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Rece Davis, Pete Thamel tackle hypothetical rematch of The Game in expanded Playoff
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Rece Davis and Pete Thamel understand it would be somewhat ironic to see a rematch of The Game in the first-ever version of the expanded College Football Playoff.
During the latest episode of “The College GameDay Podcast,” the two admitted it would be a bit of poetic justice if Ohio State and Michigan wound up playing multiple times next season. And, with the B1G’s removal of divisions, there is a chance the two sides face off twice before even reaching the Playoff.
“Wouldn’t it be poetic justice, Rece if in the first iteration of this Playoff Michigan and Ohio State wind up playing each other again?” Thamel questioned.
“What if they play 3 times?” Davis shot back.
“That would be axis-shifting,” admitted Thamel.
To go with that idea, the duo readdressed the idea of a hot seat for Ryan Day in Columbus. While Davis doesn’t think that’s the appropriate term for the pressure facing the head coach, he acknowledged the major changes this offseason bring an even higher level of expectation for the Buckeyes.
“I think the vast majority of reasonable Ohio State fans feel the way you and I do. Ryan Day is a great coach, he’s done a great job, he’s come close to even more to accomplish,” said Davis. “…The last drive this year against Michigan, who knows what happens if they win that game?
“He’s come close to a whole lot more, and just off-the-charts excellent overall. So I think he is a tremendous coach and leader, but if you up the ante, go to the higher stakes table…we’re going to be the hybrid of Georgia, Alabama and Ole Miss… Now that takes you to a different table and maybe changes the perception of what you should accomplish.”
Part of the shift includes a new AD to succeed longtime leader Gene Smith. Thamel pointed to that change as something that has taken Ohio State’s NIL to a major level moving forward.
“If you had asked what is Ohio State’s NIL last year I would have said upper middle class… It almost felt a little reluctant,” said Thamel. “I do think the hiring of Ross Bjork as the athletic director was a pure capitalism move.”
We’ll see how it all shapes up in 2024, but with Jim Harbaugh leaving Michigan and Ohio State loading up, the Buckeyes will once again be viewed as one of the top teams in the country. With that label comes all the pressure to deliver a title, or at the very least, a win over your bitter rival.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.