To many, Michigan-Ohio State is the best rivalry in all of sports. There are numerous reasons as to why this game tops all others, but one of them is because of the history the series holds.
The two teams first met in 1897 and have played every season since 1918. The 112 meetings have provided fans with an unimaginable amount of joy, heartbreak and every emotion in between. The the rivalry means so much to so many people.
To get a better understanding of the series’ history, we’ve taken a look at how each team has fared in every full decade since the inception of “The Game.”
Michigan won the first-ever meeting between the two programs in 1897, 34-0. A three-year hiatus then occurred, and the two teams did not play again until 1900.
1900s (Michigan's record: 9-0-1)
Under Fielding Yost, Michigan dominated Ohio State in the opening decade of the 20th century. The Wolverines never lost to the Buckeyes, but did tie with them, 0-0, in 1900. Not only did Michigan consistently beat Ohio State during this decade, they dominated them. The Maize and Blue gave up a total of 18 points to the Buckeyes in the 10 meetings. The largest margin of victory by either team in the rivalry’s history occurred in 1902, when Michigan won, 86-0.
1910s (3-1-1)
Michigan and Ohio State only played five times in the 1910s and did not face each other from 1913-1917. The Wolverines once again held the edge during this decade, although the Buckeyes did pick up their first win in the series with a 13-3 victory in 1919. Michigan’s defense also dominated Ohio State during this era, shutting it out three straight times in 1911, 1912 and 1918.
1920s (6-4)
The Maize and Blue held the advantage yet again in the 1920s, but the Buckeyes began to close the gap. After the 1926 season, Yost stepped down as head coach of the Michigan football empire he had built; his team also won in Columbus that season, 17-16. Yost’s replacements did not enjoy the same kind of success against Ohio State.
1930s (5-5)
The 1930s saw the two teams split their 10 meetings, 5-5, a sign that Ohio State had evened the playing field with the team that had once dominated them. The Buckeyes beat the Wolverines four straight times from 1934-1937, which marked their longest winning streak in the series at the time. Fritz Crisler took over as Michigan’s coach in 1938 and beat the Buckeyes, 18-0, in his first season.
1940s (6-2-2)
Michigan regained its dominance over Ohio State in the 1940s, mainly due to Crisler’s presence at the helm. Crisler helped restore the winning tradition at Michigan that had faltered a bit in the years after Yost retired.
One of the most memorable games in the rivalry’s history occurred at The Horseshoe in 1940 — Heisman Trophy winner Tom Harmon put on a performance for the ages, causing the Buckeye faithful to give him a standing ovation at the game’s conclusion, a feat that is surely never to occur again. Michigan won the game, 40-0, thanks to Harmon's three interceptions, three touchdowns, two touchdown passes, 371 total yards and 50-yard average on three punts.
1950s (5-5)
Bennie Oosterbaan, who took over as U-M head coach in 1948, did not have the same success against the Buckeyes that Crisler had enjoyed. Michigan especially struggled from 1954-1958, when Ohio State took four out of five from the Wolverines. The rivalry was about to swing in the Scarlet and Gray’s favor even more when Oosterbaan stepped down after the ’58 season.
1960s (3-7)
The 1960’s were a dark time for the Wolverines not only in the rivalry with Ohio State, but for the football program in general. Bump Elliott coached the team from 1959-1968 and saw the program hit depths it had never seen before. Bo Schembechler took over in 1969, though, and upset an Ohio State squad that was labeled as one of the greatest teams ever assembled.
1970s (4-5-1)
The 1970s were the golden age in the rivalry’s history, featuring the 10-Year War between legendary coaches Schembechler and Woody Hayes. Some of the most intense, nail-biting games occurred during the ‘70’s, while both programs consistently performed at an elite level. The 1973 matchup was one of the most controversial in the series’ history, ending in a 10-10 tie, which led to conference athletic directors voting Ohio State into the Rose Bowl.
1980s (6-4)
Schembechler coached at Michigan until 1989, while Earle Bruce took over for Hayes at Ohio State and coached from 1979-1987. The Buckeyes took three of the first five meetings in the ‘80s, while the Maize and Blue claimed four of the last five.
1990s (7-2-1)
Michigan had its way with Ohio State in this decade. John Cooper, who coached the Buckeyes from 1988-2000, never fully embraced the magnitude of the rivalry, and it showed on the field. A three-year span from 1995-1997 was especially memorable for the Maize and Blue. In 1995 and 1996, they upset heavily favored Buckeye teams, while the 1997 victory capped off an undefeated regular season.
2000s (2-8)
The 2000s were the worst decade for Michigan ever against Ohio State. The Maize and Blue won in Columbus in 2000 and then in Ann Arbor in the 100th matchup in 2003, but did not win again.
By the Numbers: Michigan at Ohio State
1st & 4th Is where Michigan (.731) and Ohio State (.722) rank in all-time winning percentage, respectively.
2nd Time that both teams will face each other when ranked in the nation's top 3. The other was 2006, when they faced off as the top two teams in the country.
5 Total hours of coverage for ESPN's College GameDay on Saturday from Columbus. The show normally starts at 9 a.m. and is three hours long, but will instead start at 7 a.m.
7.7 & 7.3 Yards per carry average for Ohio State junior H-back Curtis Samuel and U-M freshman running back Chris Evans, respectively. Samuel’s mark is second-best in the Big Ten, while Evans’ is third.
46 Degrees is the projected high Saturday in Columbus. It is also prodicted to be partly sunny with little wind, which should make for a perfect late November day.
1,440 Combined rushing and receiving yards for Samuel. He has 650 rushing yards and 790 receiving yards.
2000 Was the last time Michigan won at Ohio State, when quarterback Drew Henson led the Wolverines to a 38-26 victory. The 16-year drought at Ohio Stadium is Michigan’s longest ever.
2007 Was the last time College GameDay attended a Michigan-Ohio State game.
