Football
The Game = Big Ten Championships
By Tom Orr

The Big Ten championship will be on the line this Saturday when the Buckeyes and Wolverines face off in Ann Arbor. But that’s hardly news in this series.

In fact, the game has had a say in which team or teams won the Big Ten title in all but six seasons since 1967. And in three of those six years (1992, 1982, 1971), it was irrelevant to determining the title only because Michigan had already locked up the outright Big Ten championship before the game kicked off.

Put another way, there have only been three times since 1967 that both Ohio State and Michigan were completely out of the conference title race at the time the game kicked off.

2005 - Going into the game: OSU (6-1 in Big Ten play, 8-2 overall) can clinch an outright Big Ten title and BCS berthwith a win over Michigan and a Penn State loss to Michigan State. An OSU win and PSU win would split the championship between those two schools, and give the BCS berth to PSU. An OSU loss and PSU loss would split the championship three ways (with Michigan), and send the Wolverines to the BCS.

2004 - Going into the game: Michigan (7-0 Big Ten, 9-1 overall) could clinch an outright Big Ten title with a win over OSU. The Wolverines would share the title with a loss to OSU, but would only earn the Rose Bowl berth if Iowa beat Wisconsin later that day.

What happened: The Buckeyes upset the Wolverines, 37-21 to cost them an outright championship. However, Michigan backed into the Rose Bowl when Iowa beat Wisconsin a few hours later. The Wolverines lost in Pasadena, 38-37 to Texas. The Buckeyes went to the Alamo Bowl and crushed Oklahoma State, 33-7.

2003 - Going into the game: Michigan (6-1 Big Ten, 9-2 overall) and OSU (6-1 Big Ten, 10-1 overall) could each clinch the conference outright with a win. The Buckeyes were hoping to sneak into the national championship game with a win and a little help in the BCS rankings.

What happened: Michigan won, 35-21, clinching the outright Big Ten championship. The Wolverines went to the Rose Bowl, where they lost 35-21 to USC. The Buckeyes earned an at-large BCS berth and beat Kansas State, 35-28 in the Fiesta Bowl.

2002 - Going into the game: OSU (7-0 Big Ten, 12-0 overall) could win a share of the Big Ten championship and a berth in the Fiesta Bowl (national championship) with a victory. The Buckeyes could win the league outright with a win and an Iowa loss against Wisconsin.

Michigan (6-1 Big Ten, 9-2 overall) could clinch a share of the Big Ten championship with a win over OSU and an Iowa loss.

What happened: The Buckeyes hung on for a 14-9 win, claimed a share of the Big Ten championship, and went on to win the national title in the Fiesta Bowl.

Michigan went to the Outback Bowl and beat Florida, 38-30.

2001 - Going into the game: Michigan (6-1 Big Ten, 8-2 overall) could clinch at least a share of the Big Ten and a BCS berth with a win. The Wolverines could claim an outright Big Ten championship with a win and an Illinois loss to Northwestern. Michigan could also clinch the league title and a BCS berth with a loss and an Illinois loss.

What happened: The Buckeyes jumped out to a 23-0 halftime lead and hung on for a 26-20 upset win. Illinois beat Northwestern, denying Michigan a share of the conference title.

Michigan went to the Citrus Bowl and lost 45-17 to Tennessee. OSU went to the Outback Bowl and lost 31-28 to South Carolina.

2000 - Going into the game: Michigan (5-2 Big Ten, 7-3 overall) could claim at least a share of the Big Ten title with a win. They could win it outright with a win, a Northwestern loss to Illinois and a Purdue loss to Indiana.

Ohio State (5-2 Big Ten, 8-2 overall) could clinch at least a share of the Big Ten title with a win. They could win it outright with a win, a Northwestern loss to Illinois and a Purdue loss to Indiana.

What happened: Michigan came into Columbus and beat the Buckeyes, 38-26. Both Purdue and Northwestern won their games, so those teams split the championship with Michigan. Purdue went to the Rose Bowl and lost to Washington. Northwestern went to the Alamo Bowl and lost to Nebraska. Michigan went to the Citrus Bowl and beat Auburn. OSU went to the Outback Bowl and lost to South Carolina.

1999 - Going into the game: Wisconsin clinched the Big Ten title with a win over Iowa one week earlier.

1998 - Going into the game: Michigan (7-0 Big Ten, 8-2 overall) could lock up the Big Ten outright and a Rose Bowl berth with a win over the Buckeyes.

OSU (6-1 Big Ten, 9-1 overall) could clinch a share of the Big Ten with a win, and go to the Rose Bowl with a win and a Wisconsin loss to Penn State.

What happened: The Buckeyes beat the Wolverines, 31-16, but Wisconsin beat Penn State later that night to split the championship three ways (OSU, Wisconsin, Michigan). The Badgers went to the Rose Bowl and beat UCLA. The Buckeyes earned an at-large BCS berth and beat Texas A&M in the Sugar Bowl. Michigan beat Arkansas in the Citrus Bowl.

1997 - Going into the game: Michigan (7-0 Big Ten, 10-0 overall) could clinch the Big Ten title outright, and earn a spot in the Rose Bowl with a win. OSU (6-1 Big Ten, 9-1 overall) could win a co-championship (with Michigan) with a win, and go to the Rose Bowl.

What happened: Michigan beat the Buckeyes, 20-14 to finish an unbeaten regular season. They went on to beat Washington State in the Rose Bowl and win a co-national championship (with Nebraska). The Buckeyes headed to the Sugar Bowl where they lost to Florida State.

1996 - Going into the game: The Buckeyes had already clinched a share of the Big Ten title and the Rose Bowl berth. They could win the title outright with a win over Michigan. A loss would split the championship with Northwestern.

What happened: Michigan overcame a 9-0 halftime deficit to win, 13-9. The Buckeyes shared the Big Ten title with Northwestern, and beat Arizona State, 20-17 in the Rose Bowl. Michigan lost the Outback Bowl to Alabama.

1995 - Going into the game: OSU (7-0 Big Ten, 11-0 overall) could win a share of the Big Ten title and the Rose Bowl berth with a victory. A loss would make Northwestern the outright champion.

What happened: The Wolverines stunned the Buckeyes, 31-23, denying OSU an unbeaten regular season. Northwestern won the conference championship outright, but lost to USC in the Rose Bowl. OSU went to the Citrus Bowl and lost to Tennessee. Michigan lost to Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl.

1994 - Going into the game: Penn State had already clinched the Big Ten title outright.

1993 - Going into the game: OSU (6-0-1 Big Ten, 10-0-1 overall) could clinch the conference championship outright and claim the Rose Bowl berth with a win. They could also win the league outright and go to the Rose Bowl with a loss and a Wisconsin loss to Illinois that same day, or a Badger loss to Michigan State (in a game played in Tokyo, Japan).

What happened: Michigan handed the Buckeyes their first loss of the season, a resounding 28-0 thumping. Wisconsin knocked off the Illini that day, and beat MSU in Tokyo on December 5 to claim the Rose Bowl berth. The Buckeyes settled for a share of the title. Wisconsin beat UCLA in the Rose Bowl, the Bucks beat BYU in the Holiday Bowl and Michigan hammered N.C. State in the Hall of Fame (now Outback) Bowl.

1992 - Going into the game: Michigan (6-0-1 Big Ten, 8-0-2 overall) already clinched the outright conference title and Rose Bowl berth.

1991 - Going into the game: Michigan (7-0 Big Ten, 10-1 overall) had already clinched a share of the Big Ten championship, as well as a Rose Bowl berth. They could win the league outright with a victory over OSU, or an Iowa loss to Minnesota that day.

What happened: The Wolverines spanked the Buckeyes, 31-3 to finish with a perfect Big Ten record. They went to the Rose Bowl and lost to Washington. The Buckeyes lost the Hall of Fame Bowl to Syracuse.

1990 - Going into the game: OSU (5-1-1 Big Ten, 7-2-1 overall) could win the Big Ten outright and go to the Rose Bowl with a win and an Iowa loss to Minnesota that same day. Michigan (5-2 Big Ten, 7-3 overall) could win a share of the title with a win and an Iowa loss.

What happened: Michigan beat the Buckeyes, 16-13 on a last-second field goal. Iowa lost to Minnesota, splitting the conference championship four ways (Iowa, Michigan, MSU, Illinois). Iowa went to the Rose Bowl, where they lost to Washington. Michigan went to the Gator Bowl and beat Mississippi. MSU beat Southern Cal in the Sun Bowl. Illinois lost the Hall of Fame Bowl to Clemson. OSU lost the Liberty Bowl to Air Force.

1989 - Going into the game: Michigan (7-0 Big Ten, 9-1 overall) could clinch the outright Big Ten championship and claim a spot in the Rose Bowl with a win or an Illinois loss to Northwestern.

What happened: Michigan beat the Bucks, 28-18 to wrap up Bo Schembechler’s career as an unbeaten, outright Big Ten champion. They lost the Rose Bowl to USC. OSU lost the Hall of Fame Bowl to Auburn.

1988 - Going into the game: Michigan (6-0-1 Big Ten, 7-2-1 overall) already clinched a share of the Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl berth. They could claim the outright Big Ten title with a win in Columbus or a Michigan State loss to Wisconsin.

What happened: Michigan jumped out to a 20-0 halftime lead and survived an incredible second half comeback by the Buckeyes to win, 34-31. They won the Big Ten outright, and beat USC in the Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes finished with a losing record and did not go to a bowl game.

1987 - Going into the game: Michigan State had already clinched the outright Big Ten title and the Rose Bowl berth.

1986 - Going into the game: OSU (7-0 Big Ten, 9-2 overall) could clinch an outright Big Ten championship and Rose Bowl berth with a win. Michigan (6-1 Big Ten, 10-1 overall) could share the conference title with OSU and go to the Rose Bowl with a win.

What happened: Michigan beat OSU, 26-24 and the teams shared the Big Ten championship. The Wolverines went to the Rose Bowl and lost to John Cooper’s Arizona State Sun Devils. OSU beat Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl.

1985 - Going into the game: Michigan (5-1-1 Big Ten, 8-1-1 overall) could win the Big Ten outright and go to the Rose Bowl with a win over OSU and an Iowa loss to Minnesota the same day. A Michigan loss or Iowa win would give the outright league title to the Hawkeyes.

What happened: Michigan beat the Buckeyes, 27-17. But Iowa also won their game, denying the Wolverines a Big Ten title. Iowa lost the Rose Bowl to UCLA, Michigan beat Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl and the Buckeyes beat BYU in the Citrus Bowl.

1984 - Going into the game: The Buckeyes (6-2 Big Ten, 8-2 overall) could clinch the outright Big Ten title and Rose Bowl berth with a win over Michigan.

A Michigan (5-3, 6-4) win would have given them a share of the Big Ten title, along with OSU, Illinois and Purdue.

What happened: OSU throttled the Wolverines, 21-6 to win the Big Ten outright and go to the Rose Bowl. In Pasadena, the Bucks lost 20-17 to USC. Michigan lost the Holiday Bowl 24-17, against national champion BYU.

1983 - Going into the game: The Wolverines (7-1 Big Ten, 8-2 overall) could clinch a share of the conference championship with a win and an Illinois loss to Northwestern. The Illini clinched at least a share of the title and the Rose Bowl berth a week earlier.

What happened: Michigan did their part, beating OSU 24-21 in Ann Arbor. But Illinois hammered Northwestern 56-24 to win the league outright. The Illini lost the Rose Bowl to UCLA, the Wolverines lost the Sugar Bowl to Auburn, and OSU beat Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl.

1982 - Going into the game: Michigan (8-0 Big Ten, 8-2 overall) had already clinched the outright Big Ten title and Rose Bowl berth because of a fluke in the conference schedule. OSU (6-1 Big Ten, 7-3 overall) played only eight Big Ten games, while Michigan played nine. That meant that even if the Buckeyes won, they would still finish the season a half-game behind Michigan.

What happened: The Buckeyes beat Michigan, 24-14, but finished a half-game back. This was the first time the loser of the OSU-Michigan game got to play in the Rose Bowl (it also happened in 1996 and 2004). The Wolverines lost in Pasadena, 24-14 to UCLA, while OSU destroyed BYU, 47-17 in the Holiday Bowl.

1981 - Going into the game: OSU (5-2 Big Ten, 7-3 overall) could clinch at least a share of the Big Ten title with a win. They could win the league outright and claim a spot in the Rose Bowl with a win and an Iowa loss against Michigan State that day.

Michigan (6-2 Big Ten, 8-2 overall) could clinch the outright Big Ten championship and Rose Bowl with a win.

What happened: The Buckeyes went into Ann Arbor and pulled out a 14-9 win. However at the same time, Iowa was beating MSU. The Hawkeyes split the Big Ten title with Ohio State, and it was Iowa who went to the Rose Bowl. The Hawks got shut out against Washington on New Year’s Day. OSU beat Navy in the Liberty Bowl and Michigan won the Bluebonnet Bowl against UCLA.

1980 - Going into the game: Michigan (7-0 Big Ten, 8-2 overall) and OSU (7-0 Big Ten, 9-1 overall) both entered the game knowing that the winner would take home the outright conference championship and punch their ticket to the Rose Bowl.

What happened: Michigan came into the Horseshoe and won a 9-3 slugfest. The Wolverines won the league outright, and beat Washington in the Rose Bowl. OSU had to settle for the Fiesta Bowl, where they lost to Penn State.

1979 - Going into the game: OSU (7-0 Big Ten, 10-0 overall) needed to beat Michigan to wrap up an unbeaten regular season, an outright conference title and a spot in the Rose Bowl.

Michigan (6-1 Big Ten, 8-2 overall) could win a share of the Big Ten with a win, and would earn a Rose Bowl berth with a win and a Purdue loss to Indiana that day.

What happened: The Buckeyes used a blocked punt to pull out a dramatic 18-15 win in Ann Arbor, sealing their perfect regular season. However, they fell just short of a possible national title in the Rose Bowl, dropping a 17-16 heart-breaker to USC. Michigan settled for the Gator Bowl, where they lost to North Carolina.

1978 - Going into the game: Michigan (6-1 Big Ten, 9-1 overall) and Ohio State (6-1, 7-2-1) both knew that a win would clinch at least a share of the Big Ten championship. Both also had a chance to win the league outright if MSU lost at home to Iowa.

What happened: Michigan beat the Bucks, 14-3. MSU beat the Hawkeyes, sharing the Big Ten title between the Spartans and Wolverines. However, it was UM that went to the Rose Bowl, despite losing to MSU earlier in the season. They lost that game to USC. The Buckeyes lost to Clemson in the Gator Bowl, in Woody Hayes’ last game. MSU did not go to a bowl game.

1977 - Going into the game: OSU (7-0 Big Ten, 9-1 overall) came into the game with a share of the Big Ten title already in hand. A win over Michigan would have given the Bucks the outright title and a trip to Pasadena.

Michigan (6-1 Big Ten, 9-1 overall) knew that a win would allow them to split the championship with OSU, and send the Wolverines to the Rose Bowl.

What happened: Michigan picked up its second win in a row over the Buckeyes, 14-3. That split the Big Ten championship between the teams and punched Michigan’s ticket for Pasadena. The Wolverines lost there to Washington, while OSU lost the Sugar Bowl to Alabama.

1976 - Going into the game: The Buckeyes (7-0 Big Ten, 8-1-1 overall) could clinch an outright Big Ten title and a berth in the Rose Bowl with a win at home. Michigan (6-1, 9-1) needed a win to split the title with OSU and represent the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl.

What happened: Michigan snapped its four-game winless streak in the rivalry, using a second-half barrage to break a scoreless tie and win 22-0. The Wolverines lost to USC in Pasadena, while OSU took out its frustrations with a win over Colorado in the Orange Bowl.

1975 - Going into the game: OSU (7-0 Big Ten, 10-0 overall) and Michigan (7-0, 8-0-2) both came into the game unbeaten for the second time in three years. Both knew a win over their rival would complete an outright Big Ten championship season and send them to Pasadena.

What happened: Archie Griffin wrapped up his second Heisman Trophy-winning season with a 21-14 win in Ann Arbor. However, the top-ranked Buckeyes fell to UCLA in the Rose Bowl, denying them a national championship. Michigan traveled to a bowl other than the Rose Bowl for the first time, losing to Alabama in the Orange Bowl.

1974 - Going into the game: Michigan (7-0 Big Ten, 10-0 overall) needed a win to complete a perfect regular season, win the league outright and head to Pasadena with a possible shot at the national championship. OSU (6-1, 9-1) knew that a win would only allow them to share the title with Michigan, thanks to a controversial loss in East Lansing. However, a win would also send the Bucks to the Rose Bowl.

What happened: Behind four field goals from Tom Klaban, the Buckeyes come back from a 10-0 deficit and won, 12-10. This capped a remarkable stretch when the Wolverines went 30-2-1 over three seasons, but were 0-2-1 against OSU. The Bucks went west for the Rose Bowl, but lost a one-point game to USC. Michigan did not go to a bowl.

1973 - Going into the game: Both teams entered with perfect 10-0 records overall, including 7-0 in the conference. A win by either team would have earned them an outright league championship and a spot in the Rose Bowl.

What happened: Michigan’s Greg Lantry missed a 44-yard field goal in the final minute, and the teams played to a 10-all tie, and split the Big Ten championship. In a controversial move, the Big Ten’s athletic directors voted to send the Buckeyes to Pasadena instead of Michigan. OSU took advantage with a 42-21 drubbing of Southern Cal. Michigan did not play in a bowl game.

1972 - Going into the game: Michigan rolled in unbeaten (7-0 Big Ten, 10-0 overall), needing a win or tie to win the conference outright and go to the Rose Bowl. OSU had one loss (6-1, 9-1) and needed a win to split the league with the Wolverines and go to Pasadena.

What happened: The Buckeyes put together two of the most famous goal-line stands in the series’ history to pull out a dramatic 14-11 victory. The teams finished as co-champions, but OSU was the only one that got to take a bowl trip. They lost to top-ranked USC in the Rose Bowl.

1971 - Going into the game: Michigan (7-0 Big Ten, 10-0 overall) had already clinched the outright Big Ten title and Rose Bowl berth.

1970 - Going into the game: OSU and Michigan entered the game with identical records, 6-0 in the Big Ten and 9-0 overall. The winner would claim the outright Big Ten title.

What happened: The Bucks avenged their bitter defeat of a year earlier with a 20-9 win. That gave them an outright Big Ten title and sent them west to Pasadena to play Stanford. However, OSU fell one game short of a possible national title, losing on New Year’s Day.

1969 - Going into the game: The Buckeyes rolled in unbeaten (6-0 Big Ten, 8-0 overall) and basically unchallenged; no team had stayed closer than 27 points all season long. OSU was riding a school-record 22-game win streak and only needed a win to claim an outright Big Ten championship, as well as a national title—they were not eligible for the Rose Bowl because of the no-repeat rule. Bo Schembechler’s first Michigan team (5-1, 7-2) could claim a share of the conference title with a win.

What happened: In arguably the most famous game of this entire series, the Wolverines pulled off one of the biggest upsets in college football history, handing the Buckeyes a 24-12 loss. That denied OSU back-to-back national championships, and propelled Michigan into the Rose Bowl. They lost to USC.

1968 - Going into the game: Both teams were perfect in league play. OSU was 6-0 in the Big Ten and 8-0 overall. Michigan was 6-0 in the conference, but 8-1 overall. Either team would capture an outright championship and Rose Bowl berth with a win.

What happened: OSU exploded for a 50-14 win, sending them to the Rose Bowl. There, they came from 10-0 down to beat O.J. Simpson and USC 27-16, and claimed the national title.

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