Michigan vs. Ohio State

College Football Rivalries

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Dubbed "The Big Game" by college football enthusiasts for years, the Michigan-Ohio State game was voted by ESPN.com readers as the best rivalry in all of college football. Better than Army-Navy. Better than Florida-Florida State. Better than Harvard-Yale. Why is this?

It could very well be because of the teams' dominance over the years (32 times since 1935 the game has decided the Big Ten title and 18 of those times the title was settled between the two). It could also be because of the almost war between the two states over the Toledo Strip, an area of land that the two states disputed ownership over for years in the 1800s.

Either way, the history of the rivalry is the stuff of legend and lore. Here are a few facts about the rivalry:

• In 1950, the teams played in a snowstorm, combining for 45 punts, often giving up possession on first down. Michigan won, 9-3. The game was dubbed "The Snow Bowl."
• In 1968, When the Buckeyes scored a touchdown to go up 48-14, Woody Hayes ordered his team to go for two, which they did with success. OSU Won 50-14. When asked after the game why he went for two with that big a lead, Woody responded "Because I couldn't go for three!"
• In 1973, undefeated No. 1 Ohio State visits undefeated No. 4 Michigan for the Big Ten championship. The two teams battle to a 10-10 tie. Big Ten athletic directors vote on who gets to advance to the Rose Bowl, awarding it to Ohio State.
• Legend has it that former Ohio State coach Woody Hayes hated Michigan so much that he refused to spend money in the state. So, when his car ran out of gas a few miles from the border, he is said to have pushed his vehicle to a gas station in Ohio.
• Former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler played under Hayes at Miami (OH) and was an assistant for him at OSU before taking the job at Michigan. The two faced each other 10 times (1969-78), with Schembechler holding a 5-4-1 advantage over his mentor.
• There is no traveling trophy for the rivalry, but Ohio State players are given a gold charm in the form of football pants when they defeat the Wolverines. It is unknown if Michigan players receive anything.

Michigan leads the all-time series, 57-40-6

[edit] All-Time Results