Every year I check the Chris Stassen College Football database to see where OSU ranks among the winningest programs of all time. I started the annual ritual in the late 1990s. At that time I could track OSU as being the best program based on winning % to the 1920s. Each year (for the most part) OSU gains ground as Notre Dame and Michigan cannot maintain the advantage they created before the invention of radio, let alone, TV.
As it stands today: OSU can lay claim to be the best program by basis of winning a higher % of games since 1897, or, 120 years. (see link)
http://football.stassen.com/cgi-bin/records/calc-wp.pl?start=1897&end=20...
.73422 OSU
.73140 UM
.73030 ND
Even in the last two years with UM on the rebound OSU is 23-3 or .86.9%, and UM is 20-6 or .70%
I used to update Tressel on these numbers and he would share them with the press and players.
OSU is #3 all-time, going back to 1869
http://football.stassen.com/cgi-bin/records/calc-wp.pl?start=1869&end=20...
UM .73027
ND .72838
OSU .72363
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I'm not sure how many more games OSU would have to win compared to UM losses to close this gap...but I look forward to it happening.
Go Bucks!