Fansided

Ohio State vs Michigan: 10 best games in “The Game” history

By Luke Norris

College Football: Ohio State QB Rex Kern (10) in action, under pressure vs Michigan Thomas Darden (35) at Michigan Stadium.Ann Arbor, MI 11/22/1969CREDIT: Tony Tomsic (Photo by Tony Tomsic /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)(Set Number: X14544 )
College Football: Ohio State QB Rex Kern (10) in action, under pressure vs Michigan Thomas Darden (35) at Michigan Stadium.Ann Arbor, MI 11/22/1969CREDIT: Tony Tomsic (Photo by Tony Tomsic /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)(Set Number: X14544 ) /
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ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 19: General view of Michigan Stadium during a game between the Indiana Hoosiers and Michigan Wolverines on November 19, 2016 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 20-10. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 19: General view of Michigan Stadium during a game between the Indiana Hoosiers and Michigan Wolverines on November 19, 2016 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 20-10. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

10. 1941

Final Score: Ohio State 20, Michigan 20

The 1941 version of “The Game” is somewhat fitting of how the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry just is. In the early years of the rivalry, Michigan had gotten the better of Ohio State on most occasions, including winning 19 of the first 26 meetings (two of those were ties) and winning a couple of national championships in the early 1930s before Ohio State went on a 114-0 scoring blitz over four years in the middle part of the decade to claim four straight victories.

Michigan then claimed three straight victories from 1938-1940. This was right around the time that the AP Poll, which is still used today, came to be. 1941 was the first time in history that both Ohio State and Michigan were ranked when it came time for “The Game.”

And they tied. Of course they did.

Fullback Jack Graf got the Buckeyes on the board with a first-quarter touchdown which Michigan answered 30 seconds before halftime to put the score at 7-7. The Wolverines came out hot in the third quarter and drove 66 yards to take a 14-7 lead after a touchdown pass from Tom Kuzma to end Harlin Fraumann. But in less than three minutes, Ohio State had tied the game at 14 and took the lead after a 96-yard drive against a stingy Michigan defense. However, kicker John Hallabrin missed the extra point to make the score 20-14, opening up the door for Michigan to win it.

With just under seven minutes to play, Michigan scored a touchdown and their kicker Bill Melzow lined up to give the Wolverines the lead….and missed, leaving the score at 20-20, which is how the game would end after neither team could capitalize in the final minutes. The tie would leave both teams behind Minnesota in the Big 10 standings.

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