"The Game" is the greatest rivalry in sports, featuring two of the most storied college football programs in history.
Michigan has the most wins of any team with a total record of 1,021-360 with 36 ties. Ohio State is second on the list with 983 wins, compared to 335 losses and 53 ties. The Buckeyes' all-time winning percentage of 73.6% tops all of college football.
The Wolverines lead the overall series with 62 wins compared to 51 for Ohio State, and Michigan has notably won the past four. Ohio State had won the previous eight, but the ground-and-pound game style of Jim Harbaugh has clearly been hard to stop.
Sherrone Moore has adapted the same style and it will be no different when Bryce Underwood and Jordan Marshall face a vaunted Ohio State defense in 2025.
We'll outline the top five player performances in this historic rivalry below, starting with a maniacal defensive outing by a Buckeye legend at linebacker:
5. Chris Spielman - 1986
The All-American linebacker who was also a 3x All-Pro selection in the NFL maybe had his best game of his collegiate career against Michigan.
The Wolverines ended up winning the game 26-24, but Spielman's 29-tackle performance broke an Ohio State single-game record and still holds as the most tackles in one game by an individual player in "The Game."
4. Charles Woodson - 1997
In the game that concluded with an iconic picture of Michigan do-it-all superstar Charles Woodson holding a rose in between his teeth, this 1997 performance deserves to make the list.
Woodson had the famous 78-yard punt return to put Michigan up 13-0 in the second quarter, then had an interception and a 37-yard reception in the Wolverines victory. The win sent Michigan to a National Championship win.
3. Dwayne Haskins Jr. - 2018
The late Dwayne Haskins Jr. capped off an all-time statistical season with a masterclass against the Wolverines in Columbus.
Haskins threw for 396 yards and six touchdowns - the most in The Game's history. He set the Big Ten record for most passing touchdowns in a season with 42, and had four touchdowns of passes longer than 24 yards, leading the Buckeyes to a huge 62-39 win.
2. J.K Dobbins - 2019
In the last Buckeyes' victory in the rivalry, Dobbins ran all over the Michigan defense. He toted the rock 31 times for 211 yards - a career high. Oh, he also scored four touchdowns and led the Ohio State offense to 56 points.
Ohio State would go on to play in the Big Ten Championship and the four-team playoff, but lost to Clemson.
1. Tom Harmon - 1940
1940 was 85 years ago and football was completely different game, but Tom Harmon's stat line can not be glanced over. It was so good that even the Ohio State fans in Columbus gave the Heisman Trophy winner a standing ovation.
Harmon rushed for three touchdowns, passed for two more scores, intercepted three passes, and kicked four extra points. He even punted the ball three times, averaging 50 yards a punt in a 40-0 win for the Wolverines.
The Game always brings out something special and out of the ordinary, and we'll see if anyone can make the list tomorrow.
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