The Michigan-Ohio State football rivalry, often referred to simply as "The Game," stands as one of the most storied and intense rivalries in American sports. This annual clash between the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes dates back to their first meeting on October 16, 1897, where Michigan triumphed 34-0. Over the years, this rivalry has evolved into a cultural phenomenon. Beyond athletic competition, "The Game" fosters community engagement through events such as blood drives and food collection initiatives that benefit local charities. After years of struggles against Ohio State, Michigan secured back-to-back victories in 2021 and 2022, marking a significant turnaround for the program. The Wolverines' victory in Columbus in 2022 was particularly notable as it ended a long-standing drought for Michigan at Ohio Stadium. Both teams prepare for their next meeting on November 30, 2024.
Ohio State vs Michigan Football Rivalry History
The Ohio State vs Michigan rivalry has been characterized by its competitive nature and significant implications for conference titles and national rankings. As of 2024, the two teams have faced each other 119 times, with Michigan leading the all-time series 61-51-6. The games have often determined the Big Ten Conference champion and have had a substantial impact on postseason bowl selections, particularly the Rose Bowl. Notably, from 1918 until 2020, the game was played annually without interruption, except for a cancellation in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns.
Throughout its history, the rivalry has seen periods of dominance by both teams. Michigan initially controlled the early years of the series, but Ohio State began to assert itself in the mid-20th century under legendary coach Woody Hayes. One memorable stretch occurred from 1934 to 1937 when Ohio State achieved four consecutive shutout victories against Michigan, outscoring them 114-0. This era solidified Ohio State's reputation as a powerhouse in college football. The rivalry intensified during the late 20th century, particularly during the coaching tenures of Bo Schembechler at Michigan and Woody Hayes at Ohio State. The late 1990s and early 2000s saw Ohio State reclaim dominance under coach Jim Tressel, culminating in a national championship appearance following a victory over Michigan in 2002.
Ohio State vs Michigan Football Rivalry head-to-head Stats
| Category | Ohio State | Michigan | Category | Ohio State |
| All-Time Series Record | 51 wins | 61 wins | All-Time Series Record | 51 wins |
| Current Win Streak | N/A | 3 games | Current Win Streak | N/A |
| Last Meeting Result | Loss (24-30) | Win (30-24) | Last Meeting Result | Loss (24-30) |
| Next Meeting Date | November 30, 2024 | N/A | Next Meeting Date | November 30, 2024 |
Ohio State vs Michigan Football Rivalry Winner Year-by-Year
| No. | Date | Location | Winning team | Losing team | ||
| 1 | October 16, 1897 | Ann Arbor | Michigan | 34 | Ohio State | 0 |
| 2 | November 24, 1900 | Ann Arbor | Tie | 0 | Tie | 0 |
| 3 | November 9, 1901 | Columbus | Michigan | 21 | Ohio State | 0 |
| 4 | October 25, 1902 | Ann Arbor | Michigan | 86 | Ohio State | 0 |
| 5 | November 7, 1903 | Ann Arbor | Michigan | 36 | Ohio State | 0 |
| 6 | October 15, 1904 | Columbus | Michigan | 31 | Ohio State | 6 |
| 7 | November 11, 1905 | Ann Arbor | Michigan | 40 | Ohio State | 0 |
| 8 | October 20, 1906 | Columbus | Michigan | 6 | Ohio State | 0 |
| 9 | October 26, 1907 | Ann Arbor | Michigan | 22 | Ohio State | 0 |
| 10 | October 24, 1908 | Columbus | Michigan | 10 | Ohio State | 6 |
| 11 | October 16, 1909 | Ann Arbor | Michigan | 33 | Ohio State | 6 |
| 12 | October 22, 1910 | Columbus | Tie | 3 | Tie | 3 |
| 13 | October 21, 1911 | Ann Arbor | Michigan | 19 | Ohio State | 0 |
| 14 | October 19, 1912 | Columbus | Michigan | 14 | Ohio State | 0 |
| 15 | November 30, 1918 | Columbus | Michigan | 14 | Ohio State | 0 |
| 16 | October 25, 1919 | Ann Arbor | Ohio State | 13 | Michigan | 3 |
| 17 | November 6, 1920 | Columbus | Ohio State | 14 | Michigan | 7 |
| 18 | October 22, 1921 | Ann Arbor | Ohio State | 14 | Michigan | 0 |
| 19 | October 21, 1922 | Columbus | Michigan | 19 | Ohio State | 0 |
| 20 | October 20, 1923 | Ann Arbor | Michigan | 23 | Ohio State | 0 |
| 21 | November 15, 1924 | Columbus | Michigan | 16 | Ohio State | 6 |
| 22 | November 14, 1925 | Ann Arbor | Michigan | 10 | Ohio State | 0 |
| 23 | November 13, 1926 | Columbus | Michigan | 17 | Ohio State | 16 |
| 24 | October 22, 1927 | Ann Arbor | Michigan | 21 | Ohio State | 0 |
| 25 | October 20, 1928 | Columbus | Ohio State | 19 | Michigan | 7 |
| 26 | October 19, 1929 | Ann Arbor | Ohio State | 7 | Michigan | 0 |
| 27 | October 18, 1930 | Columbus | Michigan | 13 | Ohio State | 0 |
| 28 | October 17, 1931 | Ann Arbor | Ohio State | 7 | Michigan | 0 |
| 29 | October 15, 1932 | Columbus | Michigan | 14 | Ohio State | 0 |
| 30 | October 21, 1933 | Ann Arbor | Michigan | 13 | Ohio State | 0 |
| 31 | November 17, 1934 | Columbus | Ohio State | 34 | Michigan | 0 |
| 32 | November 23, 1935 | Ann Arbor | Ohio State | 38 | Michigan | 0 |
| 33 | November 21, 1936 | Columbus | No. 18 Ohio State | 21 | Michigan | 0 |
| 34 | November 20, 1937 | Ann Arbor | No. 19 Ohio State | 21 | Michigan | 0 |
| 35 | November 19, 1938 | Columbus | No. 17 Michigan | 18 | Ohio State | 0 |
| 36 | November 25, 1939 | Ann Arbor | No. 25 Michigan | 21 | No. 6 Ohio State | 14 |
| 37 | November 23, 1940 | Columbus | No. 7 Michigan | 40 | Ohio State | 0 |
| 38 | November 22, 1941 | Ann Arbor | Tie | 20 | Tie | 20 |
| 39 | November 21, 1942 | Columbus | No. 5 Ohio State | 21 | No. 4 Michigan | 7 |
| 40 | November 20, 1943 | Ann Arbor | No. 4 Michigan | 45 | Ohio State | 7 |
| 41 | November 25, 1944 | Columbus | No. 3 Ohio State | 18 | No. 6 Michigan | 14 |
| 42 | November 24, 1945 | Ann Arbor | No. 8 Michigan | 7 | No. 7 Ohio State | 3 |
| 43 | November 23, 1946 | Columbus | No. 8 Michigan | 58 | Ohio State | 6 |
| 44 | November 22, 1947 | Ann Arbor | No. 1 Michigan | 21 | Ohio State | 0 |
| 45 | November 20, 1948 | Columbus | No. 1 Michigan | 13 | No. 18 Ohio State | 3 |
| 46 | November 19, 1949 | Ann Arbor | Tie | 7 | Tie | 7 |
| 47 | November 25, 1950 | Columbus | Michigan | 9 | No. 8 Ohio State | 3 |
| 48 | November 24, 1951 | Ann Arbor | Michigan | 7 | Ohio State | 0 |
| 49 | November 22, 1952 | Columbus | Ohio State | 27 | No. 12 Michigan | 7 |
| 50 | November 21, 1953 | Ann Arbor | Michigan | 20 | Ohio State | 0 |
| 51 | November 20, 1954 | Columbus | No. 1 Ohio State | 21 | No. 12 Michigan | 7 |
| 52 | November 19, 1955 | Ann Arbor | No. 9 Ohio State | 17 | No. 6 Michigan | 0 |
| 53 | November 24, 1956 | Columbus | No. 9 Michigan | 19 | No. 12 Ohio State | 0 |
| 54 | November 23, 1957 | Ann Arbor | No. 3 Ohio State | 31 | No. 19 Michigan | 14 |
| 55 | November 22, 1958 | Columbus | No. 11 Ohio State | 20 | Michigan | 14 |
| 56 | November 21, 1959 | Ann Arbor | Michigan | 23 | Ohio State | 14 |
| 57 | November 19, 1960 | Columbus | No. 10 Ohio State | 7 | Michigan | 0 |
| 58 | November 25, 1961 | Ann Arbor | No. 2 Ohio State | 50 | Michigan | 20 |
| 59 | November 24, 1962 | Columbus | Ohio State | 28 | Michigan | 0 |
| 60 | November 30, 1963 | Ann Arbor | Ohio State | 14 | Michigan | 10 |
| 61 | November 21, 1964 | Columbus | No. 6 Michigan | 10 | No. 7 Ohio State | 0 |
| 62 | November 20, 1965 | Ann Arbor | Ohio State | 9 | Michigan | 7 |
| 63 | November 19, 1966 | Columbus | Michigan | 17 | Ohio State | 3 |
| 64 | November 25, 1967 | Ann Arbor | Ohio State | 24 | Michigan | 14 |
| 65 | November 23, 1968 | Columbus | No. 2 Ohio State | 50 | No. 4 Michigan | 14 |
| 66 | November 22, 1969 | Ann Arbor | No. 12 Michigan | 24 | No. 1 Ohio State | 12 |
| 67 | November 21, 1970 | Columbus | No. 5 Ohio State | 20 | No. 4 Michigan | 9 |
| 68 | November 20, 1971 | Ann Arbor | No. 3 Michigan | 10 | Ohio State | 7 |
| 69 | November 25, 1972 | Columbus | No. 9 Ohio State | 14 | No. 3 Michigan | 11 |
| 70 | November 24, 1973 | Ann Arbor | Tie | 10 | Tie | 10 |
| 71 | November 23, 1974 | Columbus | No. 4 Ohio State | 12 | No. 3 Michigan | 10 |
| 72 | November 22, 1975 | Ann Arbor | No. 1 Ohio State | 21 | No. 4 Michigan | 14 |
| 73 | November 20, 1976 | Columbus | No. 4 Michigan | 22 | No. 8 Ohio State | 0 |
| 74 | November 19, 1977 | Ann Arbor | No. 5 Michigan | 14 | No. 4 Ohio State | 6 |
| 75 | November 25, 1978 | Columbus | No. 6 Michigan | 14 | No. 16 Ohio State | 3 |
| 76 | November 17, 1979 | Ann Arbor | No. 2 Ohio State | 18 | No. 13 Michigan | 15 |
| 77 | November 22, 1980 | Columbus | No. 10 Michigan | 9 | No. 5 Ohio State | 3 |
| 78 | November 21, 1981 | Ann Arbor | Ohio State | 14 | No. 7 Michigan | 9 |
| 79 | November 20, 1982 | Columbus | Ohio State | 24 | No. 13 Michigan | 14 |
| 80 | November 19, 1983 | Ann Arbor | No. 8 Michigan | 24 | No. 10 Ohio State | 21 |
| 81 | November 17, 1984 | Columbus | No. 11 Ohio State | 21 | Michigan | 6 |
| 82 | November 23, 1985 | Ann Arbor | No. 6 Michigan | 27 | No. 12 Ohio State | 17 |
| 83 | November 22, 1986 | Columbus | No. 6 Michigan | 26 | No. 7 Ohio State | 24 |
| 84 | November 21, 1987 | Ann Arbor | Ohio State | 23 | Michigan | 20 |
| 85 | November 19, 1988 | Columbus | No. 12 Michigan | 34 | Ohio State | 31 |
| 86 | November 25, 1989 | Ann Arbor | No. 3 Michigan | 28 | No. 20 Ohio State | 18 |
| 87 | November 24, 1990 | Columbus | No. 15 Michigan | 16 | No. 19 Ohio State | 13 |
| 88 | November 23, 1991 | Ann Arbor | No. 4 Michigan | 31 | No. 18 Ohio State | 3 |
| 89 | November 21, 1992 | Columbus | Tie | 13 | Tie | 13 |
| 90 | November 20, 1993 | Ann Arbor | Michigan | 28 | No. 5 Ohio State | 0 |
| 91 | November 19, 1994 | Columbus | No. 22 Ohio State | 22 | No. 15 Michigan | 6 |
| 92 | November 25, 1995 | Ann Arbor | No. 18 Michigan | 31 | No. 2 Ohio State | 23 |
| 93 | November 23, 1996 | Columbus | No. 21 Michigan | 13 | No. 2 Ohio State | 9 |
| 94 | November 22, 1997 | Ann Arbor | No. 1 Michigan | 20 | No. 4 Ohio State | 14 |
| 95 | November 21, 1998 | Columbus | No. 7 Ohio State | 31 | No. 11 Michigan | 16 |
| 96 | November 20, 1999 | Ann Arbor | No. 10 Michigan | 24 | Ohio State | 17 |
| 97 | November 18, 2000 | Columbus | No. 19 Michigan | 38 | No. 12 Ohio State | 26 |
| 98 | November 24, 2001 | Ann Arbor | Ohio State | 26 | No. 11 Michigan | 20 |
| 99 | November 23, 2002 | Columbus | No. 2 Ohio State | 14 | No. 12 Michigan | 9 |
| 100 | November 22, 2003 | Ann Arbor | No. 5 Michigan | 35 | No. 4 Ohio State | 21 |
| 101 | November 20, 2004 | Columbus | Ohio State | 37 | No. 7 Michigan | 21 |
| 102 | November 19, 2005 | Ann Arbor | No. 9 Ohio State | 25 | No. 17 Michigan | 21 |
| 103 | November 18, 2006 | Columbus | No. 1 Ohio State | 42 | No. 2 Michigan | 39 |
| 104 | November 17, 2007 | Ann Arbor | No. 7 Ohio State | 14 | No. 23 Michigan | 3 |
| 105 | November 22, 2008 | Columbus | No. 10 Ohio State | 42 | Michigan | 7 |
| 106 | November 21, 2009 | Ann Arbor | No. 9 Ohio State | 21 | Michigan | 10 |
| 107 | November 27, 2010 | Columbus | No. 12 Ohio State† | 37 | Michigan | 7 |
| 108 | November 26, 2011 | Ann Arbor | No. 15 Michigan | 40 | Ohio State | 34 |
| 109 | November 24, 2012 | Columbus | No. 4 Ohio State | 26 | No. 20 Michigan | 21 |
| 110 | November 30, 2013 | Ann Arbor | No. 3 Ohio State | 42 | Michigan | 41 |
| 111 | November 29, 2014 | Columbus | No. 6 Ohio State | 42 | Michigan | 28 |
| 112 | November 28, 2015 | Ann Arbor | No. 8 Ohio State | 42 | No. 10 Michigan | 13 |
| 113 | November 26, 2016 | Columbus | No. 2 Ohio State | 30 | No. 3 Michigan | 272OT |
| 114 | November 25, 2017 | Ann Arbor | No. 9 Ohio State | 31 | Michigan | 20 |
| 115 | November 24, 2018 | Columbus | No. 10 Ohio State | 62 | No. 4 Michigan | 39 |
| 116 | November 30, 2019 | Ann Arbor | No. 1 Ohio State | 56 | No. 13 Michigan | 27 |
| 117 | November 27, 2021 | Ann Arbor | No. 5 Michigan | 42 | No. 2 Ohio State | 27 |
| 118 | November 26, 2022 | Columbus | No. 3 Michigan | 45 | No. 2 Ohio State | 23 |
| 119 | November 25, 2023 | Ann Arbor | No. 3 Michigan | 30 | No. 2 Ohio State | 24 |
FAQ's on Ohio State vs Michigan football rivalry
A. When Michigan and Ohio State met for the first time in 1897, the Toledo War might conceivably have remained in the memories of some still living, and the unproductive wanderings of two hostile militias might have been used to stoke the rivalry between a few supporters of the two opposing teams.
A. The two teams have played 44 games decided by one score (seven points or less). Ohio State leads in these games, 20-18-6 with its last such win in 2016 (30-27 OT in Columbus). Michigan's last one score win: last year, 30-24 in Ann Arbor.
A. University of Michigan (UMich) generally has a stronger reputation for academics overall, especially in fields like engineering, business, and social sciences. Ohio State (OSU) is also well regarded, but may rank slightly lower in certain programs.
