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2. THE IRON BOWL Alabama vs. Auburn
All-time record: Alabama leads 38-33-1
When it comes to good old-fashioned football hatred, there may be no rivalry in college football that can match Alabama-Auburn.
It is called the Iron Bowl, and for more than a century, it has been tearing the state of Alabama in two. These two teams hate each other. The fans hate each other. And probably more than any other rivalry in college football, Alabama-Auburn is truly a 365-day-a-year obsession.
Alabama currently leads the series though Auburn fans might tell you that's partially because the Crimson Tide enjoyed home-field advantage for four decades.
Auburn and Alabama first met on Feb. 22, 1893, in Birmingham, Alabama. Auburn won 32-22. That much could be agreed upon. But the schools ended up getting into a spat—the first of many to come—over whether the game should be counted toward the 1892 season or the 1893 season. The nastiness continued from there, eventually leading to the temporary suspension in the series after the schools’ 1907 meeting, which ended in a 6-6 tie.
Auburn and Alabama didn’t meet again until 1948 and it literally took an act of the state government to make that happen.
Fun Facts
-The winner is awarded the Foy-ODK Sportsmanship Award. The trophy is presented at halftime of the Auburn–Alabama basketball game later in the same academic year at the winner's arena. After the trophy presentation, the SGA President of the losing school must recite his or her adversary's fight song.
-Joe Namath led Alabama to a 21-14 victory in the first nationally televised game in the series in 1964.
-The game has been played in four cities: Auburn, Birmingham, Montgomery, and Tuscaloosa.
Memorable Moments
-The Run in the Mud: On a stormy night in 1967, Alabama quarterback Kenny Stabler ran for a 53 yard touchdown to give Bama a 7–3 win.
-Punt Bama Punt: In the 1972 game, trailing 16–3 with 6 minutes left, Auburn blocked and scored on two Alabama punts to win the game 17–16.
-In 1981, Alabama coach Paul "Bear" Bryant got his 315th career victory to become the all-time winningest coach against Auburn.
-In 1982 Auburn defeated No. 2 Alabama in the first ever game played at Jordan Hare Stadium.
1. THE GAME Ohio State vs. Michigan
All-time Record: Michigan leads 57-41-6
Widely considered the greatest rivalry in all of sports, the Ohio State-Michigan game has been played since 1897 and has been the regular season finale for both schools since 1935.
The early years of this rivalry were dominated by Michigan, who went 12-0-2 in the first 14 meetings. The Buckeyes, led by Chic Harley, won their first game in the series in 1919 and would go on to win the next two games as well.
Between 1930 and 1933, Michigan won three of four contests, claiming the National Championship twice during that span. Ohio State would then run off four straight shutout victories from 1934-1937 in which the Buckeyes outscored the Wolverines 112-0.
In 1950, perhaps the most famous game in the series took place. No. 8 Ohio State, coached by Wes Fesler, was scheduled to host the game amidst one of the worst blizzards on Ohio record. The Buckeye's, who led the Big Ten, were granted the option of canceling the game, which would have given them the Big Ten title and a trip to the Rose Bowl. Ohio State refused to cancel, so amid howling snow and wind, the two teams played.
During the game the teams exchanged 45 punts, often on first down in hopes that the other team would fumble. Despite gaining a first down Michigan would prevail in a 9-3 victory. The victory gave Michigan the Big Ten title and Rose Bowl appearance. The game has become known as "The Snow Bowl". Heavy criticism of Fesler's play calling led to his resignation and the hiring of Woody Hayes.
Between 1951 and 1968, under Hayes, the Buckeyes won 12 of 18 contests, including a 1957 victory in Michigan Stadium that was the first game attended by more than 100,000 fans.
The 1969 game, the first for Michigan coach Bo Schembechler, marked the beginning of the most competitive period in the series. "The Ten-Year War" pitted some of the most successful teams in both school's histories. Four times between, 1970 and 1975, both schools were ranked in the AP top 5 and Michigan entered every game during that period undefeated, but won only once.
From 1988-2000, Michigan dominated the series going 10-2-1. The John Cooper led Buckeyes would enter the game three time during that span undefeated only to lose the Michigan game each time. Though Cooper consistently fielded top 25 teams and was an excellent recruiter he was fired in 2000. Though the University cited he was fired because of "disciplinary control of the team" and a losing record in bowl games, it is widely speculated that the true reason for his firing was his record (2-10-1) versus Michigan.
The Jim Tressel era began in 2001 and was introduced to the Buckeye faithful during halftime of an Ohio State-Michigan basketball game. Tressel told the crowd, "I can assure you that you will be proud of these young gentlemen, in the classroom, in the community, and most especially in 310 days in Ann Arbor, Michigan on the football field."
Tressel delivered on his promise, when the Buckeyes beat the Wolverines for the first time in Ann Arbor in 14 years. The Buckeyes won the following year as well en route to a National Championship and the first and only 14-0 record in college football history. Since 2001, the series has been dominated by the Buckeyes who are 6-1 against Michigan during that span.
Fun Facts
-In 2000, ESPN ranked "The Game" as the greatest North American sports rivalry.
-Ohio State's Alma Mater Carmen Ohio was written on the train ride home to Columbus following the 1902 contest. The lyrics and melody have remained unchanged since its conception.
-Both Ohio Stadium and Michigan Stadium were dedicated during the Ohio State-Michigan game.
-A first year Michigan coach has never lost to Ohio State.
-The 100th meeting in Ann Arbor had an official attendance of 112,118, which still stands as the largest crowd to ever watch a NCAA football game.
-A half-hour after the 2006 game in Columbus, the Ohio Lottery Pick 4 evening drawing was 4-2-3-9, which matched the game's final score.
-Since 1935, the Ohio State vs. Michigan game has decided the Big Ten Champion 46 times.
Memorable Moments
-In Earle Bruce's final game as Ohio State's head coach and inspired Buckeye team upset the heavily favored Wolverines. After the game Bo Schembechler told Bruce at mid-field, "I always mind losing to Ohio State but I didn't mind so much today."
-Tim Biakabutuka's 313 rushing yards led the Wolverines to a 31-23 upset of the No. 2 Buckeyes in 1995.
-Charles Woodson's Heisman pose in the Ohio State endzone after a punt return for a touchdown in the 1997 game.
-Will Allen's interception in the end zone in the final minutes to secure a 14-9 victory and 12-0 record for the Buckeyes in 2002.
-The 2006 game was the first game in the series history in which both teams were ranked in the top two spots in the rankings. The game was also special because legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler died the day before the game.
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