Where would a win this week rank among the biggest victories in Michigan history?

Submitted by ThadMattasagoblin on

an Ohio team overconfident with everyone there talking about an AP national championship, on the field in front of 100K Bucknuts, beating Urban the supposed savior of the Ohio program in his first matchup with Michigan at Ohio

I can't think of a bigger win in the last 10 years.

 

RoZ06

November 19th, 2012 at 9:24 PM ^

Being undeafeted so far certainly adds something to a potential win, but I agree with the notion that last year's win will still be the bigger. Having not beaten Ohio since 2003, we needed that win something bad. A game at Ohio with the team they have this year would result in an understandable, though still very dissapointing, loss. All that to say... Beat Ohio!

keep_em_honest

November 19th, 2012 at 9:32 PM ^

Disagree about last year's win being bigger.  I'd much rather beat an undefeated Ohio than one that was a shell of its former self with a rookie head coach.  Ohio had nothing to play for last year and everyone thought they were going to lose anyway.  Would much rather play spoiler.

CalifExile

November 20th, 2012 at 12:07 AM ^

Both teams always have something important to play for. A loss can ruin a great season and a win can salvage a poor season.

Part of what makes the rivalry so great is that the better team doesn't always win so the notion that "everyone thought they were going to lose," would only inspire their players.

The 1996 game is a perfect example. We lost the two weeks before that game and OSU was sure they were going to the Rose Bowl and would probably win the national title. A 13-9 win made our 5th place conference finish a lot easier to take.

On the other hand, I agree with you about the joy of playing spoiler and preferring to play an undefeated OSU.

andrewG

November 19th, 2012 at 9:30 PM ^

Probably not. 6 auto-bids, 1 for ND, and a guaranteed bid for a second SEC team. Looks like a Pac-12 team and a Big 12 team will take the two remaining BCS slots. It's not impossible, but it would take some work. I do agree we'd probably get in over a 2 loss Clemson though, especially since that means they're coming off a loss.

UM2018

November 19th, 2012 at 9:37 PM ^

I think we could slip in IF Kansas State wins out, Oklahoma State somehow beats Oklahoma this saturday, and Clemson loses to South Carolina (very likely i think). Basically either the Big 10, Big 12, or ACC will get two teams in, and I think if Oklahoma has three losses, Clemson with two, and us with three, they chose us. We're the best choice in my opinion because two of our losses came to the two teams in the title game, and our third came on the road, at night, without our star player against big10 champs. Clemson also got blown out last year and Michigan fans travel better than almost all others. 

Muttley

November 20th, 2012 at 2:27 AM ^

TCU beats Texas and Texas beats KSU

KSU doesn't put many butts in seats.  And they'd have a 2-game losing streak.  Poof, the bowls have their excuse to pass on KSU/BIG#2.

And the Orange Bowl (ACC-affiliation) picks last. I would assume that the Fiesta & Sugar would snap up Oregon & their favored ESS-EEE-SEE team.  Which leaves it up to conference loyalty (and a really boring been-there,done-that game) versus the more attractive game (Michigan).

We might make the BCS after all.  (But a matchup w/ an ESS-EEE-SEE foe in the Capital One game would likely be more of a challenge than versus FSU (or Georgia Tech et.al) in the Orange.

 

The four original BCS bowls hold contracts with certain BCS conferences to choose that conference’s champion. If those contracts cannot be honored, and the bowl loses its first pick to the National Championship Game, that bowl will receive first choice when picking from among other BCS bowl eligible teams. The contracts are as follows:

Orange Bowl — Atlantic Coast Conference

Rose Bowl — Big Ten vs. Pac-12

Fiesta Bowl — Big 12

Sugar Bowl — Southeastern Conference

Six teams receive automatic bids as conference champions, leaving four “at-large” bids for the BCS bowls to fill, which are chosen in a “draft” format. Teams will be eligible for selection if they finish the season ranked in the top 14 in the final BCS standings and have at least nine victories.

The order of selection for the BCS Bowls after host contracts are filled are as follows:

January 2013 games: Fiesta, Sugar, Orange

January 2014 games: Orange, Sugar, Fiesta

http://www.bcsknowhow.com/bcs-bowls

DealerCamel

November 19th, 2012 at 9:16 PM ^

Seems to me like it'd fit in just fine with the games of the 90s, when OSU would be ranked in the top 5  every year, play Michigan, and leave with their tails between their nuts.

moorebluego

November 19th, 2012 at 9:17 PM ^

It depends on if Nebraska loses...

If they lose then it may rank up there but if the world doesnt end and Nebraska doesnt lose then just another victory against ohio

BeatOSU52

November 19th, 2012 at 9:21 PM ^

May depend if Iowa can upset Nebraska on Friday to know where it would rank.  Also, keep two things in mind. 1) We haven't beaten them in the Snake Pit since 2000 so this would get a huge weight off our back. 2) Urban and Hoke will probably be the coaches for a while, and so the first match-up could be very significant.

It would be very big.

Wolverine Devotee

November 19th, 2012 at 9:20 PM ^

I don't care what anyone says, there will never be a bigger win than November 22, 1969. Michigan 24  #1 ohio 12.

That was the renaissance of Michigan football. 11/22 has remained a special date in Michigan history.

11/22/1997- #1 Michigan 20  #4 ohio 14

11/22/2003 - 100th Meeting - Michigan 35  ohio 21

uofmdds96

November 19th, 2012 at 9:22 PM ^

This would be the most important win of our lifetime, (because it is next.) Just as Fox News has said for the past few presidential elections. I just want to win the next two, so I can wash the taste out of my mouth from the Tressel years. And, of course to crush the idea of Urban Messiah.

Dallas Walmart…

November 19th, 2012 at 9:36 PM ^

Quite simply it will make or break this season.  We have not beaten a good team yet this year.  Not sure how good they are, but any win against them is a good win - especially in the toilet bowl (a.k.a. the Horseshoe), especially against Urban Meyer, especially in Denard's last game against them, especially in their last game of the year.

BEAT OHIO! 

MGoClimb

November 19th, 2012 at 9:39 PM ^

If Nebraska somehow loses this weekend, it could become very significant.  Even if they don't lose, the full importance of this game wont be known for years, when we can see what Michigan and Ohio State have accomplished after this game is played. 

Indiana Blue

November 19th, 2012 at 9:55 PM ^

If we take care of ohio on Saturday ... we would likely move ahead of Nebraska in terms of bowl pickers.  This would make our only conference loss be as a direct result of an injury & voters would know it.  If we could win where the huskers lost by 4 touchdowns - it would be huge in the voters minds.

Also - even if huskers win on Friday, I still see them losing to Bucky in B1G game.  This would put us as the highest ranked BCS team from the B1G.

Go Blue!