As the College Football Playoff expands toward a 24-team format, fans have fretted that the historic Ohio State-Michigan clash might lose its edge. Imagine both teams already locked into the playoff, deciding to sit key players to avoid injuries. But Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day has a different vision—one that could actually crank up the intensity.
In a recent interview with The Athletic's Scott Dochterman, Day argued that the rivalry could become even more meaningful if the Big Ten championship game is eliminated. “I think with the elimination of the championship game, it keeps that rivalry as fierce as it’s ever been, the stakes just as high,” Day said.
Day's logic centers on playoff seeding. Without a conference title game, The Game would serve as the ultimate decider for a team's path to a national championship. “You’re playing for either a chance to get into the Playoff or a chance to get seeded high to get a first-round bye,” he explained. “Or, if you are already maybe predicted to be one of the top eight schools, then you’re fighting for a high seed. So, all those are critically important to your success in the Playoff.”
That emphasis on seeding could turn an already heated rivalry into a must-watch showdown every November. For decades, Ohio State and Michigan battled without a conference title game, and the importance of The Game was never in doubt. Day's proposal aims to replicate that intensity in the new playoff era.
However, critics point out a potential flaw. What if both teams enter The Game at 11-0, already assured of a high seed in a 24-team bracket? In that scenario, winning or losing might only shift a team by a spot or two in the seeding, not enough to discourage coaches from resting starters. As college sports leaders debate the future of the NCAA, this concern remains unresolved.
Day either doesn't see that as a realistic outcome, or he's choosing to focus on the positive. The rivalry has always thrived on high stakes, and Day believes that playoff seeding can provide that drama. But if both teams are already in, will the fire still burn as bright?
The debate echoes broader tensions in college football. With recent tragedies shaking the college football community, the sport is already grappling with change. Adding a 24-team playoff could alter traditions in ways fans and coaches are still trying to understand.
For now, Day's idea is a bold bet on the rivalry's enduring power. Whether it works or not, one thing is clear: The Game isn't going anywhere. And if Day gets his way, it might just become the most important regular-season contest in the country.
