Michigan and Ohio State have both won a National Championship the past two seasons, but which team is better — 2023 Michigan or 2024 Ohio State? Vote in this edition of SB Nation Reacts.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Michigan Wolverines fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The two biggest rivals in college football have won the National Championship in back-to-back years, which is already proving to be a major point of conversation between Michigan and Ohio State fans on social media.
We want you to get in on the fun in this edition of SB Nation Reacts — which team was better, the 2023 Michigan Wolverines or the 2024 Ohio State Buckeyes?
Let’s take a quick look at each team’s resume during their National Championship season.
2023 Michigan Wolverines
- Overall Record: 15-0
- Big Ten Championship: 26-0 win over Iowa
- Postseason Results: 27-20 win over Alabama in Rose Bowl, 34-13 win over Washington in CFP National Championship
- Result vs Ohio State: 30-24 win at Michigan Stadium
2024 Ohio State Buckeyes
- Overall Record: 14-2
- No Big Ten Championship or Big Ten Championship Game appearance
- Postseason Results: 42-17 win over Tennessee in the first round, 41-21 win over Oregon in Rose Bowl, 28-14 win over Texas in Cotton Bowl, and a 34-23 win over Notre Dame in the CFP National Championship
- Result vs Michigan: 13-10 loss at Ohio Stadium
Michigan had one more win than Ohio State despite playing in one fewer game and they also beat the Buckeyes during the National Championship season. While Ohio State’s season was impressive, it’s inflated by the fact the expanded playoffs started in 2024. Michigan’s team was as dominant as any college team in recent memory and it’s reasonable to think they would have run the table in the playoffs just as the Buckeyes did.
While beating your arch-rival doesn’t mean everything, it should matter within the context that Michigan’s National Championship season was perfect and without a blemish, zero losses, especially to Ohio State — the Buckeyes cannot say the same about the 2024 National Championship. While the 13-10 loss doesn’t lessen winning it all, it’s hard to say the 2024 Buckeyes were a better team than 2023 Michigan.