
The Game does matter. It IS the best rivalry in CFB and no other is even close. Coaches typically get fired over not being able to win The Game but the natty saved Ryan Day’s job and Ryan Day saved Harbaugh’s job for a few extra years. The natty still means more, but not significantly more.
Calling it a Mickey Mouse rivalry is laughable. The Game decided 19 National Champions (most of any rivalry), on top of that its split 10-9 pretty much even. Ohio State and Michigan combine for over 2,000 wins and about 1,950 AP top 25 appearances meaning not only does it determine champions, it means something almost every single season.