When Ohio State dismantled Tennessee, I half-jokingly said that the Buckeyes must have just lost to Michigan on purpose because there was no way the team that showed up in that game was the same one that was on either court the whole time Field ran best defense in the country. And after watching OSU throttle Oregon in the Rose Bowl, I’m actually pretty sure that’s exactly what happened.

They went out and made the No. 1 team in the country look like Michigan State or Illinois. Jeremiah Smith does whatever he wants regardless of who is covering for him. Will Howard actually looks like a quarterback who can win a national title. TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins appear to be the best backfield duo in the country. There’s just no way this team could lose 8-5 to Michigan without doing it on purpose.

I don’t know why OSU was afraid to play Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game because the Buckeyes are clearly infinitely superior, but maybe they just wanted an extra week of rest before heading into the playoffs. And I think you can’t argue with the strategy because these guys are going to a national championship.

It’s honestly a great deal for both sides of the OSU-Michigan rivalry. The Wolverines were able to win a game that made their season special, and the Buckeyes were able to rest for the CFP and then run over anyone who came their way. Ryan Day played 4D chess all the time. What a coach.