Michigan vs. Ohio State

Commonly referred to as The Game, it doesn't get much bigger than Michigan vs. Ohio State when it comes to college football rivalries. Familiar foes since before their current Big Ten membership, these two teams first met in 1897, with a whopping 110-plus meetings between them to this day. Given their elite status in the world of college football, the winner of The Game between the Wolverines and Buckeyes is often in a great position to win the Big Ten championship and compete for national titles.

This rivalry has been full of all-time great players at both the collegiate and professional levels. On the Michigan side, legends like Desmond Howard and Tom Brady have led the Wolverines into battle against the Buckeyes, while Ohio State have suited up college football royalty such as Eddie George and Ted Ginn Jr. with the results being some of the most memorable college football games of all time.

Historic Michigan vs. Ohio State Games

The height of the rivalry between Michigan and Ohio State was the period of time known as the Ten Year War. Both teams were arguably at their best during this period, with Woody Hayes coaching the Buckeyes and Bo Schembechler running the show for the Wolverines. Perhaps the greatest game of that period was the 10-10 tie between them in the 1973 season, where both teams entered undefeated, and left undefeated.

Both Michigan and Ohio State wanted to win that game to guarantee themselves a spot in the Rose Bowl, whereas the tie left their fates in the hands of a secret ballot by every Big Ten athletic director. The athletic directors chose Ohio State to represent their conference in the Granddaddy of Them All, giving Ohio State the win in one of the more unconventional endings to a college football rivalry game.

In a more common way to settle a battle between two undefeated teams, Michigan and Ohio State entered their 2006 clash at numbers one and two overall, with overtime there to help settle any ties this time around. The game lived up to the hype, as the two 11-0 teams battled for a spot in the BCS National Championship Game. Ohio State had just a little more firepower than Michigan, though, as Troy Smith threw four touchdown passes to put the Buckeyes into the national title game.

For more on past Michigan-Ohio State games, click here.

When Does Michigan Play Ohio State?

Michigan plays Ohio State every year on the last week of the regular season, in what has been designated Rivalry Week across college football. With the game taking place so late in the season, a loss nearly guarantees that the loser will not be able to qualify for the College Football Playoff. Ohio State home games are held at Ohio Stadium, better known as The Horseshoe, while Michigan plays at Michigan Stadium, better known as The Big House.

To find out when Michigan and Ohio State are scheduled to play one another next, scroll up to see our listings.