Ohio State's upset loss to Michigan on rivalry weekend looked like the unofficial end of Ryan Day's tenure with the Buckeyes. Under the previous playoff format, it might have been the official end.

Michigan Wolverines defensive end Derrick Moore (8) attempts to plant the flag on the Ohio State Buckeyes logo as Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) rips the flag down after the ...

But the pain of that moment -- and the indelible image of senior leader Jack Sawyer fighting to wrest away a Michigan flag from being planted at midfield-- was exactly what Ohio State needed ...