By Danielle Daniels
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Saturday afternoon in Ann Arbor, the No. 2 and undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes will take on the No. 3 and undefeated Michigan Wolverines in the 119th edition of the greatest rivalry in sports.
First and Ten
• Michigan has won the last two games in the series after Ohio State had won eight consecutive, between 2012-19, and the Wolverines hold a 60-51-6 advantage in wins.
• The winner is the final Big Ten Conference East Division Champion – Ohio State has won or shared 10 since divisional play began in 2011; Michigan has won three – and advances to the Big Ten Championship game against Iowa at Lucas Oil Stadium Dec. 2. Kickoff for the title game is set for 8 p.m. with FOX televising.
• Ohio State is seeking a seventh Big Ten title game appearance while Michigan is looking for a three-peat trip to Indianapolis and a third consecutive Big Ten championship.
• The game represents the 13th meeting between the two programs with both ranked in the Associated Press Top 5. This is the most AP Top 5 meetings for any rivalry. Ohio State leads these games in wins: 7-4-1.
Numbers To Know
7: Both WR Marvin Harrison Jr. and RB TreVeyon Henderson have scored touchdowns in seven consecutive games. Harrison Jr. has scored 11 touchdowns in this stretch while Henderson has 10.
8: Ohio State’s current 11-game winning streak is the eighth of at least 11 games this century. The Buckeyes have previously won 11 consecutive games in 2002, 2006, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2019 and 2022 since 2000.
D: Big defense will be on display this week. Ohio State is third in total defense, second in scoring and first against the pass. Michigan is No. 1 in total defense and scoring defense and No. 2 in passing defense.
77-6: Ohio State is 77-6 in Big Ten divisional play since 2014, which is No. 1 nationally with a .927 percentage. Michigan State, Penn State, Iowa, Purdue and Michigan – twice – are the losses.
A Productive Stretch
TreVeyon Henderson has rushed for 499 yards in the last four games – 124.8 yards per game – and the Buckeyes have produced 712 rushing yards and averaged 178.0 yards per game during this four-game stretch. In the process, Ohio State has improved its rushing game to 145.5 yards per game and 4.3 yards per carry. The team is averaging 429.3 yards of offense per game.
Notes On The Matchup
• Ohio State trails in the all-time series in games played in Ann Arbor: 32-24-4.
• The 2020 game at Ohio Stadium was cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic, stopping a streak of 102 consecutive years – dating to 1918 – that these rivals had played on the gridiron.
• Michigan snapped its longest losing streak to Ohio State – eight games from 2012-19 – in the 2021 game at Michigan Stadium.
• Michigan’s longest winning streak over Ohio State: nine consecutive games from 1901-09 which is the longest win streak in the series.
• Ohio State is 16-5 vs. Michigan in the 2000s.
• Prior to 2000, Michigan had won 13 of the previous 20 games between 1980 and 1999 with one tie.
More Ohio State/Michigan Lore
• Since 1951, Woody Hayes’ first season as Ohio State’s head coach, the Buckeyes lead the series 39-29-2.
• These two teams have played in the regular season finale every year since 1935 except twice: in 1942 Ohio State defeated Iowa Pre-Flight to cap a 9-1 season that featured the school’s first Associated Press national title, and in 2020 when the game was canceled due to COVID-19.
• Michigan has a Big Ten-best 44 conference titles; Ohio State is second with 39.
• The two teams have played 43 games decided by one score (seven points or less). Ohio State leads in these games, 20-17-6 with its last such win in 2016 (30-27 OT in Columbus). Michigan’s last win: 2011 (40-34 in Ann Arbor).
• Saturday’s meeting will be the 26th with both teams ranked in the Top 10 of the Associated Press poll. Ohio State leads in these games: 12-11-2.
Dating Ourselves
2024: In an 18-team, division-less Big Ten Conference next season, the two teams meet Nov. 30 in Columbus.
2006: For the first time in rivalry history, Ohio State and Michigan met as the nation’s No. 1 and No. 2-ranked teams.
1999: ESPN.com christened the Ohio State/Michigan rivalry the greatest of the 20th century. Ali vs. Frazier was No. 2.
1969-78: The 10-Year War era / Woody vs. Bo decade with each team winning five times and nine times an outright Big Ten title was at stake.
1934: Ohio State began awarding players gold pants after wins over Michigan.
1927: Ohio State was Michigan’s opponent for the dedication game of Michigan Stadium.
1922: Michigan was Ohio State’s opponent for the dedication game of Ohio Stadium.
1902: Ohio State’s alma mater “Carmen Ohio” was written on a train ride home following the game in Ann Arbor.
Undefeated and Untied
• Ohio State and Michigan have met only four times in the last 53 years – since 1970 – with both teams undefeated and untied.
• This year and last represents the first time for back-to-back seasons with both undefeated and untied.
• Michigan prevailed last year; Ohio State won in 1970 and 2006; and the teams tied in 1973.
2022 – UM (11-0) 45, Ohio State (11-0) 23
2006 – Ohio State (11-0) 42, UM (11-0), 39
1973 – Ohio State (9-0) 10, UM (10-0) 10
1970 – Ohio State (8-0) 20, UM (9-0) 9
COURTESY OSU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
