Must Win

[chuck_jax]

How could this not be UM?"

Say what you want, but even if OSU goes 7-5, a win over UM is more satisfying than a 9-3 season having lost the big one.

Also, the team can salvage a "good" season having an early loss to Tejas, ala half of UM's seaons that include a loss to ND.

Only once can I remember a good season w a loss to UM...1996 w/ a RB win over ASU.

 

[stxbuck]

I think Iowa is the key game of the season. After Texas, it is the one team on our schedule until scUM that can go mano a mano w/ us, and would be considered to be on equal footing w/ us in the Big 10. Assuming we beat Texas, Iowa is THE major speedbump until we play at scUM-which is as huge as always.
Unlike Texas, Iowa will not be a night game, and they beat us last year-they will not be coming in scared. I'm glad we have homefield for this one.

 

[Oneshot]

Texas.

Early losses are hard to take; its hard to get back into the "all or nothing" mindset after losing so early. I think an early win over Texas will give the confidence boost that is so vital in college games. It'll give us the swagger in our step as we step into happy valley or whatever that hole is called.

 

[Sloopy45]

Looking at that schedule & assuming the Bucks don't stumble, run the table, & all the other teams play up to their capabilities ... can anyone see another team with a higher BCS ranking than us at the end of the year?

1. Texas (at most) will only lose two games & will finish ranked in the Top 10.

2. scUM will finish in the Top 10 again.

3. Iowa will probably finish in the Top 12/Top 15.

4. Minnesota will be ranked when the smoke clears.

5. Penn State has a good shot to improve.

I can't imagine a team with more computer points if we win out.

 

[AKAK]

It basically comes down to this... If you think winning the mNC makes a successful season... then Texas (If you're thinking NC... you're thinking you beat MAC schools anyway)

If you think winning the Big Ten is a successful season, then its Iowa so you control your destiny... then... well... the Conference Championship game.

 

[goodguy]

Obviously we have to--or "must"--win, every possible game to contend for the national title, but when they say a "must-win" game, it's the game we can least afford to lose. Common sense would suggest your last game would nearly always be the must-win game because of its poll implications. However, ala Nebraska in 2001, teams can still get into the title game with a loss in the last game of the regular season (in Nebraska's case, a 62-36 blow out loss), thus a very close loss very early in the season to a top three team can even more possibly be overcome. So, a loss to Texas isn't that bad at all. That said, for us, what is our must-win game? I voted Michigan.

1. It's The Game.

2. It's the last game of the season and is most damaging poll-wise with a loss.

3. It most likely will determine the conference championship.

Wow this is the most friendly exchange I've ever seen between Mililani and tibor, have pigs at Port Columbus been given permission for take off?

I'm with Mililani, the correct answer is Michigan!

 

[BB73]

Looking at that schedule & assuming the Bucks don't stumble, run the table, & all the other teams play up to their capabilities ... can anyone see another team with a higher BCS ranking than us at the end of the year?

1. Texas (at most) will only lose two games & will finish ranked in the Top 10.

2. scUM will finish in the Top 10 again.

3. Iowa will probably finish in the Top 12/Top 15.

4. Minnesota will be ranked when the smoke clears.

5. Penn State has a good shot to improve.

I can't imagine a team with more computer points if we win out.

USC won't drop from #1 in the polls unless they lose. That's part of the problem with the human polls; they don't move teams around enough. That may keep them ahead of us in the overall BCS.

As far as a team getting ahead of an undefeated tOSU team in the computers, I think the only danger is Tennessee. I don't think they'll go undefeated, but they play Georgia, and road games at LSU, at Florida, at Alabama, and at Notre Dame. Along with an SEC championship game if they go undefeated. Their other non-conf games (besides ND) are UAB and Memphis, who both went to bowls last year.

If USC, tOSU, and Tennessee all go undefeated this year, the BCS will have another nightmare. Imagine the SEC outrage if an undefeated champ gets bypassed for the BCS Championship game for a second straight year!

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

USC won't drop from #1 in the polls unless they lose. That's part of the problem with the human polls; they don't move teams around enough. That may keep them ahead of us in the overall BCS.

Exactly. They can win every game by 3 points or less, but the old mentality of "They're the defending champions and are the champions until they lose" will keep them on top.

 

[Golferdow01]

Exactly. They can win every game by 3 points or less, but the old mentality of "They're the defending champions and are the champions until they lose" will keep them on top.

I second that...it all started that one dreadful season USC never got the chance...now they got everyone feeling bad for them and I've had enough of it

 

[JXC]

Yeah...just like in 2003? When we kept slipping in the polls even when we were still winning every game? That was rediculous. I'd like to see USC barely win some early games, just to see what the polls do with them.

 

[buckalum01]

In true 'Jim Tressel, coach-speak, PC position' form-- I go with Miami.

One game at a time. Only worry about the next game (Miami). Don't get caught looking ahead. Etc. No one else had voted for this game anyways, and did not want them to feel left out.

In reality, every game is important. With the number of quality teams out there this year, I think we will need to win em all to get into the NC title game. But of course, we HAVE to beat Michigan, regardless of how the rest of our season went---

I don't give a damn about the whole state of Michigan-- I'm from O-HI-O!

 

[cincibuck]

I picked Michigan because IMO that's the game that has the most bearing on the recruiting season. With OSU and U of M contending for the top kids in Ohio and the rest of the mid-west, winning that game seems to be to critical. I'm not sure how it plays out for the kids we recruit from Florida, Texas and California. That seems to be more the influence of a recruiter with a background from that state.

 

[daddyphatsacs]

Texas........Pride is at stake!! We all know that we'll beat Michigan......thats pretty much the norm any more isn't it?

 

[FKAGobucks877]

I have to go with scUM, primarily for reasons that have already been discussed here.

If OSU gets past either Texas or Iowa, but lose the other, they still have a very good chance at a BCS berth (at minimum) with a win over those smelly bastards up north. If they get past both Texas AND Iowa with wins, then they're looking at a likely lock for the NC game with a V up north. The last regular season game will dictate the last regular season poll, and a loss to those fetid weasels would surely drop OSU significantly in the polls. Meshitagain is definitely the "must win" game of the season.

 

[Yertle]

My vote is for "MUST WIN is loser talk for let's stop the losing streak." Do you think USC or New England have "Must Win" games identified on their schedules? Fuck no. They just go out a do what it takes to dominate every game. Even the definition of "Must Win" implies that some of the other games don't matter. Fuck that. Any coach using that terminology should be forcefed rodent piss and then punched in the face.

That being said, my first option wasn't available, so I went with Michigan.