What Does Michigan-Ohio State Mean?

As recently as 2006, the Big Ten’s two most high-profile programs stood astride the college football world. Each had a dominant, balanced offense, with NFL-caliber talent on defense. That Michigan-Ohio State game was a shootout that never really verged on classic. The Buckeyes won, 42-39, and completed an unbeaten regular season, stockpiling hype that evaporated in that season’s BCS title game beatdown at the hands of Florida.That game was the high point of the last few years for both teams. Ohio State’s reputation as a national contender has been tarnished by big games since, with losses in all three of their BCS appearances and an 0-2 mark against USC over the last two years. At least the Buckeyes have gotten to those games: Michigan’s loss to USC in the 2007 Rose Bowl wasn’t competitive in the second half, and the Wolverines haven’t been BCS contenders since, losses to Appalachian State, Toledo, Purdue, Illinois, and other off-brand competitors helping produce a pedestrian 17-19 record over the last three years.

So the teams aren’t as grand as their pedigrees at this moment. That makes this game one of promise and potential. Michigan’s spread attack, given time to acquire its proper frightening pieces, will be good. Ohio State’s still got Terrelle Pryor, who is still arguably the most physically gifted quarterback in the country, and still not far from being the terrifying bringer of death with both arm and legs college football fans have assumed he would be since their first viewings of his high school clips on YouTube. Each team restocks with good recruits on defense, though Michigan misfires have produced a team that has bottomed out in the defensive backfield this year. There’s a sense that Ohio State is the current king of the Big Ten, and Michigan, when it gets that speed, is the future conference overlord.

But even in 2006, these teams looked dominant, for stretches, against the Big Ten and against each other. Today would be a chance to do the same, especially for Ohio State. That doesn’t mean they’re nationally competitive, though. It just means they might have a chance to be.

↵