More than Frazier-Ali, the Bo-Sox-Yankees, Duke-North Carolina, and Nicklaus-Palmer, the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines college gridiron rivalry has been surveyed and polled year after year as the greatest there’s ever been.
That’s quite a list to conquer, especially in college football when numerous rivalries such as Auburn-Alabama, Florida State-Miami, Stanford-Cal and Oklahoma-Nebraska light up the scoreboard at some time during the season.
On Saturday in Ann Arbor, one of the year’s most highly reviewed and most-watched sporting events between the pair of Big Ten elites will unfold for the 102nd time in its history.
Ohio State has won three out of the last four meetings, though Michigan still holds the series lead with a record of 54-36-7.
In a rivalry that dates back to 1897, the game between the Buckeyes and Wolverines more often than not determines the champion of the Big Ten and the team to represent the conference in the Rose Bowl.
The game has also had National Championship implications.
Back in 1995 and 1996, the Buckeyes were ranked No.2 in the nation and favored to appear in the National Championship Bowl Game before stubbing their toes on Tim Biakabatuka and the Wolverines who emerged from No.21 and No.18 to upset OSU.
In 2003, the Buckeyes and Wolverines were No.4 and No.5 respectively when UM crushed the Bucks’ hopes at a Big Ten Title and Rose Bowl bid.
It is a rivalry that has throughout the years showcased some of the best talent in college football in the ranks of Desmond Howard, Charles Woodson, Tom Harmon, Archie Griffin, Eddie George and David Boston to name a few, and legendary coaches such as Paul Brown, Woody Hayes and Bo Schemblechler.
It is a rivalry based on rich tradition and pride, and enmity toward one another.
However the biggest attribute to the teams’ intense rivalry has been the upsetting defeats that have devastated promising seasons, and the bragging rights for the coming year.
The Bucks and Wolverines live and die each season on their annual contest on the third Saturday of November. A season could virtually be over, but it’s a successful season when either team defeats the other in their season finale.
Though this year neither team has championship implications, the No.9 Buckeyes need a win against Michigan and a Penn State loss to Michigan State to push ahead for a chance at an at-large BCS bid and a possible match up with Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.
Though the fact is, the season is never over until the game is over.
As the teams prepare for Saturday, both will set all prior games on the back burner and take to the field in yet another classic gridiron battle.
Until then there will be taunting and trash talking amongst fans and critics of either team alike.
For those at BGSU who live in somewhat of a neutral zone nearly halfway on I-75 between Columbus and Ann Arbor, the heat of the rivalry can be felt more here than anywhere else.
When talking with several students on campus about the glorified rivalry, responses tended to be the same.
“This game is so great because it’s much more than just a game,” says junior Dave Mariouw, a long time Michigan fan.
Junior Dustin Wanemacher, a fan of the Buckeyes, agreed with Mariouw. “If your team wins this game, it makes it that much better when you wear something of your team colors.”
While it is known that the game between the Buckeyes and Wolverines is one that determines success on the football field, it is just as much a game for the fans that support and represent the schools on the field.
If there is one thing for sure, it’s that there will be competition between both friends and enemies, no matter where you go.
Dave Mariouw may have summed it up the best.
“It’s the one week of the year where I lose half of my friends.”
