The Game against Ohio State will always and forever be the biggest game on Michigan’s schedule every year. However, Michigan’s second-most important game of the season may just be taking place tomorrow in Los Angeles. USC isn’t the second-most talented team on Michigan’s schedule, as Oklahoma gets to claim that honor, but in terms of importance, a good amount hinges on the result of tomorrow’s contest.
Let me start by providing some context. The Michigan vs Oklahoma battle was filled with storylines.
Sherrone Moore returned to his alma mater (and pushed off a suspension in order to do so), Bryce Underwood’s first road game as a starting quarterback, and College GameDay was there. There’s no doubt it was a huge game, but did it define the season?
With the loss in the rearview mirror, Michigan sits at 4-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play. Following the USC matchup, the schedule lightens up significantly with games vs Washington, at Michigan State, vs Purdue, at Northwestern and at Maryland prior to hosting Ohio State. Should the Wolverines make it past USC, there’s a very, very real chance they are 10-1 heading into The Game.
In this era of college football, a 10-2 Big Ten team is all but guaranteed to make the 12-team College Football Playoff. Should Sherrone Moore beat Ryan Day yet again, the Wolverines could be 11-1 and heading to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship.
However, let’s invert the scenario. Let’s say Michigan falls to USC. Michigan would be 4-2 overall and 2-1 in Big Ten play. The margin for error would be gone. The Game would obviously still be a must-win game, but a loss to the Buckeyes (or anyone else, for that matter) would likely knock them out of CFP contention.
Don’t take my comments above as dismissing the five opponents between USC and Ohio State. The larger point I’m trying to make is the season outlook for the next month and a half hinges incredibly on the USC game. Win, and you’re sitting pretty for a CFP berth. Lose, and the margin for error is gone while the pressure ratchets up each and every week.
What do you think? Is tomorrow night’s game the second-most important matchup of the season? Can the Wolverines pull off the upset on the road? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
