ESPN’s Paul Finebaum has finally pulled back the curtain following Ohio State’s national title win against Notre Dame: it needed a look in the mirror.

The Week 14 Thanksgiving weekend defeat by the Michigan Wolverines eliminated the Buckeyes from Big Ten title consideration. Still, it did open the playoff pathway they needed for a successful final month.

Finebaum, who has openly admitted that the Big Ten’s time has finally arrived in the wake of back-to-back seasons without an SEC national champion, said the loss to the Wolverines was critical for Day and the team to have a complete reassessment. 

“Had they won that game, however sloppy it may have been, they then go to the Big Ten Championship game,” Finebaum said on “The Matt Barrie Show.” “They have another game against Oregon – they may win it, but [there is] nothing to gain from it. They may have laid the egg somewhere else, sitting there, maybe waiting for Notre Dame or maybe somebody else. I think the fact that they got to sit there and stew.”

Finebaum said this setback was “the best thing that happened” to Ohio State, making its eventual playoff run more impressive.

“Quite frankly, Ryan Day and the “Buckeye Nation” need to personally call and thank Sherrone Moore and the University of Michigan and thank them,” Finebaum said. “Maybe even let them hold the [national championship] trophy. I don’t think Michigan will ever hold the national championship trophy again now that Jim Harbaugh is gone…there’s no way this would’ve happened.”

Given Finebaum’s hypothetical, what might have been will never be known. However, what is known is the rivalry known as “The Game” continues to live on year after year, and ultimately, it gives either side well-earned bragging rights until the next one.

That’s what college football has been and will continue to be about.