Offensive rebounders
History of Michigan, OSU resilience after worst rivalry losses
Let’s get this out of the way: 62-39. 62-39? 62-39! Sound familiar? That was the score of last season’s game between Ohio State and Michigan, won — as you might have heard once or twice in the last year — decisively by the Buckeyes.
And now here we are, with the Wolverines preparing to try to avenge their 23-point loss and end a skid in which they have lost seven straight to the Buckeyes and 14 of 15 in the rivalry. Of course, it’s not the first time either team has lost by at least 20 points in the series — it’s just the most recent.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the six games after beatings of at least 20 points in the rivalry in the last 50 years, dating to Bo Schembechler’s first season at Michigan:
Nov. 19, 1977
The year before:
Michigan 22-0.
Did they get their revenge? Nope. The Buckeyes did at least score, taking an early 3-0 lead in Ann Arbor. But Michigan got a touchdown late in the first half and tacked on another early in the second. Ohio State’s defense was solid, allowing just 10 first downs, but its offense couldn’t get it done. Michigan got three big stops and benefited from a missed field goal and a late fumble by OSU quarterback Rod Gerald.
That fumble also led to the biggest drama of the afternoon, when OSU coach Woody Hayes punched an ABC cameraman in the stomach on the sideline in frustration. Hayes had regained his composure by the postgame news conference, opening with the statement: “Gentlemen, that was the best game we’ve ever played and lost.”
The Wolverines were outplayed but held on for a 14-6 victory and a spot in the Rose Bowl.
Nov. 21, 1992
Ohio State lost to
The year before:
Michigan 31-3.
Did they get their revenge? Well, kinda. The Buckeyes didn’t win, but they didn’t lose either. Instead, they had to settle for a 13-13 tie, and Michigan stayed undefeated for the first time since 1973 and headed to the Rose Bowl.
Quarterback Kirk Herbstreit led the Buckeyes back from a 13-3 fourth-quarter deficit on a soggy afternoon in Columbus, and they scored the tying touchdown on a fourth-down pass from 5 yards out with 4:24 remaining. That finish had some Ohio State fans, well, seeing red, as coach John Cooper opted to kick the extra point for the tie rather than go for two and the win. Cooper, who had yet to beat Michigan in five tries, said after the game: “It never crossed my mind to go for two points.”
Ohio State got the ball back later in the game but couldn’t pick up any more points, crushing Herbstreit, who complained to the Detroit News: “Believe me, this wasn’t anything to celebrate as far as we’re concerned. It felt like another loss.”
Nov. 19, 1994
Ohio State lost to
The year before:
Michigan 28-0.
Did they get their revenge? Yes! If you think Jim Harbaugh’s seat is getting a little warm after four straight losses to OSU, imagine Cooper’s discomfort entering 1994 after five losses and one tie against the Wolverines. It was enough that Michigan co-captain Walter Smith said before the game: “We want to get Cooper fired. That’s what I want to do.”
Michigan’s dreadful offense made sure that didn’t happen, putting up just 14 first downs, 271 total yards and two field goals in a 22-6 loss in Columbus. Michigan started strong, driving to the edge of the red zone, but quarterback Todd Collins couldn’t connect with fullback Che Foster on fourth-and-1. On its next drive, starting from its own 1, Collins tripped in the end zone for a safety, and the Buckeyes took it from there.
The Michigan defense allowed just 210 yards, but Ohio State continually had strong field position and put it away in the fourth quarter after linebacker Luke Fickell picked off Collins at Michigan’s 16-yard line. Cooper lasted six more seasons in Columbus — though he beat Michigan just one more time.
Ohio State lost to