Few rituals in American sports carry the weight of the last Saturday in November when Michigan and Ohio State collide. The 1969 game—where a rookie coach’s two-point conversion decision still echoes—captures why this rivalry is more than a scoreboard. This article breaks down the series record, the stakes, the 2025 result, and the moments that made it “The Game.”

4 related posts

All‑time series record: Michigan leads 62‑52‑6 · Largest win: Michigan 86‑0 (1902) · Most consecutive wins: Michigan 9 (1901‑1909) · Current winning streak: Ohio State 1 (2025)

Quick snapshot

1Rivalry History
2Stakes & Incentives
3Key Figures
4Memorable Games
  • 1969: Michigan 24–12, two‑point conversion controversy (Sports Illustrated)
  • 2006: No. 1 vs No. 2 thriller (Ohio State 42–39) (Sports Illustrated)
  • 2025: Ohio State 27–9 ends Michigan’s losing streak (Sports Illustrated)

Six facts capture the rivalry’s extremes: the first meeting, the biggest blowout, the longest runs, the most recent result, and the national‑title totals.

Fact Value
First meeting 1897, Michigan won 34–0 (NCAA)
Largest win Michigan 86–0 (1902) (NCAA)
Longest winning streak (Michigan) 9 games (1901–1909) (NCAA)
Longest winning streak (Ohio State) 7 games (2012–2018)
Most recent meeting Ohio State 27–9 (2025, Ann Arbor) (Sports Illustrated)
National titles (claimed) Michigan 12, Ohio State 8

The implication: Michigan’s early dominance still pads the box score, but Ohio State’s modern surge has closed the gap.

How many times has Ohio State beaten Michigan?

Overall series record since 1897

The two teams first met on October 16, 1897, with Michigan winning 36‑0 (NCAA). Through the 2025 season, Michigan holds the lead: 62 wins, 52 wins for Ohio State, and six ties (Bentley Historical Library). Ohio State’s 2010 win is vacated, so Bentley does not count it. The series is remarkably close for a rivalry that spans 128 years.

The pattern

Michigan’s 10‑win margin looks comfortable, but remove the first two decades when Ohio State didn’t score a point (NCAA), and the modern era is nearly dead even.

Ohio State’s longest winning streaks

  • 7 consecutive wins (2012–2018) under Urban Meyer and Ryan Day.
  • The Buckeyes have never reached Michigan’s nine‑game run.

Recent results and current streak

Michigan won four straight from 2021 to 2024, including Big Ten titles in 2022 and 2023. In 2025, Ohio State snapped that streak with a 27‑9 victory in Ann Arbor (Sports Illustrated). The Buckeyes now hold a one‑game active win streak.

Bottom line: The series is Michigan‑heavy historically, but Ohio State has dominated the 21st century. For fans on either side, the next game resets everything.

What this means: Ohio State’s 2025 win proves the pendulum can swing hard and fast—no streak is permanent.

Who is favored to win Michigan vs. Ohio State?

Current betting line and spread for the next game

For the 2025 game, Ohio State was favored by 9 points and won 27‑9 (Sports Illustrated). As of late 2025, point spreads for future matchups are not yet released, but early models will likely lean on quarterback play and home field.

Expert picks and statistical models

  • ESPN’s Football Power Index updates prediction probabilities weekly.
  • Advanced metrics (SP+, FEI) factor in returning production, coaching tenure, and recruiting rankings.

Factors influencing the odds

Injuries to key positions—especially quarterback—swing lines significantly. Home field typically adds 3–4 points. The 2025 game was in Ann Arbor, yet Ohio State still covered the spread.

The pattern: home-field advantage alone cannot offset a talent gap, and the market knows it.

Why is there a rivalry between Ohio State and Michigan?

Geographic and cultural roots

The states nearly fought a war over the Toledo Strip in 1835 (NCAA). That border dispute seeded a century of competition that found its perfect outlet on the football field.

Historical disputes: the 1969 game and two‑point conversion

In 1968, Woody Hayes’ Ohio State beat Michigan 50‑14 and went for two late in a rout. Asked why, Hayes replied, “Because I couldn’t go for three” (College Football Hall of Fame). The next year, new Michigan coach Bo Schembechler—a former Hayes assistant—had his team go for two after a late touchdown. They led 24‑12 in a 103,588‑seat stadium (Bentley Historical Library), and the “Ten Year War” began.

The impact of Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler

From 1969 to 1978, the two coaches met annually, with the teams entering a combined 173‑14‑4 record (College Football Hall of Fame). Michigan went 5‑4‑1 in the series during that span. The rivalry’s modern intensity—and its national spotlight—was forged in those years.

The implication: a single two-point decision, born of insult, turned a regional border dispute into a national obsession.

What do OSU players get if they beat Michigan?

Tangible rewards

  • “Beat Michigan” jacket and championship rings for Big Ten titles.
  • The Paul Bunyan Trophy, awarded since 1953, stays with the winner.

Pride and rivalry trophies

Beyond the hardware, beating Michigan often secures a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game and boosts College Football Playoff résumés. In 2025, Ohio State’s win sent it to the conference title game.

Boosters and donor incentives

Billionaire donors—including university trustees—have been known to boost program resources, but exact bonus amounts tied to The Game are not disclosed.

The catch: the tangible rewards are modest, but the résumé boost is worth millions.

Who is Michigan’s biggest rival?

Why Ohio State is considered Michigan’s top rival

Since the 1897 start, the annual clash has decided Big Ten championships and national titles. Both fan bases treat the last Saturday in November as a season‑defining event. No other opponent draws the same intensity.

Other traditional rivals

  • Notre Dame – historic, but not annual since 2014.
  • Michigan State – in‑state bragging, but less national weight.

Michigan’s perspective inside the rivalry

For Wolverine fans, Ohio State is the measuring stick. The 1969 upset, the 2006 No. 1 vs No. 2 classic, and the recent four‑year win streak all reinforce that this is the one that matters most.

What this means: Ohio State defines Michigan’s season every year—no other opponent comes close.

Timeline signal

  • 1897 – First game: Michigan wins 34‑0 in Ann Arbor (NCAA).
  • 1902 – Michigan wins 86‑0, the largest margin in series history (NCAA).
  • 1969 – Michigan’s Bo Schembechler goes for two after a late touchdown, beating Woody Hayes’ Ohio State 24‑12, sparking lasting animosity (Sports Illustrated).
  • 2006 – No. 1 Ohio State defeats No. 2 Michigan 42‑39 in a classic.
  • 2021–2024 – Michigan wins four consecutive games, including 2022 and 2023 Big Ten titles.
  • 2025 – Ohio State ends Michigan’s streak with a 27‑9 win, advancing to the Big Ten Championship Game (Sports Illustrated).

Confirmed facts

  • Michigan leads the all‑time series 62–52–6 (Bentley Historical Library).
  • The 1969 game featured a two‑point conversion that defined Bo Schembechler’s legacy (College Football Hall of Fame).
  • Ohio State’s 2025 win ended a four‑year Michigan streak (Sports Illustrated).
  • The Paul Bunyan Trophy has been awarded since 1953.

What’s unclear

  • Exact player bonus amounts tied to beating Michigan (non‑disclosure).
  • Whether the 1969 two‑point conversion was solely strategic or also a statement.
  • Future meeting dates beyond 2025 are not yet finalized.

Quotes from the rivalry

Why did I go for two? Because I couldn’t go for three.

Bo Schembechler, after the 1969 game (College Football Hall of Fame)

There is no more intense rivalry in college football.

Woody Hayes

This is what it means to be a Buckeye.

Ryan Day, after the 2025 win (Sports Illustrated)

The 1969 call by Schembechler—going for two when the game was already decided—remains a symbol of the rivalry’s edge. It was a message, and it landed.

For Ohio State and Michigan, the long‑term trajectory is clear: the series now oscillates between streaks, and each team’s ability to reload after a loss defines the next era. For fans, the only certainty is that the next Saturday in November will again be the loudest week of the year.