42-27 vs. 45-23 ; Comparing Your Levels of Joy

I cant remember who said this, or what about, or when, or where, but someone once said their favorite something was always the next one (Saban talking about championships?).  This is how I feel about victories over OSU.   My favorite is always the next one...  Theres no way anyone can honestly say last year was better than this year.  Given all the talk we heard about a fluke.  Proving it wasn't a fluke was so much better than proving we can do it once.  Proving next year it's more than a trend will be even better.  Proving it's not getting lucky with a year of recruiting (JJ, Edwards...) will be even sweeter than that. And so on.

2021 was definitely magical. I was there in the beautiful snow. I didn’t believe it was going to happen until those last couple of drives when we just ran it down their throats. This ranked with the 1997 game, which I also attended. 
 

This year, no matter what happened, could never top last year. But, in its own unique way, this win was just as satisfying and more significant.  It represented so much more. It felt like a turning point in the rivalry. I was frankly surprised at how, in all aspects, Ohio State underperformed compared to last year. 
 

The passing game was not as good as last year. Amazingly enough, their run game was considerably worse. It was a virtual non-factor in the game. Likewise, the coaching was worse. Day & his staff were thoroughly outcoached this year. 
 

The real eye opener for me was the lack of intensity. Stroud refusing to run when he had the opportunity to pick up big chunks and first downs. The sideline, both coaches and players, reminded me of the 2-10-1 Cooper years. They had that befuddled look of a team that knew they were going to lose. And, quite frankly, the margin should have been bigger. The inexplicable whistle on our scoop and score prevented a final score of 52-23. 
 

Last year was magical. This year was more impactful as to the overall future arc of the programs. 

2022 was fun.

2021 was emotional.

GREAT, GREAT job encapsulation both games and feel.  BOTH were euphoric for different reasons as you so eloquently stated.  I'm not going to try to choose because them as doing so will diminish the other!  Pure ectatsy both time.

This year was much better. I live in Ohio, all buckeyes had excuses for last year. After this year they have either said absolutely nothing after the game, or they flat out said they are worried where things are headed. This game broke that weakass fan base 

Both were so amazing. 2021 my kids finally saw us beat the bucks and the losing streak is over!! Seeing M take a lead and then match OSU score for score to stay up
 

But this year we travelled to family for Thanksgiving and got to watch the 2022 win with about 20 family members. plus the fact that I lost hope after Corum went out after 2 plays. It was unexpected dominance while celebrating wildly over and over with so many of my family members!

Only because I was there in 2021!!!  I've already watched the 22' game more than the 21' game and I used to watch it everyday with my coffee for a snack in 2021-22!!!

They both were amazing.

I felt good about 2021, I figured we'd play well and it would come down to the 4th Q and if we could whether the usual OSU charge.  We did.  In the end, everything about that day was pure football perfection and I will never ever forget it and the jubilation afterward was as close to the old videos of 1969 as you'll ever see.   Every time the snow falls lightly from the sky I will forever remember that day.  

This year, I was hopeful we'd play well but felt we just weren't quit enough to beat them in the Shoe without Blake Corum.  The first half was hangin on by fingernails and despite really being outplayed, you could see some doubt in the OSU eyes.  When Michigan went up 31-20 I was hopeful that once again we could hold on, at 31-23 after Sainristills brilliance I turned to my friend and said man I've some 4th quarter things from Ohio State I'm nervous as hell, don't blow this chance boys, and boom Edwards was off to the races and I don't think I've ever jumped higher in my life.

What will always strike me about winning this year was the teams reaction, they absolutely positively EXPECTED to win that game.  There was no out of control joy, just a happy resignation and confidence that they'd done what they came to do and by god they were going to let the good people of Ohio know it.

I will cherish both equally and speak of both teams and both moments as truly special and the best moments of the last 25 years of Michigan football, and likely two of the best outcomes for the rest of my life.  

2022… The Bucks planned and prepped for a year.  It was at their house.  Weather was perfect.  Bucks were more talented, again.

I loved 2021.. but, one could have said - it was an aberration. This now feels programmatic - it wasn’t an instance - it’s a trend.

Last year was more release, this year more joy--leavened with a kind of calm that I have rarely felt about Michigan football. 

2021 was the greatest football day I have ever experienced. 

To me, atleast for now, nothing will ever top the feeling of getting over that hump.

2022 was special, as OP said, in that it proved the tables have truly turned in the rivalry. 

For me, 2021 was magical. We hadn't beaten OSU in a bit, and the reputation they had was still intact.

2022 was the 'joy' win for me. It was the first time in a long time that I felt we were on equal footing with them, and that there was a clear path to victory. Those long TD plays were pretty joyful, lol.

Like asking someone to pick their favorite child.

Well...a very large "NO" on #4 for 2022-eight in the box did not stop the run.

It is difficult to envision the 2022 season coming to  a premature end. I am thrilled with this teams 13 win accomplishment...will be even more thrilled with 14...and after the past 15 years-I don't know how to conceptualize the thought of reaching 15 wins. 

Equal levels of joy  

Just different  

Last year was relief  This year was pure joy  

2022. JJ at the helm. Undefeated. Blowout in spite of losing our best player. Change of program narrative. We have an identity and they look lost. They're out of excuses.

I love both my children equally.

I love them both, but I have to go with 2021.  Why?

-Because no one believed they could, not even the fans.

-Because a significant percentage of folks wanted Harbaugh gone.

-Because people actually thought that the 2020 season mattered, and gave no nuance to it being a pandemic season.

this is like 'sophie's choice', but in a joyful way, not tragic.  

still and all, '21 is the winner.  and the snow made it that much better.  football in snow is right and proper. 

every michigan fan on planet earth lost their collective you-know-what on this play.  

Neither victory is necessarily better per se. But this 2022 team is better. Will go farther. Could win it all. Last year's team probably didn't have a chance to win the national title.

2022. I had Covid in 2021. Asleep all day that Saturday. The beatdown in the Shoe in 22 was my fave. As an Ohioan and being a Wolverine fan, the absolute silence I received on the Monday at work was defeaning and music to my ears. 

2021. It was complete domination, nothing about it was an accident, and any objective person watching would agree. I was beside myself for days afterward.

I was pretty dang excited after the game this year, but it didn’t have the benefit of lifting the sting of a decade of losses. 

A different way of putting it - I would prefer to re-watch 2021 than 2022, but would still happily re-watch either.

Both please. Enjoyed all the comments on this post. 

from a Michigan perspective 2021 had to be the better moment 

From an OSU perspective 2022 had to be a worse moment

Excellent summary.

I like 2022 because OSU cannot say they weren't ready, they weren't surprised, they were at home, and for the most part, they were healthy (at least as healthy as Michigan.)

2021.  I've watched that game 10 times, or so, and it never gets old.  And yeah, I still get the same feelings I had on game day.  Both the 2022 game and the re-watch did not give me those same feelings, probably because I pretty much expected a fairly comfortable win.  Certainly not the blowout we got, but comfy nonetheless...

2021 was beyond joy. Their was so much dopamine that I would have thought someone drugged me if I wasn't alone. 

2022 was also great but nothing near 2021.

Seems like the answer is 2022 if you like maximum Buckeye pain or proving doubters wrong etc, etc. 

For me 2021 was magical. 2008 was my first year as a fan and 2011 seemed like something I could barely remember. 2021 was purer somehow because it was something that seemed impossible. We beat Ohio State. None of the talk or stories after really mattered AT ALL to me.  

So 2022 was great but I can’t see anything topping 2021.

21. I had tears. It meant so much.

They were different kinds of joy and I’m not sure you have one without the other.

2021 was more just pure euphoria. It came out of nowhere and it finally got the 2000 lb gorilla off of Michigan’s back. It was child-like joy on Christmas morning, but it could’ve been easily dismissed (and in OSU circles, it largely was) as a fluke. Michigan was at home, led by over-achieving upperclassmen in a snowstorm when OSU supposedly had the flu. All I saw for a year from many OSU fans is “Hey, even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while. Just wait until we get them in our house.”

2022 was the joy of validation. I wasn’t as over the top ecstatic this year as I was last year, but this year was a more “established joy” and validation that last year was very much not a fluke. That Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan is here to stay, and more importantly, there is joy in knowing that OSU is facing an existential crisis. Harbaugh is shattering all they’ve ever known for the last twenty years, and now OSU is the one who’s beginning to question itself and it’s identity. They are now having to question if what they’re doing is good enough to beat Michigan, and Urban Meyer is not around to save them anymore.

Great summary, agree on all of those points

I think the 2022 win was more impressive, and it moved me on an emotional level. However, the 2021 game moved me more, probably because there is nothing sweeter than relief

That said, both games caused me to wake up each day and immediately listen to "The Victors" on blast

2021 because it ended the streak, both obviously great.

Rewatching the games 2021 seems like Michigan dominated even more than the score reflects, with a red zone turnover and multiple outstanding OSU catches to keep within striking distance.

2022 closer than score reflects, with late Edwards TD when OSU had to totally sell out on run (although not too much different than their full game defensive plan), and Day making questionable 4th down call.

in both cases, 4 hours later, it was still like that, so I had to call the doctor, per recommendations