What are your top 5 games in Michigan football history since you've been a fan?

I think I'd have trouble thinking of the top 50 I've seen, let alone the top five, but I'll try.

1) 1998 Rose Bowl -- Easily Number one. As a game, it wasn't that exciting, but given the circumstances, and the fact that I was there with my dad, my brother, and one of my best friends, it was a transcendent moment. Every sports fan should have the opportunity to see their favorite team win a championship.

2) 1988 @ Ohio State -- The John Kolesar game. I was standing on the track between the stands and the back of the endzone, not more than 10-15 feet away from Kolesar when he caught the pass

3) 1997 vs Ohio State -- Woodson wins the Heisman. Two top teams, national title, big ten title, rose bowl all on the line and the best player I've ever seen played his best game. I still can't believe Stanly Jackson threw that ball.

4) 2004 vs MSU -- The Braylon Game. Pure magic under the lights.

5) 1999 vs Notre Dame -- There are probably a dozen games I could put in this slot or #4. This was a barnburner right up to the end, with ND trying to drive for a winning score when time ran out on them.

Good list, except that the 1995 Virginia game was in Ann Arbor. It was the biggest comeback in Big House history until last year's Wiscy game. Anyways, here's mine:

1. 34-8 @Penn State, 1997
Our d-line overwhelmed them from the first possession, Griese ripped off what had to be the longest run of his career and Woodson silenced the crowd with a wide-open TD catch. Just utter domination.

2. 41-35 vs. Florida, 2008 Cap One Bowl
I only wish Hart hadn't fumbled twice on the goal line so we could have dropped 50 on them.

3. 45-37 vs. MSU, 2004
See above.

4. 38-31 vs. Washington, 1993 Rose Bowl
Wheatley was amazing and we avenged a beat-down from the Huskies the year before.

5. 26-24 @OSU, 1986
Harbaugh's guarantee game, we came back from down 14-3 to win the Big Ten.

5. 1977 Vs Texas A&M: documented before. A&M came in riding high; UM not so much. They were favored by 8. UM dominated them 41-3. Maybe the best game I ever saw Michigan ply against a real quality opponent.

4. 1986 Fiesta Bowl Vs Nebraska: UM being dominated, and down 14-3 at halftime. Came out on fire in second half and beat them 27-23.

3. 1989 (circa) Vs UCLA: I think I have this right. UM was beaten by Notre Dame and Rocket Ismael the week before. UCLA led by two scores with just a few minutes left. First, Grbac completes what looks like a harmless screen pass to Tony Boles and he turns it into a 51 yard TD. Then UM recovers the onside kick--goes down and kicks a field goal as time expires.

2. 1993 Vs Notre Dame (again, I think I have the year right). Notre Dame scores with like a minute to go. UM gets ball. On a third down pla with like 12 seconds to go, Todd Collins is in the grasp of an ND lineman, spins out, switches the ball from his left hand (he had it there to push off the ND guy, I think) completes a short pass to a guy named Seth Smith, who runs for about 10 yards and dives out of bounds with a couple seconds to go. UM FG kicker (Hamilton?) boots a 44 yarder as time runs out, BINGO 26-24, stealing victory from the jaws of what looked like a late, deflating defeat.

1. 1997 Vs Penn State: Thoroughly dominating Penn State on the road in one of those old school, cold games. Unbelievable watching that game and seeing UM, even with Lloyd, keep going for the jugular. How rare that was under Carr. I think UM was up 34-0 at one point.

Some of mine are kind of for personal reasons.

1991 v. Indiana - Popped my Big House cherry on this one. I was 11 and visiting my cousin for the weekend. Desmond Howard was all over the place (his 71-yard kick return stood out the most). Also, Jesse Johnson and Ricky Powers. And the game was so close (0-0, 0-3, 7-3, 7-10, 14-10, 14-13, 17-13, 17-16, 24-16).

1997 Michigan State - Was a senior in high school and spending a weekend in East Lansing with friends was kind of new and exciting (parents: when your kids want to go to East Lansing for a weekend, don't let them, they could be learning to smoke pot). The friend I was staying with actually worked at Spartan Stadium, but couldn't hook us up, so we watched at a bar. When Woodson made that interception...

1998 Penn State - Freshman year, Tom Brady under center, the Big House so loud I still swear we willed the shutout. Time and time again, the Nittany Lions came close to putting something on the board, but we would roar so much they would invariably miss the field goal, or it would get blocked, or they'd sail three straight passes over the end zone. PSU was still considered a major, major program, but Michigan picked 'em apart.

1999 Notre Dame - Such a well-played start to the season you'd think we were already on Game 3 or something. '99 was the first offseason I spent paying attention to recruiting and by kickoff I had convinced myself that Michigan was going to win a National Championship (and that LeSeuer would be Woodson reincarnate). Starting the season against a rival may not make football sense, but for a fan starved for Michigan football, it's damn satisfying! I didn't really respect the ND rivalry until I saw this game and the intensity both teams played with. Time ran out on the Domers at like the 3 yard line IIRC.

2003 Ohio State - I'd have stuck around longer to enjoy it if I knew we wouldn't beat them again until 2009 (or worse). But even then, from the moment they carted off a fist-pumping Jason Avant to running on the field with a rose in my teeth, this was the best Michigan moment, personally, of them all.

1. UM 24, OSU 12, 1969. Of all the games, it is one of two where I can remember the score without looking it up to make sure. OSU was "unbeatable" coming into this game, and were dominated on the field by a decent UM team that hadn't really scared anyone yet. This is the biggest upset UM has been on the winning side of since I started watching football.

2. The Anthony Carter catch to avert an upset against lowly Indiana.

3. Capital One Bowl vs Florida.

4. The Virginia game. I was there and will never forget it. And, though many suspected after that day, nobody could have predicted that the Barber brothers would be so successful in the NFL.

5. 1978. UM defeats Joe Montana and Notre Dame 28-14. For some reason, I still remember this score. And I have used it to fend off abuse from ND fans for years.

Here are five games that I haven't seen mentioned yet.

1. 1997 @ Penn State. This was the game that took that season from "Wow, we're still undefeated" to "We are going to win the national championship." We dominated the number 1 team on their home field. Ann Arbor was a mob scene that night. Just ask Lee Bollinger

2. 1991 vs. Notre Dame. Surprised that no one has been mentioning The Catch. Michigan hadn't beaten ND in what seemed like 150 years. Coach Gary Moeller goes for it all on 4th and 1 in the 4th quarter and gets it, and Desmond Howard kicks off his Heisman campaign.

3. 1993 vs. Ohio State. I think Ohio State was favored by about 14 points in this game, and Michigan won 28-0. The first of several undefeated OSU seasons ruined by a loss to Michigan. Good times.

4. 1990 @ Ohio State. John Cooper calls an option on 4th and 1 from his own 30 late in the game, Michigan stuffs it, gets a field goal as the clock expires to win. The phrase "And J.D. Carlson wins it" comes into my mind every time I see a game-winning field goal.

5. 1997 vs. Notre Dame. This wasn't a really well-played game, but it showed that Michigan's defense could carry them through anything. The offense turned the ball over time and time again in the fourth quarter, giving Notre Dame the ball in Michigan territory needing only a touchdown to tie. Every time, the defense stood tall and shut down the Irish. An unbelievably nerve-racking game.

Remembering the phrasing of the question, most important in history during my lifetime...
1. 1998 Rose Bowl: First National Championship since 1948, easily the biggest in history during my lifetime (aside: I don't count Nebraska's "share" since they gained it by virtue of an illegal TD catch on the final play of regulation at Missouri that saved them from a loss.)
2. 1997 vs. Ohio State: #1 vs. #4 and once-beaten Buckeyes, Michigan had ruined OSU's unbeaten national title hopeful teams in 1993 and 1995, and if you look back at the early '70s games, the following almost always happened: both teams undefeated, but the lower ranked team always won. '72-'74 Michigan teams went 30-1-2, but were 0-1-2 against OSU and thus never went to a bowl game. Although losing wouldn't be the end of the season in '97, it was the first time in my lifetime that The Game's favorite w/a national title shot didn't choke on it.
3. 1997 @ Penn State: most enjoyable ass-kicking ever, punctuated by Dadrion (sp) Taylor's hit; vaulted us to #1 in both polls
4. 1986 Fiesta Bowl vs. Nebraska: we beat a very good team and finished #2...one Rob Houghtlin (Iowa) FG away from a national title.
5. 1981 Rose Bowl: Bo finally got off the schnide in the Rose Bowl and this 1980 team was the best team in the nation at year's end; if only Bo had adjusted the attitudes before the season instead of after two losses...
Bonus: If being in the womb counts as during my lifetime, then the 1969 game against Ohio State makes the list.

Double Bonus: Most Crushing Defeats to Michigan Football History (i.e., most important) During My Lifetime
1. 1985 @ Iowa: #2 Michigan loses at #1 Iowa on last second FG
2. 2006 @ Ohio State: another #2 loss at #1, if Ron English hadn't waited until the 2nd half to bring pressure at Troy Smith...Michigan coaches had previous years' frustrations at chasing Smith around on their mind, instead of watching the tapes from the current year proving that Smith now fancied himself a pocket passer, and they should've noticed that Illinois really bothered Smith with heavy pressure. Blitz the hell out of Smith in the first half, and I think that game would've looked a lot like their title game defeat to Florida.
3. First two games of 1988 (my freshman year) @ ND and vs. #1 Miami: last second game-winning FG attempt @ ND by Mike Gillette missed by inches, and we were up 30-14 on Miami WITH THE BALL with 7 minutes left in the game. ND won the national title and Miami finished #2. We win those games, and we're likely national champs (although I'm sure a Bo-coached team would've found a way to blow it, like a tie on the road at Iowa that year)
4. 1976 @ Purdue: #1 ranked Michigan (who went on to skunk OSU 22-0 in Columbus that year) lost at unranked Purdue 16-14, cementing them as the "Spoilermakers." Wide open behind the Boiler secondary, WR Jim Smith dropped what would've been the game-winning TD.
5. 1977 @ Minnesota: #1 ranked Michigan lost at unranked Minnesota 16-0. Sound familiar? Both the 1976 and 1977 teams were arguably the nation's best, but two choke jobs and two Rose Bowl losses (to USC in '77 and Washington in '78) ended those arguments.

1997 vs. Penn State -- Last game that I have seen live. I made the drive over from grad school. Traded my two nose bleed tickets to an alum that had an extra ticket at the 40 yard line 3rd row. Great seats. Best game I have ever seen Michigan play. They did nothing wrong from start to finish. For the first time I thought we might be #1.

1991 vs. Notre Dame -- Great close game. They had come from behind to beat us the year before, so emotion was high. I was in the student section about the 15 yard line. We had a great view of Desmond's great catch in the end zone.

1991 vs. Ohio State -- A slaughter, but Desmond Howard finished off a magical season with a punt return into the end zone and then flashed the Heisman pose. Howard was so amazing in 1991.

1993 vs. Ohio State -- We were 6 and 4 they would go to the Rose Bowl with a win. A LOT more Buckeye fans then in 1991. They all were carrying roses. Final Score Michigan 28 OSU 0. Michigan played great that day.

A surprise but defiantly one of the most exciting games I ever saw in person:

1990 vs. MSU -- I know a loss. MSU broke our hearts. We were #1. A win there and maybe a National Championship was waiting for us. But it was an amazing game. The crowd was electric. Late in the 4th quarter State scored to make it 21-14, the students were really down. On the kickoff Desmond Howard returned it for a touchdown into the student end zone. The students went CRAZY. Everyone was jumping up and down hugging each other. As a freshman that moment made me a true Michigan football fan. What followed, State drove for another touchdown 28-21, and Michigan answered scoring with a few seconds left to make it 28-27. On the two point conversion Howard was "closely" defended and he wasn't able to bring it in.
We then recovered the onside kick and had a hail mary that was almost caught in the end zone.

I've been going to games since 1965. But, reading this thread has been fun. points for everyone!

Now where in the heck did i leave my Geritol?

Gotta get them kids off my lawn now.

My first game as a student was the 1995 Comeback against UVa, that game is #5 on my list:

5. 1995 @Michigan 18- Virginia 17. Biggest comeback at the Big House. Sweet all-out grab by Merc.

4. 2006 Michigan 17- @PSU 10. I was still at Michigan (although getting paid this time as a resident). Alan Branch's hit on Morelli was a statement of sheer brutal strength. Midway through the game, we found out that the Tigers, who had lost 119 games two seasons before, swept the As on their way to the World Series. Unfortunately, the season ended sourly for both the Wolverines and the Tigers.

3. 2003 @Michigan 38 - Notre Dame 0. Nothing is better than beating ND by 38... Except for.

2. 2003 @Michigan 35 - OSU 21. For all intensive purposes, this game should have been 49-14. Braylon dominated the bucks; We rushed the field... I look forward to the next time we ocular-ly penetrate the buckeyes.

1. 1997 @Michigan 20 - OSU 14. The signature win on our way to the National Championship was probably the 34-8 thumping of Penn State in Happy Valley, but nothing came close to the intensity of this game. #1 Michigan (10-0). #4 OSU (9-1). The Big House. Boston vs. Woodson and all the trash talking.

My ten-year tenure at Michigan was marked by lots of great memories. Thanks, MaizenBlueBP for bringing this up! Go Blue!

5. OSU 1991. The first game I went to. Saw Desmond strike the pose.

4. Penn State 2005. The game that saved the season for me. 1 second left, Henne to Manningham. Lloyd won that game for us by arguing for that second. Brilliant.

3. Washington State in Rose Bowl 1998. Went to this game and had one of the greatest times in my life. Watched Woodson pick off a pass right in front of me.

2. MSU 2004. I was on my honeymoon in Belize and was so pissed off that we were going to lose to those bastards, and then Braylon went ape-shit.

1. OSU 1997. Was at this game a year after I graduated. Makes me get choked up just thinking about it. Woodson would not be denied.

I really can't believe nobody had 2005 Penn State on their list! Not that anybody's lists were bad, I just figured SOMEBODY would include that game.

One second away from an undefeated season and young Mario Manningham scored the game winner.

EDIT: Sure enough, someone includes the 2005 Penn State game right as I post.

Wow... i like this post....

I'll give it a whirl, but sorry about the dates....

1. Miami Hurricanes at Michigan (1988 I think) What a great game, and us fans started singing the goodbye song a little to early, the entire fourth quarter, and Steve Walsh came back and beat us. Best college game I ever saw, hands down.

2. Colorado at Michigan the game when Moeller only sent three rushers at Kordell Stewart, and he then proceeded to throw a 70+ yard bomb to Westbrook, and the crowd afterward sat there, MESMERIZED for twenty minutes, not booing, just in shock.

3. Michigan at Notre Dame 1990 I think Grbac had a rough game, but it was a great game nonetheless

4. Ohio State at Michigan the year of the Desmond pose.

5. pick em'

we're practicin'!!!

i love it, anyway. in no real order, and only games that i attended.

1. 1992, michigan 52, iowa 28 - a personal choice. my brother was a team manager, my sister and her husband were in town from maryland, and it was my dad's last game. a sun-drenched day, a big win, and a great family memory.

2. 1991, michigan 24, notre dame 14 - my god, i hate notre dame. the catch.

3. 1991, michigan 31, ohio state 3 - the pose. a cold, crappy day, but a lovely ass-kicking.

4. 1997, michigan 23, michigan state 7 - at east lansing, another step on the road to the national championship. the 'other' catch.

5. 1997, michigan 34, penn state 8 - at state college. judgement day, blah, blah, blah. totally cleaned their clock...knocked the crap out of mcqueary on the first play, hit woodson over the middle for an easy touchdown....we stepped on their throat early and often. that team had SUCH A killer instinct.

AND - every single game i've ever attended...the band, running on the field. damn, i love that.

I rank these on a satisfaction level, as in, how much did a certain game really make your day and bring a smile to your face?:

1) 1998 Rose Bowl - Completes the undefeated season (plus I got to see it in person)
2) 1997 OSU - Set up the Rose
3) Desmond's "The Catch" game vs. ND - Michigan finally defeats the hated Irish
4) 2006 at ND - Michigan was in South Bend, coming off a disappointing 2005 and ND was ranked #2
5) 2008 Citrus - Lloyd goes out on top

5) Penn State 2005, 27-25, last second touchdown and PSU's only loss that year.
4) Wisconsin 2008, 27-25, biggest comeback in the Big House and the only saving grace from that year.
3) Michigan State 2007, coming back in Spartan Stadium with two touchdowns in 7 minutes to give Dantonio his first loss to Michigan.
2) Notre Dame 2006, 47-21, smackdown of Brady Quinn and the beloved Irish.
1) Capital One Bowl 2008 v Florida, 41-35, everything just clicked, we dominated the Gators and gave Lloyd a fitting farewell.

I think all these games have descriptions elsewhere, so just the list:

1) 1999 (season) Orange Bowl vs. Alabama
2) 1997 (season) Rose Bowl vs. Washington State
3) 2007 (season) Capital One Bowl vs. Florida
4) 1999 vs. Penn State
5) 2006 vs. Notre Dame

Barely off the list: 1997 vs. Ohio State; 1999 vs. Notre Dame; 2002 vs. Washington; 2003 vs. Minnesota.

couldn't resist answering this for myself...

1. Rose Bowl v. Washington State, 1997 -- the magnitude of the game intesified the stress-level unlike anything else.

2. @ Penn State, 1997 -- tremendous build-up to that game, and it was exhilarating to see the blowout.

3. v. Notre Dame, 1991 -- I was there after taking the Illinois bar exam two weeks earlier. I come from a Notre Dame family (mom, dad, five cousins, etc.) so the ND game always have particular meaning. Desmond caught that ball on 4th down in back of the endzone. From where we were sitting we couldn't see the result of the play; but we saw the fans in that corner of the endzone going nuts, we looked at each other and went, "f@#$ he caught it!!!" Nuts. Awesome.

4. Sugar Bowl v. Alabama (OT, 35-34) -- looked like we were going to get blown out but great second half and overtime.

5. vs. Miami (1984) -- My first UM game ever as a freshman. Vs. defending champions Miami. It was Bernie Kosar's worst game as a collegian, he threw 6 picks. It went on to be Bo's worst season (lost Harbaugh to broken arm), but played for the national championship with a 6-5 record -- well, BYU was playing us for it. But that first game was awesome. 24-12, I think the final score was.

I became a big fan in 2001 so my list is more recent but they are:

5.2005 Penn State- Michael Robinson scored for Penn State and everybody thought that they were going to escape with the win. Then Breaston has a great return and we drive down the field and cap it off with a touchdown pass to Mannigham to win the game as time expires.

4. 2007 Michigan State-State is up 24 to 14 and everybody thinks that State is going to finally beat us but then Henne orchestrates two great drives for touchdowns, the last one a beautiful deep pass to Mannigham.

3. 2008 Florida- Before the game everybody said Michigan didn't have a chance and Florida was going to kill them. We turned the bowl over 4 times, 2 times at the red zone and still win. It was a great way to end Carr's career and was a great way for that senior class to end their careers as well.

2. 2004 Michigan State- State is up 27 to 10 in the fourth and I'm thinking that it's done and we have lost. Then Braylon Edwards put on maybe of the best perfomances by a individual that I have ever seen watching a Michigan game. I'll never forget how estatic the crowd was after we won that game in triple overtime.

1. 2003 Ohio State- You could say I put this here because it is the only game that I have seen us beat Ohio State live. But this game was so intense, it was the 100th meeting and our offense put on a show. Edwards had a great game and Perry went off on their defense.

1985 vs. Long Beach State- I was 5. My first time ever at the stadium. Jamie Morris ripping of a big run. I was hooked.(and it seemed like we won by 400 points in my 5 year old mind)

2005 vs. PSU- Might be one of the best moments of my life. My brother, Dad, Grandpa and I in our same seats from said LBSU game 20 years later. We cheered with everyone for what seemed like 30 minutes when that final horn blew. Tears in my Grandpas eyes and my brother and I hugging like we never have. Funny how sports bring us closer sometimes.

1995 vs. OSU- I was there to see Tim B. go off on those losers. I was only 15 but man that was cool.

2008 vs. Florida- Probably my most satisfying Michigan win ever. I am very sentimental and really enjoyed seeing Carr go out with a victory like that. I watched that game all alone in the living room and would have it no other way.

1993 vs Washington (Rose Bowl)- Wheatley is one of my all-time favorites. He had some great runs that game plus it was fun to see what a win in Pasadena looked like.

I'm really looking forward to this season. I think we will be pleasantly surprised.

5) 2000 MSU at Michigan (W 14-0) - My first MSU game as a student, and I brought my father, an MSU alum.

4) 2002 season Outback Bowl vs Florida (W 38-30) - Chris Perry scored 4 TDs. I liked hearing the announcers say "Perry carry...."

3) 2003 ND at Michigan (W 38-0) - My first ND shutout win, plus it was my senior year, and we rushed the field.

2) 2007 season Cap One Bowl vs Florida (W 41-35) - Nice way to send Lloyd out, regardless of how you felt about the guy. Rough start to the season, great finish.

1) 2003 an ohio state university at Michigan (W 35-21) - Again, my senior year and we rushed the field. I remember trying to take a piece of turf as a souvenir for my final U-M game as a student, but that stuff is glued down tight! It's always nice to beat those b-holes, sweeter when it's your farewell game as a student.

There can be only one greatest game, and that of course (for us old guys) was the 24-12, 1969 triumph over the "undefeated, greatest college football team of all times" the 1969, unanimous number 1 team, the Ohio State Buckeyes. Woody brought in his team with a 22 game undefeated streak - a team that had never trailed in a single game during the season. Michigan was an 18 point underdog in their own stadium. When the game was over I (and almost all Michigan fans) did not want to leave the stadium! Dan Dierdorf and Jim Mandich still call that game the greatest of their careers (and both of them played in Super Bowl wins)

I also had attended the 14-50 humiliation the previous year in Columbus (that was the game when OhOh State scored their last touchdown, Woody called time-out, and went for two - which failed). Revenge was all that sweeter.

Nothing before, or since, has come close to that game, although the beating that Michigan laid on Penn State in 1997 comes close. Starting with Glen Steele's sack on the Penn State quarterback on the first play, it was all down hill for the Nittany Lions from there. And when Daydrion Taylor "laid out" the Penn State tight end right in front of the Penn State bench you could see the life sucked right out of that team. Michigan set the tone early in that game, and the tone was "Total Domination". I have never have seen a harder hit, or a more dominating performance in football and, as you can probably tell, I have been following Michigan football since the late 40's.

I know, I didn't list 5, but those two are in a class by themselves...

I can't resist.

5) 2004 UM vs OSU
4) 2005 UM vs OSU
3) 2007 UM vs OSU
2) 2008 UM vs OSU
1) 2006 UM vs OSU

See you in November.

As great as Braylonfest was, the game in 05 at MSU was way better if you were at the game. We were 2-2 after close losses at ND and Wisconsin. MSU was undefeated and in the top-10. The MSU fans in East Lansing were unbelievably cocky before the game. The students were wearing 'Stanton for Heisman' shirts (I would love to get my hands on one of those). Just a great atmosphere for an 'upset'. In 04 the MSU fans there were too stunned to know what happened. In 05 it totally crushed their spirit. In a year of infinite pain, 05 gave me 2 of the most satisfying victories of my life (along w/ PSU, of course).

But, here goes:

1)1991 v ND: "The Catch" and my first game as a student at Michigan Stadium--double magic.

2)2007 Capital One Bowl: I've never seen the UM Offense look quite so unstoppable

3)2005 v. Penn State: I was watching it at a party with my law school buddy who went to Penn State and a friend of mine actually said to him right before Henne-to-Manningham, "There's only 1 second left, what could possibly happen?"

4)2000 Orange Bowl v. 'Bama- Tom Brady at his finest

5) 1997 Rose Bowl- obviously

Most everybody has mentioned mine in one way or another, so I'll keep it brief:

1. 1997 vs. Ohio State, 20-14. I only wish woodson had the energy to flash the Heisman pose.

2. 1998 Rose Bowl over Washington State, 21-16. Second to last play, Woodson was interfered with, so don't gripe about those "2 seconds..."

3. 1993 over Washington, 38-31. I hated the Huskies for beating Michigan and Desmond Howard the previous year. Tyrone Wheatley, my alltime favorite Wolverine, ran wild and set a rushing record in several ways in that Rose Bowl.

4. 2008 Citrus Bowl over Florida. Same as above- take away two fumbles, and that Michigan team would have hung half a hundred on Urban Meyer.

5. 1991 vs. Notre Dame, 24-14. 4th and 1 from the 20? Let's throw to the endzone!

Honorable Mention. 1994 was one of my favorite seasons, in a "coming of age sort of thing" for me. I had watched games since the 1989 season, but '94 was really the first one in which I lived and died with the Wolverines. Colorado broke Wolverine hearts, but it seemed the Penn State game would give the team a chance to redeem and gain it all back. Alas, it was not to be; but that 1994 game with the Nittany Lions was a real classic with a bunch of talented players on each side. The Sports Illustrated article after that game was a classic as well.

1. 1980 Ohio State. This was a defensive struggle, with the only touchdown coming on an Anthony Carter reception. However, the PAT was botched, and an Ohio State touchdown would have kept Michigan out of the Rose Bowl.
2. 1988 Hall of Fame Bowl versus Alabama. We had a big lead in the third, but Alabama came back to take a 24-21 lead. On 4th and 3 from the 20, Demetrious Brown hit John Kolesar for the go-ahead touchdown.
3. 1985 Ohio State game. I was at this one so it's a sentimental favorite. Ohio State had just scored to come within 3 at 20-17 in the fourth. After the kickoff, Harbaugh hits John Kolesar with a 77-yard bomb to put us up by 10 and seal the victory.
4. 2003 Minnesota. We fell behind 28-7 at the half, but John Navarre brought us back for a 38-35 last minute victory.
5. 1980 Michigan State. Another game I was at and another sentimental favorite. Sparty finished 3-8, but Michigan's defense wasn't in full gear and Sparty fought hard in a 27-23 Michigan victory.

5. Washington 29 vs. Michigan 31, 2002.
I was out shopping and doing stuff all day, so I couldn't watch the entire game continuously, but I saw Chris Perry's big TD run while I was at Best Buy, then heard most of the 2nd and 3rd quarters on the radio, then caught the ending at some golf shop... by the end I was running from store to store trying to convince the employees to turn on ABC. I saw Brabbs pull it off though. Real nice.

4. Ohio State 21 vs. Michigan 35, 2003.
This game was just remarkably hype. The jet flyover, the 21-0 start, the huge crowd... just fantastic. I watched the game at home and I have never heard the crowd that loud from my house. Even though it was called back for holding, when Navarre and Braylon hooked up for that 80-something yard TD that would have made it 35-7... that was absolute bedlam.

3. Michigan 38 vs. Minnesota 35, 2003.
Friday night game cuz of the Twins I believe, so there's that novelty added in, but I don't have to say much else. It's been on the BTN lately, so that's been nice. I prefer this one over the Wisconsin comeback simply because it took longer and I savored the improbability of it a little better.

2. Michigan 41 vs. Florida 35, 2008.
I hate Tim Tebow. I hate the SEC. I hate ESPN. Nobody can ever take that away from UM. Both teams had such great athletes on the field, and we finally played the way that team was supposed to play.

1. Penn State 25 vs. Michigan 27, 2005.
PSU was #8 or something like that, we were unranked, their freshman phenom receiver broke his arm, ours scored the winning touchdown. I don't think I sat down the whole game, and I have never been that happy as a result of a sporting event's outcome.

Here are my five favorite games I have seen live:

5) 1995 vs. Ohio State - Timmy B runs for 313 yards. We upset OSU.

4) 2000 Orange Bowl vs. Alabama - Match up with another program with great tradition. Great game by Brady and Terrell

3) 1984 vs. MSU - My first game at Michigan Stadium. Jim Harbaugh breaks his arm and we lose.

2) 1997 Rose Bowl vs. Washington State - Rose Bowl. National Championship. Enough said.

1) 1997 at Penn State - Electric atmosphere. Maybe the most dominate performance I have seen from Michigan. Also, the most viscious hit I have ever seen. Daydrien Taylor and the PSU tight end both never played a down of football after that hit. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YFOcfwWgqc at the 5min 28 sec mark.

Here are my five favorites...

5. 1992 Michigan 61, Houston 7 -- This was an incredibly satisfying victory. We were favored, but not overwhelmingly. Our pass defense the year before sucked really bad and a lot of people thought this was going to be an upset. Instead, we were leading 42-0 at halftime and we could have scored 80 if we had wanted to. Our 4th string tailback had 100 yards rushing in the fourth quarter.

4. 1996 Michigan 13, Ohio State 9 -- This has to be our biggest upset of the past 39 years. Ohio State should have beaten us so badly it's not even funny.

3. 1995 Michigan 31, Ohio State 23 -- 313 yards for Biakabutuka. Arguably the greatest single game performance by a Michigan player all time.

2. 1993 Michigan 21, Penn State 13 -- People forget how big of an underdog we were for this game. We had gotten our asses kicked the previous week by Michigan State and the season looked like it was headed south fast. Then we pulled this one out of our asses even though we got totally outplayed for the first 20 minutes.

1. 1997 Michigan 34, Penn State 8 -- The Rose Bowl may have capped the season, but this is the one that won us a national championship. Best game by a Michigan team in my lifetime. Perhaps ever.

5. 2003- at Minnesota: Three quarters of misery watching Michigan’s offense flounder while Michigan’s defense was pummeled by Minnesota’s tandem rushing attack of Marion Barber and Lawrence Mulroney. I couldn’t understand how they couldn’t stop the run when they knew Minnesota was going got run on every play. Then Michigan got it and it turned into the biggest comeback in Michigan history. Oh, and Steve Breaston completed a touchdown pass to John Navarre.

4. 2006-at Notre Dame: Hardly completive but oh-so-entertaining. Notre Dame was actually ranked #2 and there were so many questions about Michigan after the previous 7-5 season. Michigan didn’t show much offense in the previous two games against Vanderbilt and Central Michigan and didn’t in the first two offensive series against the Irish. Then, the passing attack was unleashed and I can still hear the announcer’s voice saying “Oh, he’s wide open” as Chad Henne launched the 69 yard touchdown pass to Mario Manningham. After that, the game became a cornucopia of offensive and defensive highlights. This is the college football equivalent of comfort food, a thorough dismantling—while an underdog, no less—of a haughty rival that just warms the soul.

3. 1997-at Penn State: 8 November 1997 was Judgment Day and Michigan stepped up in a big way. I was stationed in Korea at the time and watched the game live at about 2am on a Sunday morning after spending most of that Saturday playing football and drinking. Hence, the hazy memories of this but this is the one that got Michigan its #1 rankings. This—to me—is the game that demonstrated how truly great the 1997 Michigan Wolverines were, how critical Charles Woodson was, and how that team could beat anyone anywhere.

2. 2000-Alabama Orange Bowl: Might be my number one if not for Alabama’s missed extra point deciding the game. A classic Tom Brady performance with a comeback and then overtime.

1. 2008-Florida Capital One Bowl: In these lean times we’ve got to embrace what we can and defeating Florida on the year in between their mythical national championships is something to hang on to (along with the name Tim Biakabutuka, go ahead, say it out loud “Biakabutuka” you feel better, don’t you?) Marred only by Mike Hart’s trash talking and fumbling (2/3 of his career fumbles lost!) this was the game nobody thought Michigan had even the slightest chance in. And yet, Percy Harvin was chased down, Tim Tebow contained, and Michigan’s wideouts ran rampant through Florida’s secondary making one-handed grabs. A wonderful farewell for Lloyd Carr and, on a personal, the first Michigan game my then six day old son saw which makes it extra special to me.

I'm new to mgoblog and loving it! My first post...and I'm sure everyone is waiting with anticipation at some random guys' thoughts:

Favorite Games 1 through 3:

OSU in 1995, 1996 and 1997. These games are really a set to me and can be taken in any order (perhaps 1995 most satisfying, 1997 most impactful). OSU came in on top of the world in all three and we knocked em' down a peg each time.

4) Desmond's "catch" against ND. I was siting in row 1 in that corner of the end zone and it came right at me. I am thinking there is no way he catches up to that ball...just incredible. Also, this win came on the heels of 4 straight losses to ND and the summer before, some random domer in the street yelled out to me in my UM shirt "hey A-hole! 4 in a row baby!"

5) OSU 2003. My buddy and I are on our annual Fall Trip (a sinful tradition to get away from the wives and go nuts). We are in Minneapolis watching the game (100th edition of the classic) with a ton of UMers...then go to see the Wings play the Wild then on Sunday see the Lions play the Vikes (okay, that part not so memorable). But a great weekend!

I'm limiting my list to games I've seen live because, let's face it, the memories are that much stronger when you see it in person:

#1: Michigan vs OSU 2003 (only time Tressel lost to us - many more to come)

#2: Washington @ Michigan 2002 - my first game at the big house and a game-winning field goal to end it

#3: Michigan State @ Michigan 2004 - record setting comeback

#4: Penn State @ Michigan 2002 & 2005 - OT game and Manningham last second catch

#5: Texas vs Michigan 2005 Rose Bowl - we lost by a last second field goal but what a fantastic game.

I don't claim to have a decent history here, as my fandom dates literally from the 2005 Penn State game. So I leave the gameplay observations to the more talented but note only why they seemed cool to me at the time.

1) 2005 v. Penn State.

Watching on TV up north attending some academic conference.

NYM: Time to go, we're late.
SON: No there's just a couple minutes left.
PSU Scores.
NYM: Gimme a break, we've lost for sure now.
SON: No, we can still win.

Impatient parent stomps feet, fumes, is transformed by Manningham's catch. Fan is born.

2)Cap. One Bowl Jan. 2008, vs. Florida

Myself and SON there, what WAS I thinking, in consequence my husband was obliged to take my gig running our 9-year-old daughter to American Girl Place. Stuck in end zone in a field of chomping GATORS while poor spouse had tea with a doll.

The guys carry Carr off the field on their shoulders, only a few yards from where we stood, the Gator fans having exited quickly after the game. The team the most sincerely happy people I had ever seen in my life. So THAT's what sports are for - genuine real reactions to stuff that can't be readily predicted. Take that, reality TV.

3) Wisconson game 2008

So I know this is lame in many ways, and you'll probably shame me for even MENTIONING last year, but it was awesome fun to watch the second half. And here's your statistics joke for the day:

RANDOM STRANGER: Why are we doing better now?
14-year-old SON: I think it's regression to the mean.

Make your mother proud boys and learn about regression to the mean.

4) The next game is ALWAYS the greatest.

5- Wisconsin 2008 - great comeback

4- at ND 2006- blow out of #2 ND

3- at PSU 2006- night game was a fun experience in a great stadium

2- OSU 2003- 100th game great win

1- at OSU 2006- #2 at #1, greatest atmosphere that I have been a part of despite the loss.