Ohio State Football: The 5 Best Moments for the Buckeyes from the Game
From clinching national title berths to Heisman Trophy-winning performances, Ohio State has enjoyed some memorable moments against its most hated rival in Michigan.
There's been no shortage of big moments between the Buckeyes and the Wolverines, who first met in October of 1897. Michigan blanked Ohio State 34-0 in that inaugural matchup and holds an edge in the all-time series record at 58-46-6, but the Buckeyes have dominated since the turn of the century, winning 12 of the last 14 meetings (although the 2010 victory was later vacated).
With more than a century of history to sift through, here's a look at the five moments that shaped one of the greatest rivalries on all of sports.
No. 5: When Bo Schembechler Made His Rivarly Debut
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One of the best moments from Ohio State's storied rivalry with Michigan is arguably its most painful.
The top-ranked Buckeyes entered the 1969 matchup riding a 22-game winning streak and were well on their way to a second consecutive national title under famed head coach Woody Hayes. On the other sideline was Bo Schembechler, the first-year head man and former protege under Hayes who was making his coaching debut in the rivalry.
Ohio State was supposed to cruise over No. 12 Michigan, but it ran into a buzz saw in Ann Arbor, falling in a 24-12 upset that still registers as one of the most painful in Ohio State history.
“We got bushwhacked on that one, pretty much," former Ohio State defensive end Mark Debevc said, according to Rob Oller of The Columbus Dispatch. "That day they beat the snot out of us.”
And while that loss stung like few others, it served as the first shot fired in what is now known as "The Ten Year War," between Ohio State and Michigan. Schembechler's historic upset in '69 sparked one of the most intense 10-year stretches in all of sports, and the heat from that fire has fueled this rivalry for 46 years and counting.
Despite the pain that loss caused, it's one of the biggest reasons the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry reached and maintained its relevance over the last four-and-a-half decades.
No. 4: When Ohio State Clinched a National Title Berth in 2002
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This moment should conjure warmer memories for Buckeyes fans.
Much like the 1969 game, Ohio State was set to take on a 12th-ranked and twice-beaten Michigan team that was hell-bent on derailing an undefeated Buckeyes title run. This time, though, The Game took place in the friendly confines of Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Ohio State was outplayed by Michigan for much of the game—it was outgained 368 yards to 264—and it trailed 9-7 midway through the fourth quarter. That's when quarterback Craig Krenzel orchestrated a brilliant 69-yard touchdown drive that was capped by a three-yard run from Maurice Hall.
That go-ahead score sealed a perfect 13-0 regular season and catapulted Ohio State into the BCS National Championship Game, where it beat the heavily favored Miami Hurricanes 31-24 in a double-overtime thriller.
No. 3: When Ohio State Won the Tiebreaker
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College football used to be weird.
It's still weird, of course, but it used to be really weird during the time Hayes and Schembechler roamed the sidelines.
Back then, bowl games weren't awarded to every team with at least a .500 record, only to conference champions. Every year, the Big Ten champion was sent to the Rose Bowl to meet the Pac-10 champion.
In 1973, No. 1 Ohio State and No. 4 Michigan were both undefeated and vying for the right to represent the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl, and potentially, win a national title. It was a defensive slug fest that featured a strong second-half performance from Michigan that ended in a 10-10 tie. And although a vote among the Big Ten athletic directors was to decide who would represent the conference in the postseason, the feeling after the game was that Michigan was the deserving team.
But after the vote came out, it was the Buckeyes who were pegged as the Big Ten representative, resulting in a meltdown for Michigan and its head coach. Schembechler was irate with the decision and made that clear after the news broke, via a Big Ten Network special called "The Tiebreaker." (h/t YouTube user jcbakkar)
"Well there's no question I'm very bitter and I resent it. I think it's a tragic thing for Big Ten football. I think they denied the team that won and deserved the right to go. I've got to face my football team and tell them that, and I don't know exactly how to approach it. ...
We earned the right and they take it away from us.
"
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No. 2: When Jim Tressel Made Good on His Promise
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Following Hayes' reign as the head man at Ohio State, Michigan took control of the rivalry.
Earl Bruce took over for Hayes in 1979 and performed well against the Wolverines, going 5-4 in his nine-year stretch in Columbus. But when Bruce gave way to John Cooper, the Buckeyes bottomed out in the rivalry. From 1988-2000, Ohio State went 2-10-1 against Michigan despite fielding some of the most dominant teams in Buckeyes history.
So when Ohio State brought in Jim Tressel to take over, he turned heads when he made a bold statement in his first public appearance as the Buckeyes head man.
"I can assure [you] that you'll be proud of our young people, in the classroom, in the community, and most especially, in 310 days, in Ann Arbor Michigan, on the football field," Tressel said at a basketball game in early 2001. (h/t YouTube user Mark Bonnett)
Exactly 310 days after that statement, a four-loss Ohio State team invaded Ann Arbor to play No. 10 Michigan, which had already sewn up the Big Ten title. The Buckeyes were the hungrier and more physical team, racing out to a 23-0 first-half lead before holding on for the 26-20 upset. It was Ohio State's first victory in Ann Arbor since 1987, and it marked a turning point in the rivalry.
Tressel absolutely dominated Michigan during his tenure in Columbus, losing just one of his 10 matchups with the Wolverines. The Buckeyes have maintained that dominance since Tressel's departure, winning the last three games with Urban Meyer at the helm—but it all started with Tressel's promise in 2001.
No. 1: When No. 1 Played No. 2
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There was no bigger game, moment or situation in the history of the rivalry than in 2006, when No. 1 Ohio State squared off against No. 2 Michigan in Ohio Stadium.
The hype for this game built all season as the undefeated teams steamrolled through their schedules. The Buckeyes ran wire-to-wire as the country's top-ranked team while the Wolverines used an early rout of No. 2 Notre Dame to vault into title contention. From Week 8 until the regular-season showdown, Ohio State and Michigan were atop the polls and on a collision course.
And when the game arrived, it didn't disappoint.
It looked like the Buckeyes would roll as quarterback Troy Smith gashed the Wolverines defense for 28 first-half points. But Michigan battled back in the second half and pulled to within four points when a Mike Hart touchdown run made it 35-31 early in the fourth.
But like he had all season, Smith came through for the Buckeyes with a 13-play, 83-yard drive that was capped by his fourth touchdown throw of the day. Michigan scored late but failed to recover an onside kick, and Ohio State went on to win 42-39.
With the win, the Buckeyes clinched the Big Ten title and booked their spot in the BCS national title game. It also served as the defining moment in Smith's season, as he brought home the seventh Heisman Trophy in school history.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
