Earlier this week we asked fans if they believe the expanded playoff lessens the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry. The poll results are in.
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 Ohio State Buckeyes are in the National Championship despite losing two games this season. Any other year Ohio State would not have been in the playoffs let alone playing for all the marbles with two defeats and not appearing in the Big Ten Championship, however, the College Football Playoff expanded to 12 teams this season and neither of Ohio State’s losses were fatal.
Michigan beat Ohio State 13-10 to close out the regular season, marking the fourth year in a row Michigan beat the Buckeyes. The tilt meant a whole lot during the game and even more after it when Michigan planted their flag at midfield and Ohio State players took exception to the Wolverines doing so with pushing, shoving, and police using pepper spray.
With that in mind, we asked fans earlier this week if they feel the expanded playoff lessens the rivalry. The results are in, and they are mixed.
It was nearly a draw, with 48% of those surveyed saying the expanded playoff lessens the rivalry. My personal opinion is that we still don’t have a sample size large enough to truly determine how an expanded playoff impacts the rivalry. Even if Michigan-Ohio State winds up meaning less, it still means a whole heck of a lot. Ask Jack Sawyer.
How did you vote this week? Let us know in the comments and come back next week for another edition of SB Nation Reacts.