Fan Voting - Top 100 Plays of the Championship Season: 1-20
Hello everyone!
You might remember me from this past season when I asked all of you to sign a brief letter to President Ono in support of Coach Harbaugh and Team 144. You might also remember me from 2021, when we did a similar voting series to this effect, ranking the top 20 plays of that year, which resulted in this video.
This time around, instead of bombarding everyone with constant posts, I will separate the voting into 5 weeks and 20 plays per week.
In the end, I will make a series of posts revealing the final rankings, along with a video released on the day of the Spring Game. You will be credited in the video if you take part in any of the 5 polls!
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The first poll will contain 40 plays that I believe could reasonably be ranked within the top 20. They are listed in an order that hopefully will make ranking them a lot easier for you. After voting ends, the top 20 point-getters out of the 40 plays will be cemented as plays 1-20, and then we will move on to plays 21-40 next week.
The first poll should not take more than 10-15 minutes to complete, as these are the most memorable plays!
There is no ranking criteria. You may balance the importance/highlight-worthiness/spiritual meaning etc of the plays however you’d like.
Let me know if you’d like to nominate any plays to be a part of the next poll. I have another set of plays ready to go but I will prioritize suggestions!
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The link to the first poll is below. Please take 10-15 minutes to maneuver the plays around in the order you best see fit, and also include your MGoBlog username so that I can credit you in the final video:
February 26th, 2024 at 10:14 AM ^
These rankings are going to be REALLY tough, and so I appreciate anyone who participates. As many of you have said below, it will seem quite impossible, and it will only get harder once we get closer to 100. For what it's worth, I rewatched the highlights for all 15 games and came up with 255 candidates for top-100. Just an insanely impressive season.
There might be better ways to reach a consensus, so suggestions are welcome.
But this is a fun little way to waste some time (at work) as we continue to relive the path to our championship and wait until spring ball arrives.
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EDIT: As there have been over 100 voters already, I will now randomize the list order to see if it makes much of a difference. While a preset list is easier, it also contains more bias.
February 26th, 2024 at 10:45 AM ^
This will be nearly impossible. Like picking a favorite child.
But given that the Bama and OSU games were closest, those plays probably rank highest.
February 26th, 2024 at 10:56 AM ^
I took a similar game-meaningfulness approach:
- Bama/ OSU - Rose Bowl and beating the buckeyes at the end of history
- Washington - for the Championship
- Staee - Burn it down... all the way down.
- PSU - Asked and answered, your honor
- Iowa - They just aren't good, but B1G Champs x3
- Nebraska beat down
- Random B1G teams like Rutgers, Purdue and IU.
- UNLV - Go-go and all that.
- ECU
- Maryland - The only game I didn't much enjoy this year
- ...Probably BGSU as well.
February 26th, 2024 at 11:56 AM ^
Weirdly for me, State in '23 was no different than Nebraska or any other random B1G teams. The rivalry died when they took their best shot in the tunnel.
It'll be back. They'll be back. But they just didn't scare me in 2023 and their program was a pile of stink because of how they ran it into the toilet under Mel and it looked to be headed there under Dantonio too. Which is its own kind of satisfying since they did dominate the rivalry when Rod and Hoke were here, and remained on par until 2018, all because of Dantonio.
For me the ranking is
1) Bama - when we affirmed that M isn't just the best in the big ten, but elite nationwide
2) OSU - i think this may be the biggest edition of the game ever. and we won it. it was hyped, and while the reason for the hype basically immediately dissipated because of our win, it got bigger in its aftermath because of our future wins
3) Penn State - this was so emotional, and cathartic, and felt more emphatic than the final score in large part because of how we did it.
4) I was very nervous heading into this, but afterwards it felt like a coronation. Still, M did to Washington what nobody else did - including Texas and Oregon.
5) Maryland - not enjoyable but we got thru the annual "week before OSU" hiccough
6) rest of Big Ten, including Iowa and State - felt very rote
7) Non-conference, at least last year there was a QB competition and some doubt on HOW elite we were. I guess the go-go had me momentarily nervous for the previews
Final signgate thought - the Big Ten is lucky that M won the league and the natty for at least 2 reasons: 1) if we hadn't won the league, their whole season would've had an asterisk on it for trying to take down a program that was clearly playing elite with the unfair advantages being locked away, and 2) it'd be laughable that this league would call itself a super 2 when it had less CFP titles than the ACC. M gives the Big Ten a second program ahead of the rest of the non-SEC, and validates the fact that the Big Ten is better than the rest. Man I hate our league now.
February 26th, 2024 at 11:10 AM ^
Exactly. It's like asking if I like my left nut or my right nut more. I'm gonna give it a shot, but there were so many amazing plays that it's going to be damn near impossible.
I'll also be curious to see if there's any common factor behind those that made the top 20.
February 26th, 2024 at 10:52 AM ^
And I thought productivity at work was going to improve once the football season ended.
February 26th, 2024 at 11:03 AM ^
To me, any play in the regular season that propelled the team to an undefeated record was just as important as closeout and momentum-changing plays in the final four games in the run down of its national championship performance.
So, for example Sanristil's picks which sealed the 1000th win against Maryland, are as big or bigger than Wilson's deflected catch which set up Corum's tying TD late in the fourth quarter in the Rose Bowl, if only because one leads to the other. They were just as the crucial if not more so runs by Edwards and Corum in the Penn State road victory.
Every play mattered. And they were all big in terms of victory overall. But when they happened, some seemed more vital at the time than some may seem now in retrospect.
During the season, as fans because of the way the season unfolded with so much political and legal extracurricular drama surrounding the team, I know I lost sight at times of how capable the players were and never lost faith in themselves or their teammates as they played each week.
Their greatest achievement in my mind was the ability to check the noise blaring around them and concentrate on their winning mission without an emotional letdown. This was borne from complete trust and belief in each other and their ability to perform under pressure. They were magnificent -- every week. Undefeated. 15 and 0. The best Michigan team in my lifetime.
February 26th, 2024 at 11:19 AM ^
This really requires some serious mental gymnastics. But I put the Moore game sealing INT against Ohio State #1 because the Big Ten title, Rose Bowl and championship don't happen without that.
February 26th, 2024 at 9:02 PM ^
I agree with you. It wasn’t the greatest play of the season but it was the biggest play of the season. There was such, sudden, euphoric, finality to that play, and it played out in such glorious, unknowable fashion. Watching it play out in seeming slow motion was incredible. The stadium paused to watch, everyone on edge, then the stadium exploded into pure, joyful, pandemonium.
February 26th, 2024 at 11:25 AM ^
One vote for Corum's TD after the Zinter injury.
The moment (the injury, the crowd reaction, the TD run) iterally brought Klatt to tears. If you haven't seen his description of it, it's a must watch.
February 26th, 2024 at 3:27 PM ^
This is on top for me as well. The rest of the dream season doesn't happen without this turn of momentum. For all the special plays that happened after this, Corum putting up the SIX FIVE just absolutely has to be the best.
February 26th, 2024 at 11:31 AM ^
The "most important play" of the season probably has to be the 4th down pass to Corum. Without that play, we are looking at a >95% loss probability. It was the only real "do or die" play we faced all season. As far as overall, I'd put the Moore INT at the top, but even in that scenario, OSU still needed to score to win the game. The Corum (and to a lesser extent the Wilson catch) occurred when we were in do or die mode.
In 2022, our real "do or die" moments only occurred twice: The Gash 4th down catch and the Moody FG. 2021 had quite a bit more with a few moments vs Nebraska and of course All vs Penn St.
February 26th, 2024 at 11:55 AM ^
Although my impulse is to agree with this ^^^ I have to put up the Kyle McCord interceptions as #1 to END the game and #2 to set up the first score. If we lose to Ohio as great as this team felt all year and for the first time favored in forever at HOME... I shudder
#1.
#2
February 26th, 2024 at 11:59 AM ^
Kind of to both of your points, these 2 games were the season. Well, I guess Maryland too? In '22 there was just the Illinois game, true. In '21 the whole season almost gets overshadowed by the game, but it was probably the most fun week-to-week that i've had as an M fan. but I'll take 2023 over everything else forever and ever.
February 26th, 2024 at 12:17 PM ^
If we're talking biggest swing in win probability, no doubt it was Thaw's muff and split second recovery without going in to the endzone in the Rose Bowl.
If he doesn't do that, that's the season.
February 26th, 2024 at 2:11 PM ^
I looked up ESPN's win probability graph - it's a little wonky because it won't let you zoom in - but it looks like as Alabama is getting ready to punt, M has a 52% chance to win, and on 1st and 10 from the 1, Alabama has a 70%* chance to win.
Between the muff and recovery, Alabama's win % probably goes up to 95% before coming back down. So you go from 52% to 5% to 30% all within the 10 seconds of that one play. [slow whistle]
*ESPN's prediction, not mine. I'd say that Michigan was probably higher before and after the punt, which would only make this a bigger swing.
February 26th, 2024 at 3:05 PM ^
That's calculating it from one play to the other, so basically it predicted UM would get the ball prob around the 15-20 yard line, and once they got it at the 1, it went from 48% for Bama to 70%.
I'm more looking at if Thaw recovers the ball vs. if he doesn't. If Bama picks it up the Thaw muff, they either walk in on that play or have 4 downs on the 1 to score any points. Which I'm guessing would be around 98%.
February 26th, 2024 at 3:29 PM ^
I had this as my #2 after Corum's TD after Zinter went down. I understand the importance of it to the season, but the emotions of that play are too much for me to overcome with logic. I'm tearing up a bit just thinking about that play.
February 26th, 2024 at 11:35 AM ^
This type of ranking calls for pairwise comparison/pair ranking. It's really hard to sort all these plays in your head. I assume that's not available easily for free but I definitely recommend exploring if there is a free version for subsequent posts.
February 26th, 2024 at 12:32 PM ^
Yeah, that’s a fantastic point.
Will see if that’s possible for the next poll. Thanks for the recommendation!
February 26th, 2024 at 12:08 PM ^
You made me think way too hard for a Mon morning but gave ya thumbs up anyway.
Recency bias obviously but had to heavily weight the Bama, Wash, The Ohio, PSU games.
February 26th, 2024 at 3:31 PM ^
I made sure I didn't rank anything outside of these games below the other games. They are for sure weighted.
February 26th, 2024 at 12:18 PM ^
Put in my votes, its early but it appears that 3 plays in particular are pulling ahead for the top play of the year (with 1 in particular edging ahead of the other 2). Don't want to be a spoiler, so go click the link and speak your voice...
Looking forward to the great video...
February 26th, 2024 at 12:20 PM ^
Number one for me has to be the Corum run after the Zinter injury. Biggest edition of The Game in my lifetime, 17-17, and best player on offense goes down. Next man up and take control from that point forward. Also I moved up the big hits in the OSU game by Q Johnson and Sainristil quite a bit from their starting location. Felt those moments were huge momentum shifters for the OSU game.
Generally, I found myself putting the Washington highlights lower given that game was never truly in doubt whereas OSU, Bama, and PSU all had high leverage plays that shifted a potential loss into a win.
Can't wait to see this video!
February 26th, 2024 at 2:33 PM ^
Is Edwards first TD vs OSU not worthy of the list ? That one was top 5 to me. Please add it.
EDIT. Oh my goodness that was last 2022!!!. See what happens when the Don does it again vs Washington. What a blur of Michigan football greatness these past 18 months have been.
February 26th, 2024 at 3:22 PM ^
IMHO, Jaylen Harrell does not get nearly enough credit for the game-sealing play vs OSU. Harrell's pressure forced an off balance throw which gave Moore time to make the play. If he doesn't get all up in McCord's face, it's likely a completion to Harrison.
February 26th, 2024 at 3:30 PM ^
I appreciate your taking the time to do this. very cool project and a great way to re-live the season.
February 26th, 2024 at 4:15 PM ^
I am REALLY having a tough time putting these in order. All the plays against Alabama, Ohio State, and Washington were so important. But I did put the overtime 4th down stop against Alabama as #1, and Corum overtime TD #2
February 26th, 2024 at 6:36 PM ^
Corum OT TD vs Bama
Defensive stop on 4th down vs Bama
Rod Moore INT vs OSU
Will Johnson INT vs Washington
Corum TD after Zak went down
Sainri INT vs Washington
February 26th, 2024 at 8:12 PM ^
Can I write in "Harbaugh avoiding Gatorade bath at the end of the Washington Game"?
February 26th, 2024 at 8:52 PM ^
It will never be considered top play of the year, or even that game, but Mason Graham’s TFL on 2nd and goal from the 9 against Alabama was iconic for me. That was the play that convinced me M was going to get it done.
February 27th, 2024 at 8:20 AM ^
Yep, similar to Corum scoring right after Zinter went down. Nothing to get in the way for the team.
Underappreciated, for me at least, is Mike's truck stick of Treveyon Henderson. Continued to establish that nothing would be easy against our D.