Does this win rival 1969 at all for our greatest?
I've been weighing this for a while if we had won. I know we Michigan fans are suckers for nostalgia and history. But maybe it's time to live in the present. There are notable advantages this win has that beating OSU in 1969 didn't so let's compare them:
1969:
Win over the number 1 team in the country and defending national champions
Snapped their 22-game winning streak
Game was played in Ann Arbor
Could only compete for the Big Ten title that year (not national title) because we had already two losses
2022:
Win against OSU while they were undefeated at 11-0
Gave us our first EVER top-3 matchup victory
Win was at Columbus
Rest of the season to be determined
I think a lot of this will be decided by how we finish the year (at a minimum) if this win can surpass 1969. But the fact there's even a discussion about today is just profound!
November 26th, 2022 at 4:40 PM ^
Having been a little boy that does remember 1969 this win is bigger
November 26th, 2022 at 5:06 PM ^
I was 10 years old and at the 69 game with my dad. It is still a vivid memory with me, especially when the fans rushed the field. That will always be number 1 in my book due to OSU being number 1 and most giving us no chance. Today’s win was a very close third surpassed only by 69 and last year’s game (which I attended as well). I am now spending time on 11Warriors site to soak in the spoils of victory. Go Blue!!
November 26th, 2022 at 4:40 PM ^
I would absolutely argue yes, primarily because I am alive today!
But you can also make a very strong logical argument.
We had faced them 4 prior times with both of us undefeated, with a very herbstreitesque record of 0-3-1 in those games. We had not won in Columbus since 2000. And we killed them with their biggest home loss since the 1970s. This was special!!
November 26th, 2022 at 4:41 PM ^
There are between 23 to 45 reasons why it MIGHT qualify
A GREAT win either way
November 26th, 2022 at 4:44 PM ^
Yep. Huge win.
I posted recently about how OSU gets treated well by the national sports media. Look here (from SI):
If Michigan had lost by 22 to OSU, do you think anyone would use "alter" with Michigan's playoff chances? Doubt it. Anyway, small potatoes. I'll be enjoying today's highlights for a long time.
November 26th, 2022 at 4:43 PM ^
In the context of timing 2011 is much more analogous to 1969. Obviously a 10 year war didn't grow from it but, for those of us who remembered 1969 and were at the game in 2011, the feeling was much the same.
November 26th, 2022 at 4:44 PM ^
Ryan Day is on his way to losing a 10 minute war, metaphorically speaking
November 26th, 2022 at 4:50 PM ^
The happiest person in America not a Michigan fan, John Cooper. Finally got the monkey off his back.
November 26th, 2022 at 4:59 PM ^
You mean Cyan Day?
I saw it elsewhere, but I'm running with it!
November 26th, 2022 at 4:43 PM ^
Ha ha, you said "69"
November 26th, 2022 at 4:44 PM ^
I was at the 1969 game. I remember at least one crucial INT to end OSU's chances.
But without Corum, being at the toilet bowl, and with the second half domination, this one felt better - to me.
My instant reaction was holy fucking fuck. I still feel that way.
November 26th, 2022 at 4:45 PM ^
OSU went down the field and scored a TD on their first possession. After that, we outscored them by 29 and they appeared comparable to a really good MAC team.
November 26th, 2022 at 4:45 PM ^
28 to 3 in 2nd half in that toilet bowl is pretty fucking huge, especially as an 8 point underdog!
Go Blue!!!
November 26th, 2022 at 4:48 PM ^
Not even close 1969 OSU team was considered to be Woody's best team ever and damn near unbeatable
Today's win is certainly a memorable one but 1969 upset win is damn near impossible to top.
November 26th, 2022 at 4:50 PM ^
No, but it's close.
Michigan was given a 20-40% chance to win today, which is probably better than last year, and much better than 1969. And with last year, at least Michigan and its fans knew it was possible (albeit expecting a closer game if victorious).
Outside of 1964 IIRC, Woody Hayes and Ohio State were dominating Michigan and the rest of college football. They were the giants no-one thought could be slain.
November 26th, 2022 at 6:03 PM ^
Were the odds with or without Corum, because I am pretty sure most would have said no shot without Corum particularly when Edwards himself had an injury concern too.
November 26th, 2022 at 4:51 PM ^
This was a great win but it's going to be hard to beat 1969 for what it meant at the time (huge upset of one of the greatest teams ever) and what it meant for the program going forward. Besides winning the national championship game in the playoffs it's going to be hard to beat. I was just a little kid then but I'll never forget it. I've been a fan ever since.
November 26th, 2022 at 5:03 PM ^
Exactly right. Today's win was BIG, but not not like 1969!
We were ranked #3 this year as opposed to 1969 when we were unranked.
The 1969 Michigan team had a rookie coach too.
GO BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!
November 26th, 2022 at 5:04 PM ^
This was my take. Both are bighugelarge wins, but the '69 game literally changed the direction of the entire football program.
We could legit say the same for last years 42-27. But not so much for this year, IMO...
BUT WHAT AN AWESOME FUCKING WIN TODAY!!!!
November 26th, 2022 at 4:52 PM ^
To me it was, I don't quite remember the big '69 win since I was only 6. I do remember the undefeated season last lost to CAL in the rose bowl.
November 26th, 2022 at 4:53 PM ^
No. We were 11-0. In 1969, OSU was undefeated and defending national champs. We were something like 2 TD underdogs or more. Bo was brand new. It was one of the biggest upsets in college football history, not just The Game.
This was great, but that was epic.
November 26th, 2022 at 4:54 PM ^
No. In 1969 Michigan was 7-2 and ranked No. 12
They had no business beating Ohio State at all, let alone by 12 points.
Talent-wise, across the board, that 1969 Ohio State team is still regarded as NFL level.
In 2022, Michigan has been a Top 5 team head to toe. Talent-wise they are perhaps on par or equal to Ohio State, despite Ohio States long dominance on national signing day.
No. 1 Georgia beat Ga Tech 37-14, so Michigan will now be ranked No. 2. Purdue is down 3-7 vs. Indiana at halftime.
November 26th, 2022 at 4:55 PM ^
last year was bigger than 1969 b/c this broke the streak and really saved the program
This year ties 1969
November 26th, 2022 at 4:59 PM ^
Was coming in to say last years win was bigger than this years win imo. Last year got the monkey off Harbaugh's back. This years win put the monkey on Day's back.
November 26th, 2022 at 4:58 PM ^
I feel like last year was more like 1969.
But this year reminds me of 1976. We hadn't won in Columbus since 1964 and then dropped the hammer on them, 22-0.
November 26th, 2022 at 5:00 PM ^
Just had this conversation with my pop. Rival, yes. Exceed, no. Ohio State in 1969 was undefeated and defending national champions. Michigan had fallen far and had not won the conference in five years.
This year follows a win in the series plus a conference title.
It is the second biggest win of the modern (Bo and thereafter) era.
November 26th, 2022 at 5:02 PM ^
it’s definitely up there, although the 69 ohio state team was being discussed as the greatest team in the history of college football. this year’s buckeyes were not that.
in terms of importance to both programs? in the discussion but probably a step below.
November 26th, 2022 at 5:03 PM ^
"The best team we ever put together, probably the best team that ever played college football," is how Woody Hayes described his 1969 Ohio State squad.
Those Who Stay Will Be Champions
That win cemented a legacy that is still being defined.
November 26th, 2022 at 5:05 PM ^
Wasn't alive then. But I am almost 40 and this is the best win of my life.
November 26th, 2022 at 5:09 PM ^
2021 will always be the greatest for me, because in alot of ways it was the first.
This one really turned the tide and now the rivalry is, for now, ours.
Go Blue!
November 26th, 2022 at 5:29 PM ^
Yes absolutely, gives this team a chance to actually win a national championship. On the road and without your best player on top of it by 22. No offense to the 1969 team but this is absolutely the better win, though both are great.
November 26th, 2022 at 5:46 PM ^
That’s why I said yes it could lead to a NC
November 26th, 2022 at 5:39 PM ^
I was not alive at the time, but I'm saying yes. This win was colossally huge. The two moments are at least comparable, coming in totally different eras.
November 26th, 2022 at 6:19 PM ^
If you had told me before the game, Blake Corum couldn’t go and we’d be 10-100 in rush yards at halftime, I would have binged Game of Thrones season 8 instead of watching to dull the pain.
I thought 42-27 was the best win of my lifetime, but 45-23 is better. I’m still in giddy shock.
November 26th, 2022 at 6:41 PM ^
1969.
I was at the 1969 game. It was a bigger win, mainly because OSU was not only #1 in the nation all year but was called "the team of the century". In 1969 Michigan had also lost to MSU and Mizzou already that season. I was sitting in the stands with Bo's son Chip and fans were calling for Bo's head after the Mizzou loss. Michigan was just starting to gain momentum.
Today was very, very sweet though! Go Blue!
November 26th, 2022 at 7:32 PM ^
What would you say was the last win this big over OSU before today? Last year because of the underdog status and breaking the streak? Or all the way back to 1997 because it also finished an undefeated season and set us up for the national championship?
November 26th, 2022 at 7:47 PM ^
No. The OSU team in 1969 was strong as were the OSU teams the year before and after. This year's game will fade quickly as soft teams fade into history. No one is going to ask, "How did Michigan do that?" regarding today's game. Michigan, today, didn't play over their head to beat a superior team.
November 27th, 2022 at 12:57 AM ^
OSU still has 11 wins (with the postseason to come). This might not be as big as '69 but it's probably in the top five. Not every day you dominate a top 5 team on the road.