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

5. 1997

Final Score: Michigan 20, Ohio State 14

The Michigan Wolverines came into the 1997 campaign with the toughest schedule in the country and went ahead and ran the table anyway, heading into “The Game” with a perfect 10-0 record and were the top-ranked team in college football. On the other side of the field, however, were the Ohio State Buckeyes, ranked fourth with a 10-1 record. Their only loss had come earlier in the season to then-number two Penn State. Once again, the winner of Ohio State vs Michigan would be going to the Rose Bowl. Shocking, I know.

This game also turned out to be the final push that eventual Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson’s needed to complete his amazing regular season and capture the award as the Ohio native put on a show on both sides of the ball. Not only did Woodson catch a 37-yard pass to set up the Wolverines’ lone offensive touchdown, he also got himself on the board with a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown and played his usual stifling defense at cornerback, picking up an interception in the third quarter.

However, even Michigan’s 20-0 lead in the second half wasn’t safe as Ohio State was still in position to win the game in the fourth quarter. The Buckeyes cut the lead to 20-7 in the third and two minutes into the fourth, Michigan quarterback Brian Griese fumbled the ball on his own two-yard line, which was recovered by linebacker Jerry Rudzinski, allowed Ohio State to make it a one-possession game and the pressure was on.

The teams traded possessions through most of the fourth and with 1:35 to go, Ohio State quarterback Joe Germaine had to lead the Buckeyes 84 yards for a score and a chance to win. However, Michigan kept their national title hopes alive as they stymied any hopes of a miracle and knocked down a Germaine pass to David Boston on fourth down, who had been kept in check for most of the day, securing the 20-14 victory. Every second counts when you’re talking about Ohio State vs. Michigan.