Must Win

[JXC]

I was flipping through TSN preseason mag and it has listed every teams, toughest game, Must Win, and Best Chance at a/to be upset.

This poll is for must win game.

TSN's pick: Iowa
My pick: Iowa

I'd pick Michigan...but since this was a 3 part poll for me, and TSN never picked the same game for 2 things, I won't either. I already said Michigan was the toughest game. I already said Penn State was the biggest chance for an upset, and that would be my #2 choice here since it's the first road game. I hate to go along with TSN, but I have to on this one. Besides those two games, Iowa has gotta be my pick. It's the first Big 10 game, and Iowa should be good this year. They kicked the crap out of us last year, and it is important that we remember that and do the same to them. Or at least just win. If we lost this game, the begining of the Big 10 season could spiral out of control like last year.

Every game is really a must win game this year...so I pick this one because I think it has the biggest effect on how the rest of the season goes. I don't think Texas is a must win, just because I think we can lose that game and still go to the Rose Bowl.

[scUM Buster]

I hate the phrase "must win", without including any "in order to(s)". In order to win the National Championship(or have a chance to), we must win all games except for maybe 1...and that one had better come early and against a quality opponent. We absolutely can not win a NC if we drop the last game of the season...see 1996. Therefore, I went with Michigan....that, and for me personally... because without that win, I am miserable for about 12 months.

[tibor75]

what a stupid question. Given that we are a NC contender, every game is a must win.

[jlb1705]

I agree. "Must wins" are for teams with nothing bigger to play for.

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by tibor75

what a stupid question. Given that we are a NC contender, every game is a must win.

Not necessarily, Rashmish. If we were in the top five to start the season and lost in OT to Texas (who should be in the top three entering that game), we would still be in the top ten after the loss. Keep in mind that we started the 2002 season at #13. If we were to still be in the top eight or so after a loss to Texas, we could still have a decent chance at making the title game, especially if nearly everyone ahead of us also suffered a loss and those losses occurred after ours.

[AJHawkfan]

I gotta go with scUM. No matter how the rest of the season goes, the spring/summer are always a little sweeter if we beat scUM.

[tibor75]

Originally Posted by MililaniBuckeye

Not necessarily, Rashmish. If we were in the top five to start the season and lost in OT to Texas (who should be in the top three entering that game), we would still be in the top ten after the loss. Keep in mind that we started the 2002 season at #13. If we were to still be in the top eight or so after a loss to Texas, we could still have a decent chance at making the title game, especially if nearly everyone ahead of us also suffered a loss and those losses occurred after ours.

True. So every game except Texas is a must win? Then again, considering the build up to the game, how could that game be anything but "must win"?

[Zurp]

I think "must win" needs to be defined. "Must win" for what to happen? Win a national championship? In that case, they're all "must win" games. (DAMN!! I just agreed with Tibor!!)

But to me, a "must win" game is one that can make/break a season. And in my opinion, losing to Texas wouldn't break the season, since it doesn't affect the Big Ten race. Losing to Iowa early in the year would be bad, but I don't think it would break the season, either.

I chose at Michigan. I think Iowa won't run the table in the Big Ten, and Ohio State-Michigan will be the game for a BCS opportunity (not necessarily the Rose Bowl, but some BCS game).

[Thump]

How can Michigan not be the "must win" game of the season?

It's the last game in the way to a possible National Title. Without a win there, a Big Ten and possible National Title go down the drain.

As much as I hate to admit, I agree with Tibor on this one, stupid question but I understand the rationale behind it.

[Buckeye Maniac]

I think Texas is our "must-win" because losing to them early in the season would be disastruous for our morale. If we lose to Texas I see us also losing to Iowa, Penn State, and Michigan.

That's why Texas is my pick for must-win.

[HabaneroBuck]

Let's think about the National Media attention on the Texas game and the bragging rights that will be on the line. Then, suppose that this Big XII team comes into the Horseshoe and walks out victorious over our highly-esteemed Buckeyes. What will we hear? What will be the word? The Big Ten and the Bucks are paper tigers....The Texas game is the must win game for bragging rights alone. All Big Ten games and the Michigan game are "must wins" in general every year, but Texas is sumthin' else.

[martinss01]

Originally Posted by tibor75

what a stupid question. Given that we are a NC contender, every game is a must win.

finally i get to use this smiley!

they are all must wins. mili, the chances of tOSU working its way back up the ladder to the #2 spot isn't very realistic. A. its tOSU and B. tressel doesn't blow out opponents. i can promise you with 100% certainty that had there been 3 undefeated teams in 02 we would not have played miami for the nc. we want to go to the big dance again, we have to win them all. of that i have no question.

[smithlabs]

I think Mili has a point. We could loose to Texas and back into a national championship. If we loose to a Big Ten team early (Iowa, PSU?) we will have the stigma of not even being the best team in the Big Ten, let alone the nation.

There are three top 10 teams on our schedule so one of them must be our must win. Who would waste a must win moniker on Indiana? Here is my break down of what's at stake for each team:

Texas: Bragging rights, national televised game, early season momentum
Iowa: Big Ten, NC, recruiting, early season momentum
Michigan:Big Ten, NC, recruiting, Screw Blue

The difference between Iowa and Michigan is early season momentum (confidence) and beating those smelly weasels. Tough call but I'll take Iowa on the coin flip just so I don't have to say Michigan every year.

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by tibor75

True. So every game except Texas is a must win? Then again, considering the build up to the game, how could that game be anything but "must win"?

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.

[NightmaresDad]

We are not the poll/media darlings that OK and NE have been - we cannot afford to lose the last game of the year and hope to play in the OB.

this one is easy - scUM