Top Ten Post-1968 Michigan Football Games
I was reflecting this morning on my all-time favorite Michigan football games (starting in 1969), based on an absolutely subjective combination of ranking-significance, atmosphere, personal meaning, game experience, entertainment value, and whatever else you want to include. Here's my list, but I'm sure I'm forgetting some. What are everybody else's?
(Honorable Mention: 1991 Desmond vs Notre Dame; 1977 Michigan/Ohio State; 2022 at Penn State; 1995 Biakabatuka vs. Ohio State)
10. 2011 vs Notre Dame (Under the Lights)
9.1997 at Penn State
8. 1996 vs. Iowa (an often-forgotten instance of pure delirium)
7. 2022 at Ohio State
6. 2024 vs. Washington (Natl. Championship)
5. 1997 vs. Ohio State
4. 1998 vs. Washington State (Natl. Championship) Rose Bowl)
3. 2024 vs. Alabama (Rose Bowl)
2. 2021 vs. Ohio State
1. 1969 vs. Ohio State
January 17th, 2024 at 7:48 PM ^
You could make a strong case for '23 OSU for the #1 Michigan game ever. 1969 OSU is monumental because of the circumstances, but Michigan had a double-digit lead the entire second half. 1997 OSU had high drama, but both offenses were anemic (each team had one big pass play and that was about it). 2023 was a close, balanced game.
January 18th, 2024 at 4:57 AM ^
Yes King! Great points on the context of the '23 osu game! At the time, I've never wanted Michigan to win a game more.
The shit-talking (which you'd think that game would've ended, but nooooo...); Blake's TD run 1st play after Zak's injury; Rod's pick to end it - all-time emotion game! And of course without that W everything after doesn't happen!
Additional contextual piece is the last 4-team cfp. It'll be commonplace to get into the playoffs in the coming years, even following a loss to osu. Maybe we'll even win the NC in such a situation sometimes.
So 2023 was the last "must have" win for the foreseeable future - unless we face them in the Final. And Michigan won!
January 18th, 2024 at 2:13 AM ^
This was Vindication Day. Particularly for those of us living in Ohio, the best outcome from this victory is the lack of hearing Buckeyes at all. Buckeye Nation is still grappling with the multiple stages of grief:
- Denial - Moved On
- Anger - Moved On
- Bargaining - Can't completely move on despite everyone else in the country accepting
- Depression - Continuing
- Acceptance - Still processing and probably will never complete
January 17th, 2024 at 5:44 PM ^
Ahem:
-2023 might go down as the last "real" OSU game before the new playoff. Given that and the stakes it needs to be here.
-While not as important as some other games, it's hard to beat 2004 MSU for pure delilirum.
January 17th, 2024 at 5:47 PM ^
A list not including 2023 OSU is invalid
January 17th, 2024 at 5:50 PM ^
Subjectively, I would drop Penn State, Iowa and 1969 OSU (largely because I was 2 when it happened and not yet a Michigan fan), and replace with the Wheatley Rose Bowl, 2023 OSU, and Anthony Carter v. Indiana.
Not coincidentally, that means that I was either at, or watched with friends/family all the games on my list :<)
January 17th, 2024 at 8:41 PM ^
Yeah, I totally spaced on the AC vs. Indiana game. D'oh!
January 17th, 2024 at 5:55 PM ^
I was born in '97, so admittedly I have less to pull from. The first season I can remember watching all the way through was '05, so with that in mind here's the top 10 from my memory:
1. '23 OSU
2. '21 OSU
3. '22 OSU
4. '24 Bama (Rose Bowl)
5. '11 OSU
6. '24 Washington (NCG)
7. '04 MSU
8. '11 ND (UTL I)
9. '06 ND
10. '13 ND (UTL II)
HMs: '06, '08 and '16 Wisconsin, '18 and '21-'23 PSU, '18-'19 and '23 MSU, '07, '09-'10 and '19 ND, '12 VT (Sugar Bowl)
January 18th, 2024 at 5:00 AM ^
Great list for someone not born until 1997!
January 17th, 2024 at 5:55 PM ^
1. 2021 Ohio State
2. 1997 Penn State
3. 1998 Rose Bowl
4. 1969 Ohio State
5. 1996 Ohio State
6. 1986 Ohio State
7. 1981 Rose Bowl
8. 1995 Virginia
9. 2004 Michigan State
10. 1994 Notre Dame
January 17th, 2024 at 6:45 PM ^
5. 1996 Ohio State
Why that game? We were 8-4 that season and a 13-9 victory wasn't that memorable.
I like your inclusion of the '95 victory over Virginia, though—it was actually a significant victory in Michigan history.
January 17th, 2024 at 7:44 PM ^
Because it was the epitome of the Cooper years: Ohio State rolls into week eleven ranked #2, cruising for a national championship, a three-score favorite and talking trash about Michigan in the press, and then positively folds under pressure in the funniest way possible.
In short, not every great Michigan game has to have a great Michigan team.
January 18th, 2024 at 5:06 AM ^
Bando, we're not in the 1998 Rose Bowl without winning 1997 osu! Featuring CWood's Heisman clinching punt return, it is an essential inclusion on any such list!
As is 2023 osu for many reasons detailed in posts above. Leaving out 2 such important games in NC winning seasons means they're not your top priority maybe?
I do get that this list is subjective, so I'll concede that 1995 Virginia must have some very special post-game memories associated with it for you!
January 17th, 2024 at 6:03 PM ^
For your consideration, 1981 Rose Bowl, Michigan 23 Washington 6, Bo's 1st Rose Bowl win.
January 17th, 2024 at 8:42 PM ^
Man, wasn't that awesome? I still put Butch Woolfolk in my all-time Michigan top five running backs (and I'm not sure he's not in my top 3).
January 17th, 2024 at 6:04 PM ^
To me #1 is without doubt 2023 v the hairless nuts … yes we had beaten two straight years BUT … their coach had done all he could to sabotage our program with an outside investigation and rallied the rest of the conference against us … this years game was an absolute must win game to prove our integrity and that the investigation was the jealousy of petty little fucking asshole and the program he coached !!! … had we lost there would have been an unbelievable outcry of “ we told you so , they can’t beat us without cheating!!! “
January 17th, 2024 at 6:20 PM ^
I think it'd be more interesting to make this list without any games from 1997 or the last three years, as those are just too easy.
These are games that I've personally seen. I started following M football in the early '90s.
In chronological order:
1993 Rose Bowl vs. Washington - Wheatley is unreal in a shootout win
1994 ND - Remy Hamilton for the win in South Bend!
1995 OSU - Biakabutuka. 'Nuff said.
2000 Orange Bowl vs. Bama. Brady, 'nuff said.
2003 Minnesota - largest comeback ever.
2003 OSU - the 100th Game
2004 MSU - Braylonfest
2005 PSU - Henne to Manningham!
2008 Citrus Bowl vs. Florida. Lloyd's swan song!
2011 ND - UTL I! They left Gallon alone!
January 17th, 2024 at 10:51 PM ^
I like this idea. I also started watching in the early 90s (1991 to be exact). IDK what games I'd switch out from your list but some other ones that come to mind for me:
1991 vs. OSU. My first time watching us play OSU, and it was a blowout win.
1999 vs. ND. They didn't turn out to be that good that year, but this one is memorable for me because it was the season opener, against a rival we used to play regularly, and the chaotic ending where they couldn't get the last play off in time and thus stalled at our 20 (or somewhere around there).
2002 vs. MSU. After they cheated with the clock the year before, this was the largest blowout I can remember against them until 2023.
While we're in 2002, let's throw in the Washington game that year. It was the season opener against a good opponent and we won it on a walk off FG after missing 4 or 5 FGs earlier in the game.
Also... I believe 2002 vs. Penn State was the first OT game we ever played (and won).
2003 vs. MSU. Not necessarily a great game, but memorable for the fact that Chris Perry led the way with 51 (!) carries for I believe 255 yards.
2010 vs. ND. As painful as it can be to think of the RR/Hoke era, Denard's performance in this game was one for the ages. I think he accounted for over 500 yards.
January 18th, 2024 at 5:12 AM ^
Desmond TD on 4th down game!
January 17th, 2024 at 6:21 PM ^
1. 2024 Alabama
2. 2024 Washington
3. 2021 OSU
4. 2023 OSU
5. 1998 Washington State (Rose Bowl)
6. 1997 OSU
7. 1997 Penn State
8. 1969 OSU
9. 2011 Notre Dame
10. 1986 OSU (Harbaugh “guarantee” game)
I organized the first 7 around national championships, or the run-up to them. I’m really torn about where to put 1969 in the hierarchy though and would be interested in hearing from someone who saw that game and the 2021 OSU game. They both presaged the return of the program and both pegged the fan meter.
Specifically, it would be interesting to hear which was a bigger event from the fan standpoint. My sense is that those who attended the 2021 game saw the biggest eruption of joy in Ann Arbor since the 1969 game, certainly. And maybe since VJ Day, depending on how big the celebration was after the 1969 upset.
January 17th, 2024 at 7:05 PM ^
Glad to see someone acknowledge that the 80s existed here. The 86 Game and the Anthony Carter reception game have to make a shortlist.
January 17th, 2024 at 8:46 PM ^
I ran all the way home from the stadium to call my Dad after the 1969 game. We were simply not relevant nationally until that game. It was CLEARLY bigger than 2021. I think the 2023 game, because of the cheating allegations, was even more important, but it is hard to say either was bigger than this most recent game. The top 7 are easy to pick, at least to me, and I have seen them all in this time period. The order of those games is, of course, very subjective, and the 1997 Penn State game was absolutely fabulous, but didn't win us anything by itself.
January 17th, 2024 at 6:41 PM ^
I think the biggest win in Michigan history was the 1933 Jug - they were our primary rival and finished the year #3. That was a national championship game. And we won.
I think the biggest bowl win in Michigan history was the 1948 Rose Bowl - it convinced the AP writers to do an unprecedented (and unofficial) post-bowl-poll and declared us the national champ.
My list of biggest wins in Michigan history
1) 1933 Minnesota
2) 2021 The Game (set the tone, changed the narrative)
3) 1948 Rose Bowl
4) 2024 Rose Bowl (pretty close to above - beat THE program of the era, semifinal)
5) 2023 The Game (rivalry top 5 game)
6) 1902 Chicago - dominant rivalry win over the 2nd best team in the "West"
7) 1909 Penn (first win over an eastern power, altho they had a down year)
I think 2023 was the best Michigan team ever, with some respect given to 1902 - but they didn't play an Eastern team when the East was like the SEC. 1948 also had a great season against a tough schedule. I think 2023 was the best Big Ten team since the 1968 Buckeyes, and the only northern teams who may be as good since then were the 1971 Huskers and 1986 Nits
January 17th, 2024 at 7:03 PM ^
I respect this all-time historical look at it, but given that you put 2021 OSU at #2 all-time EVER, shouldn't you have 1969 OSU somewhere, probably at # 2 or #3?
January 17th, 2024 at 7:10 PM ^
Yea fair, I kinda focused on championship teams and kept '21 because it was one I'm like emotionally a fan of? My words don't describe why I put it but it was personal, '69 OSU does have the same amount of significance tho you are right
January 18th, 2024 at 12:26 PM ^
you convinced me it should be something more like this:
1) 1933 Minnesota
2) 1948 Rose Bowl
3) 2024 Rose Bowl (pretty close to above - beat THE program of the era, semifinal)
4) 2023 The Game (rivalry top 5 game)
*I think 2-4 are basically tied, but rank them in this order for perceived significance
5) 1902 Chicago - dominant rivalry win over the 2nd best team in the "West"
6) 1969 The Game (set the tone for 39 seasons of excellence)
7) 2021 The Game (set the tone, changed the narrative)
8) 1909 Penn (first win over an eastern power, altho they had a down year)
1902 Chicago is in the same category as 2023 The Game, but I'm caving to the "eastern bias" of that era in thinking "The West" wasn't as good as "The East" top to bottom. 1969 and 2021 were similar, but 1969 really re-established Michigan for a pretty remarkable 39 year run. We'll see how long the impact is of 2021.
But 2021 is probably my favorite Michigan season, since I see it as culminating in winning the 'ship in 2023, but also just how unexpected it felt at the time. 1969 may have felt similar but I wasn't around for it.
January 17th, 2024 at 7:03 PM ^
What's ironic about the 1933 team was that it was followed by the worst season in Michigan history.
In 1934, Michigan finished 1-7. We were shut out in 5 of those 8 games, and our offense scored only 21 points total for the season. We lost 34-0 to both Minnesota and Ohio State, and MSU also shut us out.
And to top it off, our only victory was the 9-2 win over Georgia Tech, a victory made hollow by Yost's shameful decision to accede to GT's racist demand that Willis Ward not be allowed to play that day.
January 17th, 2024 at 6:59 PM ^
Haven't read every comment closely. Looks like a lot were mentioned but just in case these were missed, some great ones (no particular order) that are under-appreciated:
- 2002 Washington, Philip Brabbs (this isn't that under-appreciated but I didn't see it)
- 1999 Notre Dame (Dhani, I think, tackles Jarious Jackson as time runs out)
- 2007 MSU (the Little Brother game)
Also, in the vein of 1997 PSU, there's 2006 Notre Dame.
Then a few that were just bananas:
- 2008 Wisconsin
- 2010 Illinois
- 2012 Northwestern (and all those Hoke-Fitzgerald games)
2015 Minnesota goal line stand was quite a finish as well. And basically every game against Notre Dame and Indiana from 2008 to 2020.
January 17th, 2024 at 7:06 PM ^
Man, it’s hard to rank these.
Like, I know we just watched three of the top ten this year.
2021 and 1969 have a lot of parallels. 2021 actually led to a national championship, but 1969 launched an era of excellence that basically continued until Rich Rod.
1997 has three on it. My personal experience with the Rose Bowl that year was perhaps less satisfied than it could have been.
Other great games: Rose Bowl wins over USC and Washington. Orange Bowl win over Bama, my top game between 1997 and 2021. OSU last year. MSU 2004. Beating Florida in Lloyd’s last game. UTL I.
Don’t have time to rank right now. I think I might have seen my favorite game ever on January 1, but time will tell.
January 17th, 2024 at 7:25 PM ^
Objectively, 1979 AC/Indiana doesn't make the top 10: not a rivalry, not for a championship, no way we should have been that close to Indiana anyway (even with Lee Corso coaching!). But it definitely makes my top 10 for Michigan sports attended because it marked the discovery of the forward pass by Bo and his eventual first Rose Bowl victory the next season. Watching the Wangler-AC connection was just electric! And then there is the Ufer call (which I didn't hear live as I was sitting at the south end zone that day, but it was replayed over and over in the intro for the first years of Sportswrap with Frank Beckmann on WJR)!
January 17th, 2024 at 8:48 PM ^
I get the scorn for that game, but for me it's emotion over everything else. Everyone who doesn't remember it minimizes it for all the (absolutely legitimate) reasons you provided. Everyone who was there will absolutely never forget it, because of the pure delirium when AC scored.
Also, there were some factors that support its inclusion, including Michigan's first hail-mary last-second TD in any kind of living memory, it being not just another deflected ball in the end zone but an absolutely unbelievable play by one man finding his way to the endzone in a way I have literally never seen replicated by any team since, and it being the coming-out party of a freshman named Anthony Carter who, I believe, still holds the absolutely under-appreciated NCAA record for ratio of touchdowns per touch.
You can minimize everything about the significance of the game you want, but you really shouldn't minimize the significance of the moment. It was bliss.
January 17th, 2024 at 9:47 PM ^
Completely agree about the moment. Honestly, it's the single Bo/Moeller/Lloyd game that sticks out to me. And I attended a lot of them (albeit less after I graduated in 1994 and moved to that state down south). The emotion, hard to compare because it was so long ago and I was so young. I remember walking through the 100 Years of Michigan Football exhibit at Crisler with my Dad after that game, still on cloud nine.
January 17th, 2024 at 7:30 PM ^
2022 OSU might be a tad underrated. 2021 OSU was exhilarating because it broke the streak and showed we could beat those bastards. But it could have been just a once in a decade upset assisted by home field advantage and the weather. In 2021, we didn’t know for sure that the tide had turned. To go into their house in 2022 and beat the shit out of them with big play after big play proved that we had in fact arrived and replaced them as the conference’s top dog.
January 17th, 2024 at 7:32 PM ^
I can't believe that the 2010 Illinois game is not on this list.
January 17th, 2024 at 7:34 PM ^
I started watching Michigan football in 2001 so i arranged my top Michigan wins of all time since i started watching. Your welcome:
1. Michigan vs Alabama 2023
2. Michigan vs Washington 2023
3. Michigan at Ohio state 2022
4. Michigan vs Ohio State 2021
5. Michigan vs. Ohio State 2023
6. Michigan vs Notre Dame 2011
7. 2021 Big ten championship
8. Michigan vs. Michigan vs. Ohio state 2003
9. 2022 Big ten Championship
10. 2023 Big ten championship
11. Michigan vs. Ohio state 2011
11. Michigan at penn state 2021
12. Michigan vs wisconsin 2016
13. Michigan vs Michigan state 2004
14. Michigan vs penn state 2005
15. Michigan vs. washington 2002
16. Michigan vs Florida 2007
17. Michigan at nebraska 2021
18. Michigan vs. notre dame 2010
19. Michigan vs notre dame 2009
20. Michigan vs Penn state 2002
21. Michigan at Minnesota 2003
22. Michigan at Michigan state 2005
23. Michigan at michigan state 2007
24. Michigan at Iowa 2005
25. Michigan vs. Wisconsin 2008
26. Michigan vs. Illinois 2010
27. Michigan vs Northwestern 2012
28. Michigan at Penn st 2023
29. Michigan vs. Illinois 2022
30. Michigan at Michigan State 2018
31 Michigan at Purdue 2004
32. Michigan at Indiana 2015
33. Michigan vs Penn State 2022
34. Michigan at Wisconsin 2021
35. Michigan vs Michigan state 2012
36. Michigan vs. Notre Dame 2006
36. Michigan vs. Wisconsin 2018
37. Michigan vs Virginia Tech 2011
38. Michigan at Minnesota 2015
39. Michigan at Wisconsin 2001
40. Michigan at Rutgers 2020
41. Michigan vs Notre Dame 2013
42. Michigan vs Florida 2017
43. Michigan vs. Penn State 2018
44. Michigan vs. Notre Dame 2019
45. Michigan vs. Penn State 2014
January 17th, 2024 at 8:16 PM ^
Indiana 2010? 2009? 2017? Minnesota 2004? Northwestern 2013? 2014? 2018? Iowa 2001? Air Force 2012? Army 2019? Ball State 2006? Akron 2013?
January 17th, 2024 at 8:31 PM ^
None of those games would be ranked above any of the games i listed so i didnt include them
January 17th, 2024 at 7:35 PM ^
Lol I like how OP tried to slip a Hoke team in there
January 17th, 2024 at 9:33 PM ^
Well, it's a ranking of games, not teams. 2011 ND was an unbelievable game to take in.
January 17th, 2024 at 10:04 PM ^
The last 2 minutes of play in the 2011 game against ND were as wild as any Michigan game I can remember.
January 17th, 2024 at 7:42 PM ^
1. 2021 vs. Ohio State
This reset everything and paved the road to a National Championship.
1969 was amazing, but no title as a result.
January 17th, 2024 at 8:15 PM ^
For honorable mention at least, 1976 Ohio State, 22-0 in the horseshoe.
January 17th, 2024 at 8:26 PM ^
Braylon game was on fleek as the kids say.
January 17th, 2024 at 8:28 PM ^
1976 Ohio State - The first time I saw us beat them (on TV)
1983.Ohio State - The first time I saw us beat them (in person)
1981 Rose Bowl - The first time I saw 9us win a bowl game (on TV)
1989 Rose Bowl - The first time I saw 9us win a bowl game (in person)
1991 Ohio State - The Pose
January 17th, 2024 at 9:57 PM ^
Glad to see 1976 in Columbus get a mention. It was very cathartic. Not quite like 2021 OSU but still. Consider that we had lost in 72, tied in 73, but got screwed, lost in 74, and lost in 75. We went down there scored early, went for 2 to make it 8-0 before shutting them out 22-0 in front of their own fans. Rob Lytle had a great game.
January 17th, 2024 at 8:38 PM ^
The top 7 are as clear as they could be, with different ages putting them in different orders. The other 3 are fun.
January 17th, 2024 at 9:08 PM ^
OMG, there are so many! I've been attending games since Sept. 63, so would have the 65
Rose Bowl in my list though it's outside the scope of this discussion, and the Ron Johnson game in fall of 68 (I think) though I only attended the first half because the rain was so bad. I also witnessed the 64 game at OSU in bitter cold that was a fabulous 10-0 whitewash. But there have been so many remarkable games; this is a little like rating your children which can't be done!
January 17th, 2024 at 9:08 PM ^
1) 2021 vs OSU
2) 2024 vs Bama
3) 2023 vs OSU
4) 1997 vs OSU
5) 2024 vs Washington
6) 1998 vs Washington State
7) 2023 vs Penn State
8) 1997 vs Penn State
9) 2022 vs OSU
10) 2004 vs MSU
And I need to add an odd one for #11
11) 1995 vs Purdue - Michigan wins 5-0 in a game played in dismal snow/sleet/ice with high winds. It was the first game I saw live at the Big House with my dad.
January 18th, 2024 at 12:03 AM ^
Very similar list to mine. I think I’m underrating 2023 PSU. That was a hard fought game under insane circumstances. It was also a must-win. Will forever be overshadowed by 3 monumental games that came after it, but it’s ultimately what made those games possible.
January 17th, 2024 at 9:09 PM ^
I’d put 2022 OSU in front of 2024 Alabama. In Columbus. Validated the prior year. Definitively signaled that the balance of power had shifted.
And you put the ‘98 Rose Bowl ahead of this year’s NC game? Nope.