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Michigan vs. Ohio State Rivalry
How much have Ohio State and Michigan dominated the Big Ten conference? Since 1913, the two Midwest juggernauts have combined for all or part of 70 Big Ten titles and the have finished 1-2 in the standings 15 times since 1968. Everyone else in the conference has combined for 81 Big Ten titles. Michigan's all-time Big Ten winning percentage is .730; Ohio State's is .716. Number three? Illinois at .462. In a sentence, the end of season showdown between these two has meant everything to the Big Ten race for the last one hundred years.How important is beating the other team in this rivalry? John Cooper won 71 percent of his games as the Buckeyes head coach with a string of four 10-win seasons in the late 1990s, but he failed miserably against his rival; going 2-10-1 against Michigan. Five of those losses cost Ohio State the Big Ten championship and one even cost the Buckeyes a shot at the national title. Cooper was gone in 2001.
As the legend is told, former Buckeye legendary coach Woody Hayes was on his way back to Columbus from a recruiting trip in Michigan when his car ran out of gas. He ignored a gas station just north of the Ohio border and ended up pushing his car over the state line rather than spend money in Michigan.
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.
• 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. 2006 #1 Ohio State vs #2 Michigan Preview video: