Around the Big Ten

[Hannibal]

Just to be clear, I mean just to be clear...you don't think Ohio State will be under like pressure in The Game if, say, they manage to scrape by and beat UNL, Sparty and Maryland? You don't think that game would be, you know, kind of a big fucking deal?.

Big deal? Yes. Pressure? Not really. You guys won the B1G in 2014 and 2017, and you haven't lost to us at home since the 2000 election recount. You guys have earned multiple mulligans.

[iam416]

You're not familiar with Columbus, Ohio. From a fan perspective, there is never not a tremendous amount of pressure to beat M. Ohio State expectations are insane. If you read through EVERY Ohio State message board the past two weeks you'd think the program was dead. There's a shockingly large contingent that think UFM's time has run its course. And if he loses to M -- ever -- the howls will grow.

From a player perspective, those 14 out of 15 wins don't mean shit. They didn't get to play in the CFP. They didn't get go to Indy (well, as this team). It's THEIR chance to do something big.

From a coaching perspective, UFM doesn't cotton to losing. When things aren't going well he sort of wears all over. There's a reason why he has some preposterous fucking record in rivalry game, and it ain't because he doesn't feel any pressure in those games.

So, from a fans, players and coaches perspective, there is absolutely no way that an 11-1 vs 11-1 game wouldn't be absolutely must. Oh, and throw in the fact that if the lose HARBAUGH!!!!! goes to Indy and the CFP (that's a fan perspective).

I'll put it this way -- when they lose to M this year, they will get railed locally. Obliterated. It'll be ugly. That's not a reaction to a no pressure game.

[froot loops]

The pressure on OSU would be there, win the game and they have a great chance at getting into the college football playoff.

I'm not sure why Michigan should be scared of Oklahoma's offense. You pay the coaching staff a boatload of money to come up with a game plan. Strike when the iron is hot, I think Michigan fans want the CFP to be two games against pushovers, it doesn't work like that. You try to get in every year whether you are a 2 TD underdog or the favorite.

Chase Winovich isn't coming back, neither is Rashan Gary. The coaching staf should be doing everything possible this year to get there.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Oklahoma's defense couldn't stop hack from saying moronic shit. That's how bad it is. Not UNL bad...but bad. Hell we are #19 in total offense and M shut us down like Talent at a strip bar...

[Hannibal]

Talent -- you are probably right. I cannot relate. I cannot relate to being as successful as OSU has been in football against UM this century and being legitimately pissed off at one loss. I don't think that a reasonable football fan should feel that OSU is under pressure to win big this year. You have still kicked everyone's ass in the conference when it comes to recruiting so your window isn't closing. Your coach isn't over the hill yet and even if he for some reason decides to quit, you've got some great options available. All of the legitimate pressure is on UM to win out since we haven't win there since 2000, our '18 recruiting class was crap, and our defense is going to lose probably 6 or 7 starters.

[THE_WIZARD_]

shaddup

[Hannibal]

The pressure on OSU would be there, win the game and they have a great chance at getting into the college football playoff.

I'm not sure why Michigan should be scared of Oklahoma's offense. You pay the coaching staff a boatload of money to come up with a game plan. Strike when the iron is hot, I think Michigan fans want the CFP to be two games against pushovers, it doesn't work like that. You try to get in every year whether you are a 2 TD underdog or the favorite.

Chase Winovich isn't coming back, neither is Rashan Gary. The coaching staf should be doing everything possible this year to get there.

Oh yeah I definitely want us to get there this year. The circumstances are working in our favor. We aren't legitimately #4 in the country good and we never will be until we get a couple more elite recruiting classes, so this is our last chance for a few more years.

[Hannibal]

Eh. I guess I can't relate. I see pressure as a combination of high expectations, recent failure, and impatience. You guys obviously are missing one of those elements. But I'll take your word for it.

[iam416]

Well, for me, every M matters a great deal. I'm far more inclined than most to acknowledge that OSU can't be elite every year like, say, Alabama, and accept the extremely rare 3-loss season. Most OSU fans are of the former mindset but not the latter. And, TBH, the latter is what makes OSU message boards an unbearable pit of misery after each loss. The only exception was the PSU loss in 2016 that (a) was mostly horseshit; and (b) didn't affect the season goals. But it was still not pleasant.

When M rolls OSU in a few weeks, I'd much rather get sassed by M here than read thread after thread on OSU forums calling for UFM to retire -- and, seriously, that will happen. OSU boards will be unreadable for weeks. I mean, they're even starting to question UFM's recruiting -- a little -- but, still.

[Hannibal]

If I were an OSU fan I wouldn't be calling for Urban to retire but I would be a little bit nervous that he was in a mood to move on to somewhere else. MFer looked broken after that Purdue loss.

[froot loops]

When UFM retires, OSU will find someone just as good. Their administration doesn't screw around and they spare no expense. There is no worry there for Buckeye fans. When Mark Dantonio retires, there is every reason to believe there is a significant chance that MSU will hire some incompetent coach.

[Hannibal]

They won't find anyone just as good because the only other guy like that is Saban. But there are still some great choices.

[iam416]

Yeah, UFM is an all-timer.

UFM's biggest questions will be his staff, in particular, LB coach and OL coach. But, this has been a really terrible year for him and I think not being part of summer camp was a pretty big deal.

As for as who replaces him, I'm really hoping Matt Campbell continues to grow as a coach and eventually steps up in class from ISU and proves himself at a much bigger school. That would make things super easy. But, as of right now he hasn't done enough.

[Hannibal]

I'd take Jeff Brohm in a heartbeat. Mark Stoops maybe too. There are at least a few really good candidates. The pickins this year aren't slim.

[iam416]

Hard pass on Stoops. I'd take Vince Marrow, though, on the staff.