I am 22 and will be graduating from OSU this spring. I have lived basically my whole life without having to experience losing to TTUN. 2011 is my only memory of such an event. I have grown up in an era of OSU football where beating TTUN has grown to be somewhat of a formality in the minds of many my age. This has caused somewhat of a diminished view of the importance of The Game. Personally, I would say that I exist in a minority of my peers who think that beating TTUN is the MOST important part of any season. Many would say making the playoff or winning the national title is more important. This tells me that many my age take beating TTUN for granted. 

Side note: It should be said that in 99.99% of seasons you generally can't win a national title without beating TTUN first so I think comparing the two is a little silly, but nevertheless this is how most my age think.

Anyways, would love if some older and wiser folks would share some insight to the younger generation of fans as to why beating TTUN should always be the number one goal of any season. Feel free to share your experience from the 90's, 10-year war, or any other rivalry stories or perspective that you think would benefit us youths.