Dubbed The Game, the Ohio State and Michigan State University (MSU) rivalry has been going on for more than 100 years. Soon enough, they will compete once again in their upcoming game on September 28, 2024, to continue their rivalry. However, before we witness the rivalry spark again, we need to revisit how the rivalry started and some of the highlights of one of the longest rivalries in college football history. Let’s start.

The Game Begins

Michigan started playing football in 1879, more than a decade later than Ohio, which started playing football in 1890. Of course, because of this, the Wolverines had a leg up in the competition, boasting a decade-long experience against Ohio’s newly started football team.

 

It’s not surprising that the first game that the two universities had with each other ended with Michigan winning 34-0. Their first game was in 1897. After that, The Game went on to be controlled by MSU, winning 19 out of 24 games against Ohio State. Ohio only won three with two games being tied.

Schmidt and Brown

When Ohio State hired Francis Schmidt as the head coach for the team, the rivalry was 22-6-2 in Michigan’s favor. Upon his arrival, the natives questioned if the new hire was right for the team. Schmidt said he could turn the tides, continuing to say that he would make the players “put on one leg at a time,” or something similar to that effect.

 

Ohio then began winning 4 games in a row with a combined score of 114-0. To this day, Ohio State gives their players a “Gold Pants Charm” to honor Schmidt, who helped OSU be on the college football map. After that, Paul Brown arrived at Ohio State to help it become the college factory for the football it is today.

Current Record

The two universities overall have met with each other 119 times with the all-time standing being 61-51-6 in favor of Michigan. However, they have been losing to Ohio for 8 games recently, only breaking it with their streak of three games in the last three years.

 

Michigan’s longest win streak was nine games from 1901-1909, with one of the games having the largest win margin, 86-0. Ohio’s win streak, on the other hand, was eight games from 2012-2019. The Buckeyes’ largest win margin was 38-0.

 

Even though MSU has been dominating the last five years, it seems like it’s going to end as this

year favors Ohio State, with Ohio State Buckeyes Odds being favored by -3000 and MSU with +1300, which means that most people believe that Ohio State will win their upcoming game.

Game of the Century

Of course, this guide to their rivalry wouldn’t be complete without talking about the Game of the Century back in 2006. For the first time, Ohio and Michigan came into the game as No.1 and No.2. During the start of the season, Ohio was the number one team, while Michigan came in as 14th. After a win over Notre Dame, Michigan moved into the top six and became the number two.

 

The hype was intense, as the winner of the game would advance to the BCS national championship. Also, Michigan came into the game with heavy hearts, as their former coach had died the previous day. The game was intense, but Ohio State prevailed 42-39.

The Last Ten Years

The last ten years of the rivalry are probably the most interesting so far. During the last decade, Ohio State dominated the rivalry with seven wins from 2013 to 2019. However, Michigan has been turning the table for the past three years, having a three-game winning streak from 2021 to 2023. They even gave the Buckeyes three-digit losses back in 2021 and 2022. Both universities are within the top five of the rankings during these seasons.

 

Both programs have also been producing great NFL players during the last decade. For Michigan, Aidan Hutchinson, a Detroit Lions defensive end; Rashan Gary, who plays the same position in the Green Bay Packers; Taylor Lewan, a former Tennessee Titans tackle; and New Orleans Saints O-lineman Cesar Ruiz are just some of the best that Michigan contributed to the NFL.

 

Hutchinson, in particular, was a surprising pick for second overall. Not only that but in 2022, he won Rookie of the Year. He then proceeded to have 52 tackles. At the same time, he is the fourth player to have at least nine sacks, two fumble recoveries, and three interceptions in one season in 40 years.

 

The list for Ohio State is even more impressive. It includes Houston Texans C.J. Stroud, Chris Olave, and Garrett Wilson. There’s also Bears starting quarterback Justin Fields, Nick Bosa, Joey Bosa, and Chase Young as defensive ends, etc. That’s not all; Ohio State also has won nearly all seven Rookie of the Year awards in the past seven years.

Final Words

Despite more than 100 years of competition, the Game is far from over. The rivalry is a story of triumph, challenges, and drama, and with the Game continuing on September 28, another chapter of their history will soon unfold. It’s only a matter of time before we see whether MSU will continue its streak or Ohio State will break it.