'It would be a disaster': What if Michigan beats Ohio State again?

The Wolverines have enjoyed three years of bliss with wins over the Buckeyes, but a fourth consecutive victory in 'The Game' could have massive ramifications...

Sherrone Moore and the Michigan Wolverines seek their fourth consecutive victory over Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes as the series shifts back to Columbus in 2024. /

Michigan football has enjoyed a resurgence into the national spotlight the past three seasons, coinciding with three consecutive victories over archrival Ohio State in 'The Game'.

For the first time since 1988-91, the Wolverines are seeking a fourth consecutive victory over the Buckeyes and CBS Sports' college football podcast host Josh Pate asked what the fallout would be in Columbus if Michigan gets the job done again in 2024.

"Well, number one, it would be a disaster in Ohio State. It would be a disaster," Pate said. "There's this weird thing in college football that's both beautiful and terrifying, and that is the impact and the weight of rivalry games. And it's on no bigger display than this game right here. This game is its own season. Michigan-Ohio State, Ohio State-Michigan, 'The Game' — it's its own season...I love that, but it's a nightmare if you lose it."

Nov 25, 2023; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day leaves the field following a 30-24 loss against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA

On multiple occasions in past segments of Late Kick, Pate has spoken with assurance that Ohio State head coach Ryan Day was not in any danger of losing his job, even having lost three straight to the Wolverines. Pate points to Day's overall record 56-8 with the Buckeyes and the fact OSU came within a field goal of beating Georgia and likely winning the 2022 national championship as his arguments.

However, Pate took on a different tone concerning Day in the scenario Ohio State falls to Michigan for a fourth time in four years.

"It's beautiful, but it's also really, really violent when you end up losing that thing," he said. "If they lose four in a row, for Ohio State, it would be a pretty unprecedented conversation happening around Ryan Day. There would be logic, and then applying it to an illogical situation. And if Ohio State loses to Michigan, I don't care what they did elsewhere in the season, it will be an illogical conversation for Ryan Day from that point out."

Nov 26, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day yells during the first half of the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA

Michigan winning the national championship last season spurred a massive reaction in Columbus. It's abundantly clear that Day and Ohio State are pushing all of their chips to the center of the table in 2024. The Buckeyes return several players who could have entered the 2024 NFL Draft, they went out and added big names out of the transfer portal to supplement their roster, and even lured former UCLA head coach Chip Kelly to be their offensive coordinator.

Per FanDuel sportsbook, Ohio State opened as a 9.5-point favorite over Michigan ahead of this year's matchup. However, Pate pointed out that the Buckeyes were also favored heading into 'The Game' in 2021 and 2022.

"Outside of Michigan, pretty much everyone would be in agreement that if you look on paper...this should be Ohio State's year, 'Buckeyes got to get it this year'", he said. "Yeah, but, here's the thing — it's looked that way on paper they last few years and they haven't. There's a reason they've never played that game on paper."

Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore watches warm up during the spring game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 20, 2024. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Pate concluded the segment by discussing what another Michigan win would mean for Sherrone Moore, who already has a win over Day as the Wolverines' interim coach last season.

"As for Sherrone Moore, if they come in, in a year they should lose to Ohio State...if they got it done this year — Alex Orji, new at quarterback, whole staff's new, lost a ton from last year — if that defense really does come through and gives that offense time to gel and they go into Columbus in late November and they win that thing, the legend of Sherrone Moore — talk about writing a storybook beginning to a career."

So, what if Michigan beats Ohio State for a fourth year in a row? Maybe we'll find out in 134 days.

The full segment from "Late Kick w/ Josh Pate" referenced in their article can be viewed below:

- Enjoy more Michigan Wolverines coverage on Michigan Wolverines On SI -

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