Of all of Ohio State’s victories in The Game, some of which I was fortunate enough to see in person, probably the most satisfying for me came a decade after I graduated and left Columbus. Although it’s been almost another decade since it was played, the 2006 meeting between No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Michigan still resonates the most.
The two schools have met many times over the years with the Big Ten conference title on the line. Each university’s football team has ruined the other’s title chances on numerous occasions. Still, the stakes had never been higher, giving rise to the game’s nickname, “The Game of the Century.” In addition to Big Ten bragging rights, a berth in the national championship game was on the line.
And the Buckeyes and Wolverines had never met as No. 1 and No. 2 before.
That’s not the only reason it stands out for me. That 2006 team was, quite possibly, my favorite group of players ever assembled at Ohio State in my adult lifetime. Troy Smith at quarterback, with Antonio Pittman and Beanie Wells lugging the mail, and a receiving corps that included Ted Ginn Jr., Anthony Gonzalez, Roy Hall, Brian Robiskie and more.
No one could even play with those Buckeyes all year. Only Illinois managed to stay within a score of the 2006 team, in one of those weird games at Memorial Stadium. And even in that game, with Jim Tressel at the helm and Tresselball in full effect, the Illini fell behind 17-0 and you never really felt like they could win.Defensively, you had Quinn Pitcock, Jay Richardson and Vernon Gholston on the line, Malcolm Jenkins and Antonio Smith at the two corners, and, of course, linebacker James Laurinaitis. Man, I loved that team.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 7 | 7 | 10 | 15 | 39 |
| Ohio State | 7 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 42 |
So when Chad Henne and Mike Hart led Michigan into Ohio Stadium on Nov. 18, 2006, I wanted that game for a group of seniors in a way I’d never wanted anything before. After all, the stakes were so high that the Rose Bowl was only a consolation prize.
You know the story well, by now. Ohio State and Michigan engaged in a back-and-forth, offensive shootout, with the Buckeyes falling behind 7-0 and then running off 21 straight points. The Wolverines countered late in the second quarter with a long touchdown pass, but Smith found Gonzo with 28 seconds to play in the first half, giving the Buckeyes a 28-14 edge at the break.
Michigan closed the gap with 10 points in the first seven minutes of the third quarter. But 40 seconds after Garrett Rivas’ field goal made it 28-24, Pittman took it 56 yards to the house. The teams traded fourth quarter touchdowns before Michigan tacked on an another score and a two-point conversion late to make it a three-point game, at 42-39, with 2:16 to play. Ohio State recovered the onside kick and went on to the national championship.
What makes the 2006 win so satisfying is that it was played on the largest stage The Game had ever seen.
The game somehow never felt in danger after the Buckeyes went up 21-7, even when Michigan cut the lead to less than a touchdown twice in the second half. If not for three Buckeye turnovers, the final score would have been a bit more lopsided. The Wolverines were never going to stop Troy Smith that night. Henne and Hart would never beat Ohio State.
| Michigan | Ohio State | |
|---|---|---|
| First Downs | 17 | 24 |
| Rushing Yards | 130 | 187 |
| Passing Yards | 300 | 316 |
| Total Yards | 430 | 503 |
| Penalties | 5-45 | 4-50 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Third Downs | 4-13 | 6-11 |
| Time of Poss. | 28:58 | 31:02 |
What makes it so satisfying is that it was played on the largest stage The Game had ever seen, with the highest stakes, and with the two teams being ranked Nos. 1 and 2. Despite the result of the next game for both teams (Michigan was blasted by USC in the Rose Bowl and I’m a little fuzzy on whatever happened next with Ohio State…let’s just assume they won the national championship), it was a hell of a football game and the only way that group of OSU seniors should have gone out in their last game at the Horseshoe. The lack of success by both teams in their next game is probably a testament to how much that game took out of both teams.
It was satisfying also in that it gave Ohio State a shot at the title. Perhaps even more satisfying is that it kept Michigan from having a shot at one.
This weekend, Ohio State and Michigan will renew the greatest rivalry in sport. While we wait, why not enjoy the entire 2006 game all over again?
Or if you don't have that much time, you can just check out these highlights:
Ah, yes. That's the stuff. My most satisfying iteration of The Game.
Which version of The Game do you find most satisfying?
