What are your FAVORITE Michigan Football Games (top 5)?
This without question was my second favorite season of my lifetime (and it's not even close, this past year is closer to '97 than third place is to last year)...but it got me thinking again, what are your FAVORITE Michigan football games (top 5)?
And they have to be games you watched.
NOT to be confused with what are the top 5 Michigan games? These are YOUR FAVORITE games. For example, #5 for me might be Michigan/Rutgers 78-0. That game was so close to perfection, I loved it. But not even close to one of the best games of my life.
I'm interested to know the favorites from the board.
April 14th, 2022 at 11:33 PM ^
v. Ohio, 1983. On the bench my senior year
v. Ohio 11/27/21
triple OT v Illinois (not widely loved)
wheatley’s rose bowl romp v washington
1997 rose bowl
not necessarily in that order, all but the 1997 rose bowl attended in person
April 14th, 2022 at 11:39 PM ^
97 season but 98 Rose Bowl, I was there!
Edit: that Illinois game still gets on my nerves, I knew RichRod wasn't gonna workout halfway through the 2008 season.
Also, 'sup XM!
well good morning mick. it is good friday.
how're things in S.D.? was talking to someone about our time living in your area just yesterday. i don't miss socal, but if i ever had to go back it would definitely be in your neck of the woods. looks like nice weather out your way and no 'june gloom' has set in.
On the beach right now. I can confirm no June Gloom had set in.
April 15th, 2022 at 11:54 PM ^
which beach, PB, OB?
April 15th, 2022 at 10:09 AM ^
I HATED that Illinois game.
I remember my friends being all hyped after the game and I'm like, "wtf is wrong with you? we're terrible and this just proved it. ILLINOIS scored 65 on us in the Big House" hahah. Glad that era is over
April 15th, 2022 at 12:26 PM ^
i get that take, most have it, but a 3OT game that ends with frank clark crushing the (rival) illini's last chance is a pretty fantastic finish
Nice to see you back!
I found that Illinois game painful.
Same.
Just like the MOON game, just for the reverse reason.
April 14th, 2022 at 11:38 PM ^
1998 Rose Bowl, Woodson & co. Win it all!
2003 comeback at Minnesota, my GF came over just before the game ended, it was a Friday night and let's just say there was good times that night!
1981 Rose Bowl , Bo's first bowl win.
1989 Rose Bowl, Leroy Hoard runs all over USC.
2021 OSU game
April 14th, 2022 at 11:46 PM ^
- #1 - 1997 against Penn State. It was supposed to be a showdown, but it ended up being a massacre. It was unexpected and beautiful. The collision by Daydrion Taylor is stuck in my head forever, and it shows the effort and intensity Michigan brought that day. The poor dude gave his career for that hit.
- #2 - UTL1 against ND. Attended in person. Paid way too much for tickets. It was worth every penny.
- #3 - 1997 against OSU. So much on the line. Woodson simultaneously owned David Boston, kept Natty hopes alive, won a Big Ten Championship, and clinched a Heisman. No shade to the rest of the team, but Woodson was the difference (contributing massively in all 3 phases)
- #4 - 2008 Capital One Bowl. Carr's last game and taking down Tebow and Urban. What's not to love there?
- #5 - Rose Bowl against WSU. Lock up the Championship and send Woodson off with a Rose between his teeth.
April 15th, 2022 at 12:32 AM ^
this is a great list
April 15th, 2022 at 12:32 AM ^
this is a great list
April 15th, 2022 at 11:10 AM ^
My #1 is your #2. Wait...that doesn't sound right. LOL
Anyways, UTL1 was one of the most exciting games I've ever watched. Everyone thought it was over, til it wasn't.
April 15th, 2022 at 11:50 AM ^
Wasn’t the iconic Woodson with rose in mouth photo/video from after the ‘97 OSU game (clinching the Rose Bowl birth) rather than at the ‘98 Rose Bowl itself. Maybe he did it again after the Rose Bowl, but the image I recall was from Michigan Stadium.
I have virtually the exact same list in the same order Rob, but gotta go with osu '21 over the Capital One Bowl.
Otherwise, spot on!
End thread! Great list. (Yeah I know - it’s about PERSONAL favs so there is no right, wrong or winner!)
Was at all but the 2008 bowl. 97 was quite the ride. And Happy Valley was AWESOME that night!
April 14th, 2022 at 11:48 PM ^
42-27
Big Ten Champs
Defeat with Dignity
The “Mike Hart fumbled twice??” game
Fandom Endurance III Badge (2008 Northwestern)
I am not joking when I say I had a great time at that Northwestern game. The weather was shitty, the team sucked the stadium was about 1/3rd full by halftime and all but one of my friends left. Looking around, you knew that everyone in that stadium was True Blue. Felt connected to every single M fan in that stadium
HM-2011 Ohio, 08 Wisconsin, Devin Bush takes at the Sparta logo, 2021 Nebraska and Wisconsin, Denard’s vs UConn, all the ND wins since 06, 77-0, the rest of the Revenge Tour games before that got sad, particularly Penn State, the Little Brother game, the 2015 Bowl game, 78-0
(Only been watching Michigan football since 06)
That 08 nw game sucked nads. The game was bad, Donovan Warren had that td taken off the board when they ruled him out of bounds, that should have been a win.. yeah I know, 4th win that season, but still stung.... The weather, wasn't cold temp wise, 30-33° if I recall.. but it was windy with rain, sleet, snow and repeated several times over. Was soaked even though I had rain proof gear over the course of the rain sleet and snow it stuck and went through anyway. Never been that cold in my life but managed the entire game with a friend. Uggggg still Uggg.. and rr UGGGGGGG...lol
Hart fumbled twice game, cap1 bowl vs Florida, Henne, Long, Hart, Manningham and the going away party for Lloyd. Yeah, I loved that game for many reasons. Wearing Michigan gear in Gatlinburg Tn the next summer, I got a ton of comments from sec honks. The funny thing was they all said they thought florida was better and just didn't care. I was loling the entire time. Like dude, easily could have put up about 60 on that vaunted florida defense. They didn't know how much Talent was actually on that Michigan team...
April 14th, 2022 at 11:50 PM ^
There are so many for me, but I have to go with my first, versus Iowa in 1983. I sat in the student section. We won on a last second field goal by Bob Bergeron. Place went crazy. Best time ever.
I was there too. Good call. Madness when he hit it.
April 14th, 2022 at 11:52 PM ^
5. Wisconsin 1968 (Ron Johnson 347 yards in the rain)
4. Notre Dame 2010 (Denard)
3. OSU 1971 (senior year)
2. Penn State 1997 (Unbelievably satisfying)
1. OSU 1969
This would be my list too. I was at UM 67-71. How about you? I watched the Wisconson game on tv at my apartment building. Weather was horrible.
April 15th, 2022 at 12:05 PM ^
Who can omit beating OSU 24-12 in 1969? Shock waves crossed the world from that. I really like your Top 2. The 42-27 beating of OSU last season would rank and maybe the 42-3 drubbing of Iowa in the B1G Championship game could also make the Top 5.
April 14th, 2022 at 11:52 PM ^
2021 Ohio
1997 Ohio
200? MSU Braylonfest
1997 PSU
1997 Colorado
April 14th, 2022 at 11:54 PM ^
Last year Ohio State cracked mine. I don’t actually have a list to be honest, but there have not been 5 games that have brought me greater joy, I can promise you that.
2004 Braylon vs Michigan St is another I haven’t seen mentioned yet.
April 14th, 2022 at 11:56 PM ^
1990 vs OSU - I was 8 years old and that was the first full game I seriously watched by myself. Michigan was always engrained in me but that was when the full fandom began.
1997 vs OSU - For obvious reasons
2006 vs Notre Dame - That beat down was special
2011 vs Notre Dame - UTL, felt like Michigan was back after some dark times
2021 vs OSU - I mean seriously, how is this game not on everyone's list
I'm too young to have experienced a lot of the games people are listing, but no sporting event has ever given me the kind of cathartic joy that I felt after the 2021 OSU game
April 15th, 2022 at 10:56 AM ^
Eskimoan,
we are the same age. I don’t remember the 1990 OSU game despite having attended a game in the Big House that year. I do remember vividly watching The Rose Bowl but cannot remember the OSU game. What happened?
April 15th, 2022 at 11:13 AM ^
Just watched the WH video of the game. 16-13 M win in Columbus. What a different game that was than what we saw this year. Just looking at the highlights it was like OSU could barely pass the ball. Running backs 7+ yards behind the LOS and QBs always under center.
April 14th, 2022 at 11:59 PM ^
1. 24-12
2. Wisconsin in the rain 1968 - Ron Johnson dominates
3. ND UTL
4. 1998 Rose Bowl
5. 42-27
April 15th, 2022 at 12:03 AM ^
1) 1998 Rose Bowl - Brian Griese winning a NC and Rose Bowl MVP with Bob Griese and Keith Jackson in the booth? Chef's kiss.
2) 2021 vs. OSU - No era in my lifetime has had more CFB frustration than the last 10 years against the Schmuckeyes. Not only beating them, but completely trampling them to the point their defense simply gave up was ... I have no words.
3) 2021 B1G Championship Game - A close second in the most frustrating category has been Michigan's futility in the postseason since, well... since I started watching CFB. We have now, FINALLY, surpassed RichRod's record in Conference Championship games since the day we fired him (he had one appearance in the PAC-12 Championship Game with ASU).
4) 1986 vs. OSU - I was in the stands, for the last time as a student, when Harbaugh hit Kolesar for the back breaking, 70+ yard TD. Pandemonium of the best possible kind.
5) 2008 whateverthehell Bowl against Florida - pantsing the Meyer/Tebow Gators was great, and it would have been even more lopsided if we weren't like -7 in turnovers (I exaggerate, but not much). Also, giving THAT class of seniors their one and only victory in 8 tries against OSU or in a Bowl game, AND in Lloyd Carr's last game, was special.
April 15th, 2022 at 12:10 AM ^
91 Notre Dame - The catch
91 Ohio - Hello Heisman
TY Wheatley Rose Bowl
97 Ohio
21 Ohio
April 15th, 2022 at 12:29 AM ^
Great topic! I'll go for a subtopic of my favorite 5 that I was at in person. Here goes:
#1 - '97 vs. Ohio State. Rushed the field with my brother, and Griese - rose in his mouth - lifted him up in a wild bear hug (even though they didn't know each other).
#2 - '91 vs Notre Dame. "The Catch." Desmond was my work partner in a Newswriting class that semester. We'd be doing some dumb assignment together on a Friday, then the next day I'd see him make plays like this.
#3 - '95 vs Virginia. Down 17-0 halfway through the 4th, Dreisbach (and receivers) made miracles happen.
#4 - 2017 vs Minnesota. Ordinary 33-10 win, but last game I went to with my Dad before his stroke. Special memories, after 40 years of games together.
#5 - '79 vs Indiana - Anthony Carter wins the game on the "Play of the Century" (click for Ufer's amazing call). This was my 1st ever Michigan game. GO BLUE
April 15th, 2022 at 12:32 AM ^
In no particular order:
April 15th, 2022 at 12:39 AM ^
1. '97 vs OSU
2. '97 vs. PSU
3. Biakabutuka!
4. "Hello, Heisman!"
5. The beatdown in South Bend in 2006 (which is far and away the most delightfully surprising result I've ever witnessed. I thought we might win, but I had no legitimate expectation we would crush them to such an embarrassing degree.)
Honorable mention to 42-27, most of which I missed due to being on an airplane, although I did catch the last Haskins TD and ensuing delirium.
April 16th, 2022 at 11:11 AM ^
Hard to argue this list Vlad.
The PSU blow out was extraordinary and a huge statement game.
98 Rose Bowl to clinch the National Championship was as Lloyd would say a summit game.
I was at this years OSU game and the program needed this victory like very few others.
The Biakabtuka game was pure football porn.
I was at the Denard to Roundtree game and nobody wanted to leave the stadium that night.
OSU- This years game
ND- UTL Denard win in the last minute.
OSU- Biakabatuka runs wild
Colorado- 90's classic(the one we won not that other game.)
Alabama- What a great way to ring in 2000. The GOAT in one of his best games.
It's the personal connection that links each of us to our FAVORITE games, not necessarily the impact on championship pursuits or statistical achievements.
1979 v. Indiana 27-21 Wangs to AC
1986 @ OSU 26-24 Harbaugh's guarantee, Jamie Morris, etc.
2011 v. ND UTL1 35-31
2013 @ NWU 27-19 3OT Dileo
2021 v. OSU 42-27
This year's OSU game. Biakabatuka OSU game. Desmond ND game. One of those crazy denard games. And since i cant pick just one more, every big game from the 97/98 season.
1. ‘97 OSU
2. ‘98 Rose Bowl
3. ‘21 OSU
4. ‘95 OSU
So that top four is clear. So many to choose from for #5 - I am a bit stumped…
5. In the end I’m torn between ‘94 ND and ‘06 ND
Honorable mention to ‘94 PSU, the best football game I ever saw live, but, you know, we lost. So it can’t be a favorite.
I'm youngish, so I only really remember games since 2004 or so. My top 5, in chronological order, are:
2005 Penn State. My first game in the Big House -- I was only 7 but I'll remember the ending forever.
2008 Capitol One Bowl.
2011 ND. UTL 1
2016 Wisconsin. Ultimately this game didn't matter that much, but, at least at the time, it was cathartic proof that Michigan was back.
2021 Ohio State. Obviously.
The next five would probably be 2021 Iowa, 2016 MSU, 2018 MSU, 2018 Penn State, and 2019 ND.
Can't believe this is the only post that has brought up 2005 Penn State. Final play for win and the only loss that Penn State suffered that year. If we don't beat them they probably play for a national title. Brings a tear to my eye.
All the great ones have been mentioned. I’ll throw in ‘93 Ohio St. My last game senior year. Dominated them 28-0. Very satisfying conclusion.
In my top 10. My freshman year. Such a total (and unexpected) ass-kicking.
98 Rose Bowl
42-27
06 Demolition @ Notre Dame
Henne to Manningham
Biakabutuka 313 yards vs Ohio
My first game at The Big House: 1981 vs Notre Dame. A buddy and I splurged for season tickets. Spent the day reveling in all the game day atmosphere, everything from the "cross in any direction" cop at the corner, to the long line at the party store across the street (back in the old days when you could take liquor into the stadium), to the longer lines in the men's room, where somebody would inevitably start mooing at the herd waiting to whiz.
Came home half-drunk from the cheap wine, hoarse for two days from singing "The Victors" so much, and euphoric over watching us knock off the previously #1 Whining Irish.
Many other games have come close, but you always remember your first.
- No Particular order for me:
UM vs OSU 1997 (Woodson vs Boston)
UM vs OSU 1995 (Biakabutuka game)
UM vs MSU 2004? (Braylon game)
UM vs OSU 2021 (That scene at the big house was unreal)
UM vs ND forgot the year (First night game at the big house, Denard to Roundtree)
It would have to be limited to games I attended.
I'll start with one that probably meant more to me at the time then the general public. 1977 against Texas A&M. I was in middle school and Michigan football was everything to me, sports-wise. Top-five clash, and for whatever reason I remember being really excited about the Goodyear Blimp flying over Ann Arbor the night before, because we lived really close to the stadium and it would pass nearby a few times. Lights out, I stayed up too late just watching it, then the game the next day was one of Michigan's best performances of the '70s. The Ron Simpkins game.
The Biakabutuka game. How could it not be there? Such a dominant performance with the hated rivals beaten both physically and on the scoreboard.
1985 at South Carolina. The long drive to Columbia, my first college road trip. After starting the season unranked after a tough season, then beating Notre Dame somewhat unexpectedly, it was off to visit a ranked SEC opponent in what was then one of the tougher places to play in the country. Michigan simply obliterated the Gamecocks and restored some of the magic.
The 1979 save against Indiana - Anthony Carter's catch. For a moment when 100,000 people collectively released 60 minutes of tension during a brilliant play with six seconds remaining to break a tie that would have cost Michigan enormously. Indiana fans remember it less fondly for the intentional fumble to stop the clock on the previous play.
1978 against Purdue. The Boilers were quite good for a few years, and two years earlier had stunned Michigan back in West Lafayette. They were undefeated in the Big Ten and a win in Michigan's last home game would mean a trip to Pasadena. Mark Hermann was their quarterback, a big name back then. Michigan started quickly on offense and the defense was dominant.