Where would this win rank for you?

IF Michigan were to pull this off, where would it rank in terms of big wins in your lifetime? 

I refuse to allow you to make me ponder what ifs and be disappointed :/

for those like me old enough to remember.. i recall the 1998 rose bowl against WSU differently. We were hugely favored and we played down to them - the only real difference maker they had was leaf, and despite our long touchdowns, our offense was basically shut down.

I remember it being very unsatisfying after an undefeated season - granted that was my freshman year and my first year of Michigan fandom, so i thought... of course we go 11-0... but style points count! 

Anyway - as exhilarating as it was to finish undefeated, that horseshit split national title and the weak way we won that game - even the ending was semi-controversial.... wasnt as satisfying as i wish it had been.

Closing in on 40, this is actually an interesting question.

1. '97 OSU, it's hard to explain just how HUGE that game was and what the whole team, but especially Charles was able to do, the emphatic crown jewel of the best season of my lifetime

1b. '98 Rose Bowl, finished it off, we would've SMOKED Scott and Carol Frost's Nebraska had we ever had the chance

3. '97 Penn State, judgment day, absolutely the best road game performance of my lifetime

4. 2003 Ohio State, 100th Game, Rose Bowl and Big Ten Title on the line, epic performance in front of an all-time crowd

A win Saturday would easily supplant #4 for me, but when you consider that THAT win was EIGHTEEN years ago, and the others on my list now almost 25 years ago, it's hard to state just how huge this would be. Cannot wait. GO BLUE!

I remember very little of 1997 season and 1998 Rose Bowl. So, my favorite games in no particular order are...

2011 vs OSU.

2011 vs Notre Dame UTL

Trey Burke's shot vs Kansas in sweet 16 was great.

Lloyd Carr's final game in the Citrus bowl vs Florida. 

Braylon fest

2003 vs OSU, times were different where we expected to compete and win our fair share of games in this rivalry. So I took it for granted. 

If we win on Saturday, it would rank at the top.

My Current Personal Top 10 (started watching consistently in '91 at age 10):

1. '95 OSU
(I was there, watching Tim run wild, sitting next to two mouth-breathing Buckeyes.  When Woodson made the clinching INT, they tried to hold back tears.  One just muttered, "Can't believe those [Northwestern] motherfuckers are going to the Rose Bowl.")

2. '97 PSU
(Utter domination of a Top 5 team in their place.  The best display of Michigan's best team)

3. '96 OSU
(Maybe even more shocking than '95.  Sad Buckeyes everywhere.)

4. '97 OSU
(The way we scored all three TDs was pure magic.  Denied OSU getting their upset like we got ours)

5. '92-93 Washington Rose Bowl
(Ty runs wild.  Amazing back-and-forth game.  Fondly remember watching with my dad.)

6. '06 ND
(Weis exposed.  Manningham torches the #2 team in their building)

7. '91 ND
(Desmond's catch was the exact instant I became a live-&-die Michigan fan)

8. '97-98 Washington St Rose Bowl
(More joy from completing the national championship season than from the game itself, but def one of the most important wins)

9. '99-00 Alabama Orange Bowl
(Brady at peak surgical precision.  Great duel with Shaun Alexander.  Memorable twist ending)

10. '07-08 Florida Citrus Bowl
(One of the most fun offensive performances I've seen from Michigan, in Carr's last game against offensive guru Meyer and Heisman winner Tebow.  Michigan was 10.5 point underdogs)

HM: '11 ND (most of that game was pretty miserable, but the end was pure deliriousness), '03 OSU, '19 ND, '16 PSU, '93 PSU (goal line stand), '91 & '93 OSU, '18 PSU, '92 Iowa (all those rushing yards), '05 PSU, '04 MSU, plenty others

I won't know where this would rank until it happens, but I'm thinking Top 3 at worst

This would have to be No. 1 for me.  I was 12 in 1997, but didn't really get into watching (and playing) football until high school, so don't really have much recollection of that season.  It would be tough between this and the first UTL game since I was actually there for that game.

I was in the 3rd row for the1997 game. That will always be #1 for me. A win here would be amazing, but that was for all the marbles. No one was going to lose to Wazzou. 

#2........1969 Game shall always be #1

For me, it would have to be number one. I have been a Michigan fan since birth, but don't remember much prior to '04. Since then, Michigan has only won once in 2011. I was at that game. Even though I have been to many since, that one has always been my favorite. However, that would be surpassed if Michigan were able to pull it off this weekend.

I'm gonna say that it's going to be somewhere between 2nd and 4th, after 1969, and then a tossup among the Snow Bowl in '50 and Bump's '64 team. 

#2 behind the National Title win, #1 under Harbaugh.

Became a fan during the 2006 run when I was 11 years old… this would be #1 by far. 
 

I’m gonna party so hard after this game if we win that I’ll have to pass out in my car for the night in AA

Number 1 in my lifetime.  IT stops the streak, it will create better recruiting, it will be our first time in the big ten championship since that began, It will give us the first shot at being in the playoff since that began, and I will cry like a little school girl.

I’m 50 and if this is a win it ranks pretty fricking high.    I’ve reached a point where I’m of the mindset we won’t beat OSU again in my lifetime.  

Been a fan since 1986, when I was 10.  Now, 45... THIS would be the top one because I'll witness it with my SON, who at 12, is a bigger fan that I have been in my 35 years of fandom.  I'm at the point that I can get over a loss pretty quickly.  He's yet to experience what I enjoyed most of my childhood. 

If you're a father... you understand where I'm coming from.  To witness his joy would be like something I can't explain.  

Biggest since ‘97. So second. Rounding out top five are ‘86, ‘77, and ‘03

I'll go with the 2003 win. That was in the Tressel era. Hard to beat 1969, that's still #1 with me.

Short of the 97 Rose Bowl, nothing would top the statement This win would make (for me and for my lifetime) 

it would have to be #2 for me as I was around for the NC game as well.

Outside of that win, this is the biggest in football easily due to the past 20 years versus OSU.

Numero Uno. 

Biggest win since 1997 Rose Bowl, program changing moment. 

I gotta say, even as a nearly 40 year old that very much remembers Desmond, not to mention Charles and the National Title, this would rank very very high. The sweet relief alone would rank higher for me than Braylonfest, probably even UTL1.  It would be top 3-5.  Depending on how it were to play out, I would say the only games I can say would be ahead of it for certain would be ‘97 OSU and the ‘98 rose bowl.  After that, it’s entirely possible this game would become #3. 

I think it would rank up there maybe just behind the 1969 win, which was a momentum-changer in the series following a very moribund 60's for the Wolverines. '69 could be considered the bigger upset, were we to win this weekend, but even throughout the decade of 1959-1969, Michigan had still managed to win 3 of those games.

We know how the last 20 years of this rivalry has looked, which is why I would even accept that this win would be more important than that.

This is a hard question. Personally speaking, 85 OSU is my best memory, because I was there going nuts with 105,000 of my closet friends (all puns about how tightly we were seated intended) after Harbaugh hit Kolesar on the long TD.

Leaving that aside, a win on Saturday would still be behind the 97 Rose Bowl because (DUH!) National Championship. The only game since then that even bears consideration would be the defenestration of the Urban Meyer/Tim Tebow Gators in the Jones-Meiniki-GoDaddy-whateverthehellwe'recallingitnow Bowl in Florida. (Lloyd's last game, the only Bowl or OSU win for that senior class...)

I would rank a win against OSU right now to be just a nose ahead of the 2007 win over Florida, IF...

#1

I've lived in Columbus for 30 years since graduating in '91.  The last 20 years have been brutal.  

I never would have guessed seeing Henson beat them in 2000 would be the last time seeing a win in the 'shoe.  I was at JT was short, he was.  All of the games here are brutally officiated.  I'd be scared too if I were a ref to crush the hopes and dreams of hairless nuts everywhere.

Beat Ohio State.  GO BLUE!!!

LFG!!!

This would be the biggest win since the 1998 Rose Bowl for the National Championship. 

It would be top 5 for sure, but below 1997 OSU, 1998 Rose Bowl and possibly 1991 ND. That 1991 win over ND snapped a four game losing streak to the Irish and put Desmond on the Heisman radar.

#1

I’m under 30, can confirm a win Saturday would be #1 right above M-ND Under The Lights

High enough that I’m willing to pay $119 via a money line bet on OSU this weekend.  Otherwise seems like the next win is always the most important/biggest win.

Somewhere between #3 and #12

UofM has the largest Alum base in the country.  Someone needs to organize a meeting of the minds for all Alum Friday night.  Pull your spiritual, metaphysical, whatever you believe in together and mind meld to raise this team up and energize them for a win. 

Tough to top 97 OSU, However....

We were dominating the rivalry back then and 97 was the culmination of UM 90's success and reaching the pinnacle with a national title.

Given 20 years of OSU domination, dong punches, being so close but unable to get past the death star, all the Harbaugh narratives and robbery in 2016 (not to mention fluke losses to MSU in 2015 and this year...adding to a bunch of har har Harbaugh hate)....this might take the cake.

We are also underdogs and despite being clearly the second best team in the B1G since Harbaugh took over, we have nothing to show for it - given division alignment, shit luck, etc.

This would be the best win for me.  It could change the direction of the program and frankly, I really want it for Jim....He runs a clean, solid program and deserves a fucking break.

Other recent OSU games with everything on the line...

2006 - On the road

2016 - On the road

2018 - On the road

Finally we have them at home....hoping we can flip the script.

The Rose bowl in 98 was the first time I really watched Michigan play. It was the start of the obsession, but being just a wee lad really had no context.

So my answer will probably strange one, as this blog was starting to really feed the obsession starting in 2004, to me the biggest win I can remember:

2005 PSU. The whole game was a gut wrenching battle that seemed like the program was on the edge of the abyss.

 I loved The Denard years and UTL was crazy but none of those games got me the same way. 

By the time the refs called the OOB penalty against Iowa in 2016 I could feel the screw was going to be in against OSU, too much money on the line for the conference. I still love Michigan and obsess over the games. This is the first time I estimate Michigan even money to payoff the conference. 

So yeah #1, not close. 

1997 is still #1 and may always be, since it was for a Rose Bowl berth to play for the MNC. This tOSU game should be a clear #2, if only because it is for a berth in the B10 Title Game, which can get us to the Playoff, which can get us to the National Championship. Still many dangers await even if we can somehow beat the Buckeyes on Saturday.

This will be the best win since 1969 when Bo gave notice to Dr Strange Hayes that Michigan was back in the football business.

This win will say to the creeps down south, everything is in doubt. Future wins are no certainty!

1989 NCAA finals win and I would say 1997 Rose Bowl win based on a factor of joy. 

#1 

I would put this at #2, behind our 49-0 win over Long Beach State in 1987. A school that no longer plays football. At least we know they won't be on a revenge tour anytime soon.

It would be up there for me for sure.  This year is even more interesting for me as the fam is spending Thanksgiving (and the weekend) in none other than Ohio where some of wifey's family still resides.  As you can imagine...every fucking one is a mouth-breathing OSU homer.  No Cincy, no ND, no YSU, nobody.  None of them went there yet all I hear all fucking weekend is when somebody stops over one of the idiots yells out "O-H" and waits for the other half-brain to yell "I-O".  It's like they're all the same as the dumb bastard that's at every game, Bucknut or whatever.  

The whole thing pisses me off.  We need this.  I need this.  Go fucking Blue!!!!!

A game that ranks very high for me that I almost never see mentioned is 1976 at Columbus.

First let me set the stage:

1972 10-0 3rd ranked Michigan loses in Columbus 14-11 and finish 10-1, Buckeyes finish 10-1 and go to the Rose Bowl. We sit home with no bowl.

1973- the 10-10 tie at home, you know the story on this one. We finish 10-0-1, get jobbed and sit home, no bowl.

1974- We are again 10-0 going in, lose 12-10, again sit home, completing a 3 year stretch where we go 30-2-1 and never even get to play in a bowl game.

1975- We come into the game 8-0-2, and lose 21-14, finally the Big 10 has ended its archaic one bowl policy and we do get to go the Orange Bowl and lose 14-6 to a loaded Oklahoma team.

So after 4 straight seasons of having excellent teams, going into the game undefeated and just managing one tie and 3 losses, 

1976- We go into the game with a 9-1 record and completely dominate them with a 22-0 shutout in front of their home fans in Columbus.

Man- that was satisfying!

A win this Saturday would be #3 all time in my book.  The 97 Rosebowl (sitting 15 rows up in the endzone and watching Woodson rise up for the interception) is #1 and 69 OSU is #2. 

But I can't fault anyones listings of games in this thread. 

To go even more granular, epic plays?

Desmond and Woodson OSU punt returns.  Desmond layout against ND.  Of course Carter against Ind.

Defensive side, Dadrion Taylor hit on the PSU TE

#1 for me as I wasn’t alive in 1969, and Michigan is a home dog that still has all their goals in front of them in what most expect to be a lopsided game with a much superior team and program. 1997 vs. OSU wasn’t that and the narrative surrounding the team was much better, however the 97 Rose Bowl could easily be up there as a favorite too. Because of the stigma of this last 2 decades, this is easily #1.  Of course 2003 was awesome, but again, Michigan was not playing to get into a playoff then. 

Spiritually, we are riding a 15 game losing streak to our biggest rival (2011 counts, but barely). We haven’t beaten a properly coached OSU team in 18 years. That’s hard to fathom. We haven’t won a Big Ten championship in 17 years. It’s reasonable to argue that this would be the most memorable/significant win in program history.

We have been wandering in the wilderness and are on the verge of getting permanently lost out there. We thought Harbaugh found water a few times, but it was just a mirage. We’re past the point of “being due” or any crap like that. OSU isn’t going anywhere and the only way to even sniff that level is to beat them every now and then (a la Auburn-Alabama). One of these Michigan teams has to step up, play the game of their lives, and also hope that OSU doesn’t. I’ll also say that beating them once does not mean that the tide has turned, but it can’t even start to turn until players in the program actually know what it’s like to beat them.

Biggest wins I remember watching are 2008 Florida Bowl Game and 2011 OSU.

Winning Saturday would be the single biggest Michigan sports victory in my viewing lifetime.