EventChaser

College bowl season is one of the best times of the year for college football, but let’s face it. The very end of the NCAA football regular season may be even more intense, as we are treated to several incredible rivalry games. The Big Dog is going to list his favorites in order from #1 to #10, and where else can we begin but the classic Michigan Wolverines - Ohio State Buckeyes match-up?

History of “The Game”
“The Game” was first held back in 1897. 1918 was when “The Game” began to alternate years in regards to which school would host the affair. Perhaps most important in regards to the history of this clash was when the match-up was scheduled to be the last regular season game for both schools, beginning in 1935.

This game was already hotly contested when Coach Woody Hayes took over at Ohio State in 1951. At this point “The Game” became a bloody, intense affair, with Ohio State putting together a 12-6 record in the rivalry from 1951-1968. In the 1968 game, Ohio State won 50–14, and even threw salt in the wound of the Michigan faithful when they unsuccessfully attempted a two-point conversion after its final touchdown. Supposedly when questioned later why he had his team go for two with such a huge lead Woody Hayes stated, “Because I couldn’t go for three.”

Things changed in 1969. A first year coach that had previously been an assistant coach under Woody Hayes by the name of Bo Schembechler led the Wolverines to an upset 24-12 victory over the Buckeyes, ending their 22 game winning streak. This began the “Ten-Year War” between the two schools, with Schembechler having the edge with a 5-4-1 mark against his mentor and former boss.

Earle Bruce took over for Woody Hayes and put together a 5-4 mark against Coach Schembechler from 1979-1987. This was one of the more balanced periods of the rivalry, as no team won more than two consecutive contests. When Coach Bruce was fired John Cooper took over the reins for the Buckeyes. Despite many successful seasons Coach Cooper’s Buckeyes squads were hammered by the Wolverines, with Michigan going 10-2-1 during Cooper’s 13 seasons in Columbus.

With all the history in this rivalry and all the outstanding teams from both colleges, 2006 is the one year “The Game” was played with the two schools ranked Numbers One and Two in the nation. In a game that will go down as one of college football’s all-time bests, Ohio State defeated Michigan 42-39 to claim the Big Ten title and earn a spot in that season’s BCS Championship Game. Bo Schembechler passed away the night before “The Game”, and incredibly about a half hour before “The Game” ended, the Ohio Lottery PICK 4 evening drawing was 4-2-3-9, matching the final score of the game and paying out up to $5,000 per winner, for a total payout of $2.2 million. Eerie …

Going into the 2009 Michigan-Ohio State game the Wolverines hold a 57-42-6 edge in the series. “The Game” often decides the champion of the Big Ten Conference and more important, has often determined which school will be the Big Ten representative in the Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes currently have a five-game winning streak going in the rivalry.

Back in 2000 ESPN proclaimed “The Game” as the greatest North American sports rivalry, and as a college football fan this is a game you will want to see at least once in your lifetime.

What a way to start, and to think we have nine more games to go!

Take care,
The Big Dog

Michigan football tickets
Ohio State football tickets
Michigan Ohio State tickets