A Buckeye win on Saturday will bring us a rare “Redemption Victory” in The Game. While any victory over TTUN is sweet, there is a special joy, catharsis, and restored identity in redemption. Even more so when stopping a multiple game losing streak.
Due to OSU’s dominance this century, OSU Redemption Victories are rare lately. In fact, most students and newer fans have never really experienced an OSU Redemption Victory, so this Saturday would be completely new territory for an entire generation of Buckeyes.
Here are the OSU Redemption Victories of the last 50 years: (GLS= Game losing streak, WLS=Game winning streak)
2012: Urban resets the rivalry, 26-21. Bittersweet due to postseason ban. Urban doesn’t lose The Game again. (ends 1 GLS, starts 8 GWS)
2004: Tressel earns big upset at home as unranked Bucks slay #7 TTUN 37-21. Tressel doesn’t lose The Game again. (ends 1 GLS, starts 7 GWS)
2001: Tressel makes good on his promise as unranked Bucks (with a 1st time starting QB) slay #11 TTUN 26-20. (ends 2 GLS, starts 2 GWS)
1998: Cooper’s #7 superteam wins big, beats #11 TTUN 31-16. Bittersweet due to Sparty upset earlier. (ends 3 GLS, starts 1 GWS)
1994: Cooper finally gets it done. #22 OSU thumps #15 TTUN 22-6 (ends 6 game loss or tie streak, starts 1 GWS). My junior year, I still remember the feeling of standing on the turf with 100,000 fellow Buckeyes.
1987: The sweatbands send Earl out on top, 23-20. (ends 2 GLS, starts 1 GWS)
1984: #11 OSU wins 21-6 (ends 1 GLS, starts 1 GWS)
1981: OSU 14, #7 TTUN 9 (ends 1 GLS, starts 2 GWS)
1979: #2 OSU 18, #13 TTUN 15 (ends 1 GLS, starts 1 GWS)
1979: #2 OSU 18, #13 TTUN 15 (ends 1 GLS, starts 1 GWS)
Needless to say, the stakes this year sky high. We all know that winning this Game has theoretically little bearing on the National Championship quest, which feels odd but freeing. Instead, we’ve got a Heisman shot for our QB, a chance for our beloved coach to start his own new streak after a long dry spell, a shot to clinch a date in Indy, and most importantly, the means to deliver an emphatic playoff ban to TTUN.
“Like the fruits of the season’s harvest, The Game is a gift. A Cycle of life that links generations and bonds hostile neighbors.”
