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 18th, 2024 at 5:25 AM ^
The problem with this year's title game was it was over after Donovan's 2nd TD!
Washington never reached 14 pts in the game, and it felt like Michigan turtled for 2+ quarters after that Blake run that got us to 17. That took some luster off the enjoyment of the game.
January 17th, 2024 at 9:35 PM ^
Too much recency bias.
Older games that deserve at least some consideration:
1976 vs. Ohio State
1978 vs. Notre Dame
1980 season Rose Bowl vs. Washington
1985 vs. Ohio State
1985 season Fiesta Bowl vs. Nebraska
1986 vs. Ohio State
1988 vs. Ohio State
1988 season Rose Bowl vs. USC
1991 vs. Ohio State
1992 season Rose Bowl vs. Washington
1993 vs. Ohio State
1995 vs. Ohio State
1999 season Orange Bowl vs. Alabama
January 18th, 2024 at 1:36 AM ^
The younger bloggers probably do not remember these games. Only us old guys!
January 17th, 2024 at 9:45 PM ^
1977
Michigan 41
Texas A&M 3
Top 5 beatdown. I was hooked after this one!
January 18th, 2024 at 1:53 AM ^
There was nothing like the feel of your new ticket pack at the beginning of the season, and the anticipation of what each game would be like.
January 17th, 2024 at 10:21 PM ^
Damn, that's a good list and hard not to disagree. This title game was euphoric though, but it is fresh. Hard not to place 2005 Penn Staye on the top 10 list.
January 17th, 2024 at 10:31 PM ^
According to Brian, the 2023 OSU game was the most important football, some say, ever. I agree.
1. 2023 OSU
2. 2021 OSU
3. 2024 Bama
4. 1997 OSU
5. 1969 OSU
6. 2022 OSU
7. 1976 OSU
8. 2024 Washington
9. 1998 Washington St
10. 2023 PSU
January 18th, 2024 at 1:22 AM ^
1976 OSU vs Michigan game, I would include in the top 10. I remember watching this game when I was 13 and was amazed at how great our defense was. The OSU fans were all stunned by the 4th QTR and it was exciting to see if Michigan would preserve the shutout.
January 18th, 2024 at 1:29 AM ^
1. 2023 OSU - Most important game in Michigan football history
2. 1969 OSU - a Star is Born
3. 1976 OSU - Free at Last (see also, 2021 OSU; 1991 ND; 2021 @ Wisc; & 2022 @ Iowa)
4. 1998 Rose Bowl - Free at Last!
5. 2024 Rose Bowl/NC Game Combination
6. 1981 Rose Bowl - Free at Last!
7. 1997 Judgement Day
8. 1978 ND ("Let Sleeping Echo's Lay")
9. 1977, 2022, 1986, 2003 OSU validations
10. 1997 OSU
11. 1983 & 1985 OSU - beating strong OSU teams in non-Rose Bowl seasons
12. 1971, 1978, 1980, 1988, 1989, 1990, & 1991 OSU - beating lesser OSU teams on the way to Rose Bowl
13. 1985 ND, @ S.Caro, & MD non-conf combo (Dang, we really are pretty good!)
14. 1977 Texas A & M
15. 2006 ND
16. 2023 PSU
17. 2016 PSU
18. 1986 IOWA
19. 1989 Rose Bowl
20. 1993 Rose Bowl
21. 2018 Revenge Tour
22. 1981, 1982, 2022 Illinois
23. 1976, 1983, 2019, & 2023 MSU ("Stay Down!!!!")
24. Bama wins - 2000 Orange Bowl - A Star is Born; 1988 Hall of Fame - 4th & 3 - biggest fourth quarter clutch fourth down play against Bama ever right????
25. Most Fun - Citrus Bowls - almost all of them - 2008, 2016, 1999, & 2000; & Gator Bowl 1991; Blue Bonnet Bowl 1982; first 27 minutes of Gator Bowl 1979; first 59 minutes of Sugar Bowl 1984; last 30 minutes of 1986 Fiesta Bowl; destroying 1993, 1995, & 1996 OSU seasons. 1999 OSU win because I don't know where else to put it.
In reality, the 24 wins over Ohio State should be ranked 1-24 on the list of most important wins in program history since 1969. The Game, The Game, The Game!!!! Everything else is just a fun conversation.
January 18th, 2024 at 2:06 AM ^
Given that National championship seasons are the best!
1. UM vs Bama 24
2. UM vs Washington 24
3 UM vs OSU 23
4, UM vs WSU 98
5. UM vs OSU 97
6 UM vs PSU 97
7 UM vs OSU 21
8, UM vs Washington 81 (Bos first Rose Bowl win)
9 UM vs OSU '69
10. UM vs OSU '76
January 18th, 2024 at 7:31 AM ^
I was at that 1997 Iowa game. Yes, people booed the team at half (three INTs by Griese, a lost fumble, punt return to run out the half). But the cheers happened right after halftime when we scored out of the gate. Given a half that could have crushed many QBs, Griese played perhaps his best half of his life in the 2nd half.
The Tuman TD was right down in front of us. Then, Iowa hit a few big plays to get to our 25 with a TO left and about 30 seconds. The Sword INT happened and the stadium noise was perhaps the loudest I've ever heard, except for perhaps the Woodson PR TD vs. Ohio 1997 and the Moore INT this year.
After that game, I started to believe it was finally our year and it was.
January 18th, 2024 at 9:14 AM ^
Nothing was sweeter than the 1969 OSU game. Woody was devastated, that classless old man, who’d said the previous year that he went for two late in a blowout against Michigan because he couldn't go for three. People were calling Ohio the greatest team ever. So satisfying to wreck that season and narrative.
January 18th, 2024 at 5:23 PM ^
MGoBlog should have more polls for this sort of thing so that when people weigh in, we see the results.
January 18th, 2024 at 8:14 PM ^
1. 2021 OSU was the most emotional sports moment in my entire life. I couldn't even hold back tears. Left the room multiple times.
2. 2024 NC game vs Washington
3. 2022 Win at OSU
4. 1997 Win vs OSU
5. 2003 Win vs OSU
6. 1998 Rose Bowl vs WSU
7. 2024 Rose Bowl vs Bama
8. 1993 Rose Bowl vs Washington
9. 2023 win vs OSU
10. 2004 win vs MSU