Ranking Michigan’s last four wins over Ohio State

After two decades of disappointment and despair, the Michigan Wolverines completely turned the rivalry with Ohio State around and reestablished their dominance over the Buckeyes. And while talent has certainly played a role in Michigan’s recent success, it’s the Wolverines’ physical and mental toughness that has caused the biggest problem for Ohio State over the past four years.

Considering all of the incredible moments that have happened in this rivalry over the past four years, it hasn’t been easy to rank them. Every game was critical and every game held tremendous importance in the rivalry. But for the purposes of this article, here is how I would rank the last four matchups between Michigan and Ohio State.

Michigan entered the Horseshoe on November 26, 2022 without having won a football game in Columbus in more than 20 years. And after what happened in Ann Arbor in the 2021 game, the widely held belief was that the powerful Buckeye offense would end Michigan’s winning streak prematurely. But as was the case in 2021, the Wolverines’ physicality in the trenches was simply too much for the Buckeyes to handle. Ohio State had a 20-17 lead in the half, but would be outscored 28-3 in the second half by Michigan – thanks in part to a couple of Donovan Edwards home runs.

This victory reinforced the fact that 2021 was not just a fluke or bad weather fluke. Instead, it was a powerful reminder that Michigan had no intention of ceding its momentum to the rivalry.

It’s certainly a game neither team will ever forget. The Wolverines spent much of the season struggling to become bowl eligible, entering the game against the Buckeyes on November 30 as a three-touchdown underdog. On the other hand, Ohio State had a whole host of veterans who returned for another chance to get their first win against Michigan, while also adding a significant amount of talent from the portal.

Even the most optimistic Michigan fans didn’t have much hope that the Wolverines could pull off the upset given the circumstances surrounding both teams, but that’s exactly what happened. Once again, Michigan’s physical and mental toughness was just too much for the Buckeyes to overcome, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The Wolverines held a powerful Buckeye offense to just 10 total yards in the fourth quarter and didn’t allow a single point – yes zero – for the entire second half.

It was arguably the most dominant (and devastating) 13-10 victory in college football history.

As Michigan looked to close out a perfect regular season, many stories surrounded the 2023 matchup between the Wolverines and Buckeyes. The Michigan football program was under scrutiny from all corners of the college football world due to the sign-stealing controversy, with head coach Jim Harbaugh serving the third game of his suspension, and there were legitimate questions about whether or not the Wolverines would even be allowed. to make the College Football Playoff.

But even amid so much controversy, and without their head coach on the sidelines, the veteran-led Michigan Wolverines responded with another massive victory, capping a perfect 12-0 regular season record. This victory would propel the Wolverines to their third consecutive Big Ten championship and ultimately to the College Football Playoff where they would win their 12th national championship in program history.

The 2023 season is arguably the greatest season in program history, and it wouldn’t have been possible without this win against the Buckeyes.

He’s the one who started it all.

Entering the game, Michigan was riding an eight-game losing streak against Ohio State and had lost 15 of the last 16 games in the rivalry. But as the snow began to fall in Ann Arbor, something about it seemed different. Unlike in years past, when Michigan was often pushed around by Ohio State, the Wolverines presented themselves as the aggressor. The Wolverines took the fight straight to the Buckeyes, led by a relentless offense that totaled 297 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.

Defensively, Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo were too much for Ohio State’s offensive line to handle, combining for four sacks on the afternoon. As the clock struck midnight in the Big House, more than 100,000 fans rushed the field and celebrated the most important victory in the history of the rivalry – a victory that would spark the most successful streak in the history of the rivalry. history of the program.

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