Ohio State vs. Michigan— “The Game” turns 128-years-old originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The most anticipated rivalry in college football needs no introduction.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMichigan and Ohio State meet annually with Big Ten and playoff stakes nearly always attached. This year is no exception with the top-ranked Buckeyes staying on top with everything to lose before the conference championship week.
The matchup, dubbed “The Game,” started in 1897 and has produced some of the sport’s most defining moments, including No. 1-vs-No. 2 showdowns and postseason implications years before a formal playoff existed. Ryan Day's OSU squad will likely go on to a Playoff future with Sherrone Moore's Wolverines needing to beat the team down south for a possible Playoff bid. It's a longshot, but there's a chance with history on their side. Michigan has won four straight in the series. A trade-off with the Buckeyes winning eight straight before the recent Big Blue run.
Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler entrenched this game as a referendum on toughness, leverage and preparation. Ohio State has leaned on elite skill talent in recent decades, while Michigan’s resurgence under Jim Harbaugh returned balance to the rivalry. Fans line up and hold countdowns year-round for Saturday's game to come. Bragging rights are permanent and wins are the biggest through recruiting trails and alumni networks for decades.
No. 1 Ohio State meets No. 15 Michigan in Ann Arbor on Saturday (Noon ET, FOX).
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