Ohio State National Championship Eclipses Fourth Consecutive Michigan Loss

Former Ohio State Buckeyes players Jack Sawyer and Will Howard, now with the Pittsburgh Steelers, have emphasized that winning a national championship outweighs the importance of beating their rival, Michigan, despite Ohio State's recent four-year losing streak to the Wolverines. On Ben Roethlisberger's Footbahlin podcast, both players expressed that while The Game remains a significant rivalry, the ultimate goal is to secure championships, and losing to Michigan did not diminish their national title achievement. The expansion of the College Football Playoff to 12 teams allowed Ohio State to focus on the national championship after their loss to Michigan, a feat they accomplished last season for the first time in a decade. Sawyer, who was a key defensive player during Ohio State's championship run, noted that winning the title "kind of erases" the pain of losing to Michigan and that in football, winning championships is the priority. Despite the rivalry's intensity and the emotional response to Michigan's flag planting at midfield, Ohio State players and fans must reconcile with the reality that their last loss came against Michigan, yet they still succeeded on the national stage. Ultimately, the players advocate for valuing championships over rivalry wins, reflecting a broader perspective on team success.