All we have to do is beat a middling Michigan State team (as an aside, if MSU feels disrespected then don't lose at Arizona State and by double digits at home to Northwestern. Also don't rely on five dropped interceptions to beat PSU. No one was disrespecting MSU from 2013-2015).
But you can see a pretty glorious end to the year which goes like this:
Scenario #1
* Michigan runs the table and makes the playoff, finally beating OSU
* Meyer calls it quits after the season.
* Michigan has an incredible finish to recruiting, landing a top 5ish class and the best in the conference.
None of that is unrealistic (I didn't say Michigan goes and beats Alabama by 3 TDs). And if that happens we could be headed into an offseason where OSU is in disarray and Michigan is poised to have a 3-5 year run atop the conference (like the late 80s/early 90s).
But it has to start Saturday, because imagine this
* MSU pulls another shocker out of their ass. They then pull out close games against Purdue, Nebraska, Maryland and beat a Buckeye team that was begging to be beaten. Then MSU beats 3 loss Wisconsin for another B1G title.
* Michigan's road struggles become a huge mental impediment after losing to a beaten up MSU team.
* OSU loses to MSU but rallies to beat Michigan as Michigan again collapses on the road. Meyer retires after the game having been perfect against UM. OSU finishes 11-1 and Harrison commits to OSU.
* Michigan heads into the offseason at 9-3 but getting swept by their rivals. Recruiting is about keeping the guys we do have down the stretch. We lose one of our major studs due to the disappointing finish.
That scenario is also very possible.
So...choose your own adventure UM
But you can see a pretty glorious end to the year which goes like this:
Scenario #1
* Michigan runs the table and makes the playoff, finally beating OSU
* Meyer calls it quits after the season.
* Michigan has an incredible finish to recruiting, landing a top 5ish class and the best in the conference.
None of that is unrealistic (I didn't say Michigan goes and beats Alabama by 3 TDs). And if that happens we could be headed into an offseason where OSU is in disarray and Michigan is poised to have a 3-5 year run atop the conference (like the late 80s/early 90s).
But it has to start Saturday, because imagine this
* MSU pulls another shocker out of their ass. They then pull out close games against Purdue, Nebraska, Maryland and beat a Buckeye team that was begging to be beaten. Then MSU beats 3 loss Wisconsin for another B1G title.
* Michigan's road struggles become a huge mental impediment after losing to a beaten up MSU team.
* OSU loses to MSU but rallies to beat Michigan as Michigan again collapses on the road. Meyer retires after the game having been perfect against UM. OSU finishes 11-1 and Harrison commits to OSU.
* Michigan heads into the offseason at 9-3 but getting swept by their rivals. Recruiting is about keeping the guys we do have down the stretch. We lose one of our major studs due to the disappointing finish.
That scenario is also very possible.
So...choose your own adventure UM
