12-0, in historical context

WHAT A WIN. WHAT A SEASON. WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE.

This is M's first time winning a Big Ten division in back to back seasons since divisions started in 2011. This is M's first time winning in the Shoe since 2000. This is M's first time beating OSU in consecutive seasons since '99-00. This is M's first time beating MSU and OSU in the same season since 2003. It is also just the second time since 2005 that the Buckeyes will not win a share of their division or conference title. It is M's largest margin of victory in the game since 1993. It's our biggest margin of victory in Cbus since 1976, our most points in the game since 1946, and our first time ever scoring 40+ points in the game in back to back years. And as pointed out earlier in this board, it is the first time M has preserved an undefeated season by winning in the shoe since ..1948. when we won the natty.

 

This is M's 3rd 12-0 start ever, with the first being in 1905 (losing the 13th in a heartbreaker to Chicago) and the 2nd being 1997 (when we...well you know). This is also our 4th 12 win season ever, with last year being the third. It has to be noted that outside of 1905, M never played a 12 game season until 1971 (and couldn't until 1970). Nevertheless, this is our second 12-0 start in the last 52 seasons.

 

Last week i posted an argument that the '21-22 season starts were the best since '73-74. (I guess I'm now saying the 2022 season start on its own surpasses any of the Bo/Mo era, only matching 1997 when Lloyd was coaching.) Those teams from '70-74 were incredible...but we only beat Ohio State in 1971. And we are now at the part of the season where it isn't how you start, it's how you finish - and we have not (yet) won the Big Ten. From 1988-1991, M beat OSU AND won a share of the Big Ten every season, therefore '90-91 was the last time we did this in consecutive seasons. We also finished in the top 10 every one of those seasons, as well as 1992 (but tied OSU while winning a share of the Big Ten). Likewise, from 1976-1978 M beat Ohio and won the Big Ten every year. Unfortunately we did fall to Sparty in 1978 and 1990. 

 

So outside of 1997, this two year stretch has already surpassed any from 1992 onwards, but cannot surpass the '88-89 or '76-77 runs in my book. I should also mention the '85-86 seasons, where we didn't win the Big Ten in 1985 but finished #2, and beat OSU and MSU both years. That '85-92 stretch is, for someone who was born in that frame and cannot recall it, pretty incredible to look back on.

 

For the record, M's best 2-year sets ever have to be '47-48 and '32-33 - when we won back to back national championships. (There's also the point a minute stretch from 1901-1904, but at the time Midwestern football was a step behind the East Coast - which can be said about the SEC vs the Big Ten today as well tho, but national championships are undisputed these days). 1947-8 was also the last time we finished the season as a top 5 team in the AP poll in back to back seasons. To let you know how long ago 1948 was, MSU was not in the big ten, but they had become an annual game by then. And 1933 was before the AP poll existed.

 

So to recap, since 1948's natty, '76-77, '85-86, '88-89 (really '85-92), '96-97 and then '21-22 are in a class of their own as far as back to back seasons go.

 

So enjoy it folks. This is already our best 2-yr stretch in 2 dozen years. And while it's exceeded by the best of the Bo and Mo years - for now - it is damn near on par with them. Go Blue. Win the Big Ten. And then...