Top Ten Post-1968 Michigan Football Games

A brief search says that yes, the 1898 game against Chicago was the inspiration for The Victors.

Yes.  September 1989 during Bo's last season.  I was at the game.

Minor nitpick -- that was a JD Carlson kick for the win in 1989 at UCLA.

Keith remains the best voice in college football.  

Double post - Keith Jackson gets me too pumped up 

And his father was probably in the booth with Keith. 

I was at the ‘97 game in the student section, front row ten yard-line. Fans were booing at half time. It was surreal. Defense carried them that game. Griese threw 3 picks. 

That clutch Tuman catch saved the season.  I looked on YouTube for Keith Jackson’s call but couldn’t find it—but that moment was absolutely electric.  

While the PSU, MSU and Colorado games were just good old fashioned curb-stompings, that Iowa game as well as the OSU game had moments where the season really hung in the balance.  

That was when I was becoming truly obsessed w / college football.  I remember that weekend because those other games were hyped so much too.  That was a great UNC team and the infamous Nebraska-Missouri game was that day too. The best weekend in one of the all-time greatest seasons. As Jackson said: if that doesn't whet your whistle, you're watching the wrong channel. 

I too was at the 97 Iowa-M game. At halftime, my brother-in-law turned to me and said, "You know we're going to lose this game, don't you?" I engaged in some shut-up.

I confess to since having made much more play out of his prognostication than a kind person would.

Griese's turnaround at halftime may have been his finest moment.

The 24 points surrendered to Iowa in 97 included

• Tim Dwight's punt return for a TD
• A one yard drive following a Griese near pick-six
• A FG following a Tim Dwight kickoff return to the Mich 26 in which Mich did not surrender a 1st down.

Other than that, the most points Michigan surrendered was 16 to both Wiscy & Wash St.

I was at at that comeback 1997 Iowa game as a kid and remember watching the Penn State one on that year TV. Both great memories. As a 9 year old though, it was the home game against Notre Dame that year that cemented in my mind that we had an unbeatable defense and gave me total, probably unreasonable confidence in the season. If I'm remembering correctly, we turned it over three times in our own half up 7 in the fourth quarter, and still gave up no points.

Speaking about 1986, the 86 Fiesta Bowl was certainly a top game.  M fell behind Nebraska in the first half, only to blow them out in the second half and finish #2 in the polls; the highest ranking for almost 40 years until 97-98.  And Harbaugh was at the helm!

It's hard to really make a true list because so many great wins are left out. Tom Brady and David Terrell going off on Bama in the Orange Bowl was great.  Beating Urban and Florida was enjoyable also. Des catch vs ND. Denard to Roundtree UTL. We are fortunate. 

Since I double post, I will add some content. Harbaugh quote from post game.  Bet Harbaugh has some memories

“It’s pretty sick the way it was like last year,” admitted Michigan quarterback Jim Harbaugh.

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-10-19-sp-6053-story.html

I remember the "Bo Who?" quote. The media back then couldn't pronounce Bo's last name let alone spell it.

With the storyline, the Zinter injury, and the fact that it went down to a defensive stand in the last 30 seconds, yeah, I think it belongs.

If we're evaluating these games without taking any larger context into consideration, and just looking at how the two teams played that day, 1969 OSU probably wouldn't belong in the top 10.  All the scoring happened in the first half.  In the second half OSU threw a bunch of interceptions while M sat on the ball.  But obviously the context makes it an easy choice.  2023 OSU is too.

Dude, it wasn’t the most aesthetically pleasing game, but we’re talking about the sign gate revenge game, undefeated teams, winner wins the national title. Michigan has to win to validate the entire three-year run because OSU tried to decapitate our coach. Came down to the last minutes, won with a legendary Blake play. Not top ten? That’s insane. It may have been the biggest UM-OSU game of all time.