Ohio State football fans: Would you rather beat Michigan or win the national championship?

With the Ohio State 2024 season quickly approaching, it’s time for football fans to get their priorities in order.

What would you rather see happen: Ohio State beats Michigan for the first time since 2019 but falls short of a national championship, or Ohio State loses its fourth-straight meeting with the rival Wolverines but ends the season with a College Football Playoff national championship trophy?

Take this scenario: Ohio State wins 11 games, loses to Michigan, but prevails for the championship. That’s what the The Dispatch’s season simulation amounted to through EA Sports College Football 25. Would it make fans happy? Tell us in our poll. (We know you probably want to pick “both,” but that would make things too easy.)

Could Ohio State win national championship with Michigan loss?

The odds for an Ohio State national championship with a loss to rival Michigan have increased dramatically.

In 2024, the College Football Playoff expands to 12 teams. The top four seeds — each of which will be conference champions — will receive a first-round bye. The other eight teams will face off in the first round at the higher seed’s home stadium.

According to the final College Football Playoff rankings of the 2023 season, four teams in the top 12 had one loss — Texas, Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State — while five teams in the top 12 had two losses: Oregon, Missouri, Penn State, Mississippi and Oklahoma.

Using the 2023 rankings, Ohio State would have been a No. 7 seed in the expanded College Football Playoff.

Ohio State football schedule 2024

• Aug. 31: Ohio State vs. Akron; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
• Sept. 7: Ohio State vs. Western Michigan; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
• Sept. 21: Ohio State vs. Marshall; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
• Sept. 28: Ohio State at Michigan State; Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan
• Oct. 5: Ohio State vs. Iowa; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
• Oct. 12: Ohio State at Oregon; Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon
• Oct. 26: Ohio State vs. Nebraska; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
• Nov. 2: Ohio State at Penn State; Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania
• Nov. 9: Ohio State vs. Purdue; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
• Nov. 16: Ohio State at Northwestern; Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
• Nov. 23: Ohio State vs. Indiana; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
• Nov. 30: Ohio State vs. Michigan; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

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