Michigan Football Rivalries
Michigan Football has a number of rivalries. The top three core rivalries that define the program are against Ohio State University, Michigan State University, and the University of Notre Dame. These matchups are highly anticipated each season, drawing intense competition and passionate fan engagement.
Michigan Wolverines vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
The rivalry between the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes is one of the most storied and intense in college football history. Known simply as "The Game," this annual matchup often has significant implications for conference championships and national rankings. The fierce competition, historic moments, and passionate fan bases on both sides make this rivalry a highlight of the college football season. As of 2024, Michigan has the most wins and Ohio State has the second most wins of any program in NCAA Division I football history. The rivalry has gathered profound national interest as many of the games determined the Big Ten Conference title and the resulting Rose Bowl Game matchups, as well as the outcome of the NCAA Division I college football championship.
Some facts about Michigan vs. Ohio State
- The Toledo War: The hatred of this rivalry was fueled by both Michigan and Ohio's claim of the Toledo Strip, a 468-square mile region of land at the states' borders. When Michigan tried to join the union in 1835, it tried to include the Toledo Strip in its borders and Ohio blocked its admittance. President Andrew Jackson stepped in and worked out a compromise where Ohio received the Strip and Michigan received the Upper Peninsula, which was mainly an unsettled territory at the time.
- The First Meeting: Michigan was a much better team when the teams first met on Oct. 16, 1897 in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines scored all of their touchdowns in the first half and played conservative ball in the second half en route to a 34-0 win.
- Fielding Yost: In 1901, Michigan hired San Jose State coach Fielding Yost, who quickly turned the Wolverines into the premier program in college football. Yost won six national titles, including four straight from 1901-04. During that period, Michigan won every game, played in the first Rose Bowl, and beat its opposition so badly that his squads were dubbed “Point-a-Minute” teams.
- Paul Brown: In 1941, Ohio State hired Paul Brown, who had won six straight state championships at Massillon Washington High School in Massillon, Ohio. Brown immediately transformed the Buckeyes program and the 1941 Michigan/Ohio State game marked the first time both schools met ranked in the AP poll. The 14th-ranked Buckeyes tied the fifth-ranked Wolverines 20-20. The next year, Ohio State beat Michigan 21-7 on its way to winning the first national title in the program's history.
- 19 National Championships: Ultimately, the reason the rest of the country cares about this game is because of the fact that these schools win. After all, no college football program has won more games in history than Michigan and Ohio State, respectively.
