Michigan Did Not Play Well Enough to Deserve a Rematch

After Ohio State defeated Michigan 42-39 last Saturday, a debate ensued over who should play Ohio State in the national championship game. A lot of people felt Michigan should be the team based on how well they played Ohio State. Michigan played well, but not well enough to deserve a rematch. To deserve a rematch, one of two things would have needed to happen.

• The game went into overtime.
• Ohio State had to come from behind in the fourth quarter to win the game.

Overtime in college football is a crapshoot so if Michigan lost in OT at Ohio State, their 11-1 record would be better than USC or Florida's one loss records.

Last season Ohio State had to score 2 touchdowns at the end of the game to beat Michigan. If that had occurred this season, Michigan would have a case at a rematch. But Ohio State took the lead with 12:29 to play in the second quarter and never relinquished it. Trailing for the last 42:29 of the game does not provide a strong case for a rematch.

If USC loses to UCLA and Florida loses to Arkansas, Michigan deserves to play in the national championship game. But if not, USC and Florida deserve it more. USC and Michigan both beat Notre Dame, and USC's win at Arkansas is better than any of Michigan's other wins. Florida would have beaten Tennessee, LSU, and Arkansas, which trumps Michigan's win over Wisconsin and loss at Ohio State.