1. We win the B1G with an OSU loss. One of the principal goals of this season was to end the longest drought in school history. We've been the best team all season in this conference. MSU beating OSU doesn't mean we backed into anything. We were the only team with 0 or 1 losses, so we won it fair and square. I want to make the playoffs as much as anyone, but no one can call the season a failure if we're 11-2 B1G champions (and heavy Rose Bowl favorites to boot). It would be a huge step forward and set us up to take another step forward in 2019.
2. Consider the worst case if OSU wins ("I'm talking realistic worse case, not we lose out to Rutgers/Indiana). OSU re-energized by the win at MSU closes the season strong. Make no mistake, the Bucks have the second or third most talented roster in college football even if they haven't played like it. OSU finding itself turns the game from what looks like a win now into at best a tossup (and a tossup in Columbus often equates to a loss with hometown cooking). If we lose to OSU, we go into the NY6 with enormous pressure to win. Imagine if after all of this, we have a finish like 2016. The media would have a field day and it would surely slow our momentum. Now, combine that with OSU winning the B1G and making it into the playoff, and let's say a respectable loss. All of the momentum would be back with OSU.
3. We can potentially lose a close game to OSU and still make the playoff. Yes, not likely, but what if the B12 champion has two losses (all it takes is OU/WVU split their games), Washington State drops a game. Michigan would likely claim the fourth spot as the B1G champion.
4. There won't be a huge difference between beating a 9-2 and 10-1 OSU team in the eyes of the committee. Moreover, if MSU ran the table, we'd have two good road wins (both OSU and MSU finish 9-3 and in the top 15ish). If we didn't play MSU, then you could argue schedule strength as a reason to root for OSU, but we did beat MSU, so any loss in stature of OSU elevates our MSU win.
5. I can't believe some people would prefer an OSU win. I promise you that all the doom and gloom about OSU among their faithful would instantly turn. They'd be a confident bunch just in the nick of time for our game. The thought of OSU as B1G champion this year is nauseating, but it would be a very real possibility with a win Saturday.
2. Consider the worst case if OSU wins ("I'm talking realistic worse case, not we lose out to Rutgers/Indiana). OSU re-energized by the win at MSU closes the season strong. Make no mistake, the Bucks have the second or third most talented roster in college football even if they haven't played like it. OSU finding itself turns the game from what looks like a win now into at best a tossup (and a tossup in Columbus often equates to a loss with hometown cooking). If we lose to OSU, we go into the NY6 with enormous pressure to win. Imagine if after all of this, we have a finish like 2016. The media would have a field day and it would surely slow our momentum. Now, combine that with OSU winning the B1G and making it into the playoff, and let's say a respectable loss. All of the momentum would be back with OSU.
3. We can potentially lose a close game to OSU and still make the playoff. Yes, not likely, but what if the B12 champion has two losses (all it takes is OU/WVU split their games), Washington State drops a game. Michigan would likely claim the fourth spot as the B1G champion.
4. There won't be a huge difference between beating a 9-2 and 10-1 OSU team in the eyes of the committee. Moreover, if MSU ran the table, we'd have two good road wins (both OSU and MSU finish 9-3 and in the top 15ish). If we didn't play MSU, then you could argue schedule strength as a reason to root for OSU, but we did beat MSU, so any loss in stature of OSU elevates our MSU win.
5. I can't believe some people would prefer an OSU win. I promise you that all the doom and gloom about OSU among their faithful would instantly turn. They'd be a confident bunch just in the nick of time for our game. The thought of OSU as B1G champion this year is nauseating, but it would be a very real possibility with a win Saturday.
