against the Buckeyes. We do know how Michigan did.
If two of those teams finish the season with one loss, they have as much right to the championship game as any team. And those two teams could claim conference titles, something Michigan does not have.
Notre Dame could also finish with one loss, but in that case, I can't see how anyone (not even me) could justify putting the Irish in the title game, after what Michigan did to them.
Of course, if January comes and Michigan is the only one-loss team left, they should face the Bucks again.
Which pretty much makes the whole thing moot.
And isn't that the point?
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