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November 26th, 2011. Eight years ago on the day. 2,922 days ago. That was how long it’s been since Michigan has beaten Ohio State. It’s the longest the Wolverines have gone without a win against the Buckeyes, with 2,562 being the previous record from 2004-2010. The number will grow to 2,926 before Saturday as well.
Playing in a rivalry game that you haven’t won in almost 3,000 days is horrendous and makes some question if it’s even a rivalry game between the two teams. Despite the length, it isn’t the longest in the rivalry history as Michigan once was on a nine-year winning streak on Ohio State that lasted from 1901-1909 as in 1910 it ended in a 3-3 tie. The length of the streak was 3,269 days for the Wolverines.
Another win by Ohio State would put them close to breaking that record if they are able to win in 2020, extend it to 2021 and get on a nine-game winning streak of their own.
But that’s a topic for another day. Today, it’s about if Michigan is able to beat Ohio State this season. What would a win this year over the Buckeyes do for the Wolverines?
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh had an interesting take on what a win would mean on Saturday, depicting the game as a battle of two states for one title.
“It’ll be the state championship between two states,” Harbaugh said. “It’d be big, it always is.”
Harbaugh winning this game would be his first in the five years he’s coached at Michigan. His 0-4 record doesn’t showcase the drama with the series, like in 2016 when the officials gave Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett a first down on a fourth-down run in double overtime that was very close but looked short and ended up being called for a first down. Ohio State would score on the next play and win the game.
The game was close in 2017, despite Michigan coming in with an 8-3 record as the Buckeyes won 31-20. 2015 and 2018 were blowouts, with the most recent one being stuck in the heads of Michigan fans around the world.
So what would a win this year mean for the players?
“Just being able to go out there and continue to building off everything we’ve been able to accomplish this year,” defensive tackle Carlo Kemp said. Obviously, getting 10 wins in the season is remarkable. Being able to play in this game, being able to represent all the historic players and the tradition of Michigan in this game, there’s a huge opportunity. To win this game, obviously, would be incredible.”
The players want this win desperately and so do the coaches, the university and the fans. The win gives the Wolverines bragging rights for an entire year, help quiet the Harbaugh critics out there and be a huge boost to the program and university itself.
Players know it too, and linebacker Khaleke Hudson added what the win would mean for Harbaugh and to finally get a point in the win column against Ohio State.
“I believe it would mean a lot for him,” Hudson said. “It would mean a lot for Michigan going forward with all aspects. With recruiting, going forward into next season, having confidence, just keep this thing going. I feel like it would be a great win for him.”
Ohio State is undefeated and is looking like the best college football team right now. They are going to the Big Ten Championship game next week with their opponent unknown right now, and before the updated College Football Playoff rankings are released tonight, they are the second-ranked team that has an argument to be ranked number one with their win over Penn State last week.
Out of the four teams Harbaugh has played before, this team is the best one yet as he has yet to take on an undefeated Buckeyes team in his tenure. With this Ohio State looking like the best team they’ve had in years, possibly ever, a win over them would speak volumes for Harbaugh and the Wolverines.
A win would shoot the Wolverines up the playoff rankings next Tuesday and suddenly question them as a playoff contender despite not reaching the conference championship game. This win would be bigger than any of the Ohio State wins that Urban Meyer had against the Wolverines, as he never went up against any undefeated Michigan teams.
Michigan winning this game not only can shake up this year’s postseason games, and end the streak that’s lasted almost 3,000 days, it could be a shifting of the tides in the rivalry and within the college football landscape. While Michigan has somewhat been back on the map with Harbaugh as head coach, this was one of the biggest hurdles he has yet to overcome. This win would put Michigan smack in the middle of the college football map.
He’s beaten Michigan State (even started a winning streak against them), he’s beaten Notre Dame, he’s won a bowl game. But those things aren’t as important as the next three: Beating Ohio State, winning a Big Ten title, and appearing/winning the College Football Playoff.
To get to those final two, you gotta get through Ohio State. While the Big Ten title can’t happen in 2019, a win over the Buckeyes this season could propel his program to get a boost and prepare to capture it in 2020. That would mean they have to get through Ohio State again, and start a winning streak of their own against the Buckeyes.
This win just isn’t a season-defining game for the Wolverines and Harbaugh, it’s a career-defining game. If he beats Ohio State at their absolute best, it would be the biggest win in his career, bigger than winning the NFC title with the San Francisco 49ers. The next biggest would be a Big Ten title win or a College Football Playoff win.
For now, the focus is on the Buckeyes and Harbaugh is looking to finally pull one out for the Wolverines as it could change the future of the rivalry and college football overall.
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