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College Football

Ohio State vs. Michigan: 10 things every fan needs to know about this rivalry

Andrew Olson

By Andrew Olson

Published:

It’s quite a flex for a rivalry to be called The Game and have everyone know the teams being discussed. This goes beyond being a fan of Ohio State or Michigan, or even the Big Ten. If you’re a fan of college football, you should know The Game means Buckeyes and Wolverines.

Ohio State and Michigan’s passionate fans already know the rivalry’s biggest names and memorable moments by heart. Hopefully, these notes and observations on the past and present of Ohio State vs. Michigan add a little bit to the anticipation for what should be another epic Rivalry Week showdown.

1. Dwayne Haskins (RIP) had an unforgettable performance in 2018

The Ohio State Buckeyes have played with heavy hearts in 2022 after the tragic passing of former QB Dwayne Haskins earlier this year.

Haskins left his mark on the rivalry in 2018, going 20-of-31 for 396 yards and 6 touchdowns in a 62-39 blowout Buckeyes win.

It was truly a performance for the ages.

2. Top 5 meeting No. 13 on the way?

In the era of consistent AP rankings (since 1936), Ohio State and Michigan have faced off as top 5 opponents on 12 occasions. The Buckeyes hold a 7-4-1 advantage in those meetings, but last year’s No. 5 Wolverines beat No. 2 OSU 42-27.

Barring shocking Week 12 outcomes, The Game will once again be a meeting of top 5 teams.

Just like last year, Ohio State is ranked No. 2 in the country. Michigan is currently No. 3. In Week 12, the Buckeyes travel to Maryland, while Michigan hosts Illinois.

This would mark the first instance of back-to-back top 5 clashes since the 3 games from 1973-75.

3. Record ratings in 2021

FOX likes to make “Big Noon Saturday” its weekly showcase game. It certainly doesn’t get any B1Gger than The Game.

FOX drew record ratings for last year’s rivalry showdown. Michigan’s streak-snapping win over Ohio State delivered the best ratings ever on the network for a college football game and the best-ever regular-season airing for the “Big Noon Kickoff” traveling pregame show.

4. The Heisman race heats up

The college football world figures to be watching on Nov. 26. It’s a prime opportunity for CJ Stroud and Blake Corum to convince Heisman Trophy voters they deserve the coveted stiff-arm trophy.

There are no officially recognized Heisman contenders until the votes are submitted and the trust announces finalists, but Stroud (186-of-277 passing, 2,750 yards, 34 TDs) and Corum (227 carries, 1,349 yards, 17 TDs) are widely seen as 2 of the top candidates.

It feels like a wide-open race heading into the final stretch of the 2022 season. There’s nothing like a Heisman moment during Rivalry Week. There’s no bigger stage than The Game.

Historically, Ohio State has 7 Heisman winners. Three Michigan players have won the award.

5. Time to start a new streak?

Ohio State has dominated the rivalry for the past couple of decades. Michigan finally snapped the much-discussed 8-game streak that dated to 2012 with last season’s big win.

Now, the Wolverines want to get another victory to have an active winning streak of their own. They haven’t managed to go back-to-back over the Buckeyes since 1999 and 2000. U-M’s victories in 2003 and 2011 were one-offs.

6. Elimination game or just Round 1?

Ohio State and Michigan are 2 of the undefeated teams in the hunt to make the College Football Playoff. It’s looking like at least one 1-loss team will make the final 4. So is The Game a Playoff elimination game or is there a potential for a rematch?

No. 1 Georgia is 10-0 with regular-season games remaining against Kentucky, Georgia Tech and No. 6 LSU. The Bulldogs are heavily favored to be 13-0 on Selection Sunday.

No. 4 TCU faces a pair of unranked teams, Baylor and Iowa State, before the Big 12 Championship Game. Buckeyes and Wolverines fans alike should probably hope for Baylor to pull the upset and hurt the Horned Frogs’ chances.

No. 5 Tennessee has 1 loss to Georgia. The Vols finish the year with favorable matchups against South Carolina and Vanderbilt.

The loser of The Game could be on the outside looking in if not for chaos elsewhere.

7. A different era: 3 years of different divisions

Michigan and Ohio State are fighting for a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game. Not too long ago, they could have faced off in Indianapolis.

In 2011, the first Big Ten Championship Game was held. This was during the brief Legends and Leaders era. From 2011-13, Michigan was in the Legends Division and Ohio State was in the Leaders Division.

Back-to-back meetings were avoided all 3 years. With the latest round of realignment, conferences are moving away from divisions, so we just might see The Game take place on a neutral field to decide the B1G title in the future.

8. 2006’s almost national title rematch

We’ve been close to having a rematch of The Game decide the national champion.

On Nov. 18, 2006, No. 1 Ohio State defeated No. 2 Michigan 42-39 in a thriller known as the “Game of the Century.” In the pre-Playoff era, the BCS rankings decided Nos. 1 and 2 for the national championship game.

With Michigan’s loss in The Game, USC moved up to No. 2. On Dec. 2, USC played UCLA and some conferences held championship games (the Big Ten did not yet have a conference championship game).

UCLA upset USC 13-9, opening up a debate for who should be No. 2 in the BCS poll to decide the bowl games, including the national championship. Former Buckeye Kirk Herbstreit was among the most vocal advocates for Michigan to be ranked No. 2 and play No. 1 Ohio State in a rematch to decide the national championship.

Instead, Urban Meyer’s Florida team, which defeated Arkansas in the SEC Championship Game, moved up from No. 4 to No. 2 in the poll that set the bowl lineup.

10. Greatest rivalry of the 20th century

At the end of the 20th century, ESPN ranked the 10 best rivalries in all of sports. Michigan vs. Ohio State checked in at No. 1 on the list, beating out Ali-Frazer, North Carolina-Duke, Red Sox-Yankees, Auburn-Alabama and others.

This was, of course, before Jim Tressel, Urban Meyer, Jim Harbaugh and Ryan Day became head coaches in the storied rivalry. It’s safe to say the rivalry is as strong as ever in the 21st century.

Andrew Olson

A former Florida beat reporter, Andrew writes for the Saturday Tradition News Desk.