Michigan hasn’t truly spoiled an Ohio State season in 20 years, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t had plenty of opportunities.
Sure, there was the 2003 game where the Buckeyes went into Ann Arbor ranked No. 4 in the nation, but the Wolverines were No. 5 and favored by a touchdown. Looking back, it’s possible that that loss kept OSU out of the BCS title game, but labeling that Michigan team as a “spoiler” is a bit much.
The last time a season was spoiled in this game was probably 2004, when the 9-1 7th-ranked Wolverines were a 5.5-point favorite in Ohio Stadium and the Buckeyes won it 37-21.
Ohio State has been the favorite in 10 of the last 12 meetings. Michigan was favored in 2011, and the 2015 game was a pick’em.
In those 12 games, Ohio State was playing for an undefeated season or a berth in the playoffs or a spot in the BCS title game five times. Five times the Wolverines failed to spoil the Buckeyes’ season.
Could the sixth time be the charm?
If Ohio State wins out, and a few other things happen that need to happen, the Buckeyes could be looking at another playoff berth. Michigan has an opportunity to negate all of those possibilities, and they’re looking forward to it.
“It would mean a lot to me,” said UM safety Tyree Kinnel. “For our team coming off a loss to Wisconsin and the Big Ten’s not in the picture, playoff not really in the picture, but they have that in the picture, so we want to take everything away from them. We want to beat them. We want to ruin their season.”
And a win over the Buckeyes would certainly accomplish that.
Finding motivation in the misery of your enemy is what rivalries are all about, after all.
“That’s even better,” said running back Karan Higdon. “Not only do we want to beat our arch rival, but we can spoil their season and possibly knock them out of the playoffs.”
Michigan obviously wants to win just to win, but every bit of motivation is good for the rivalry.
“We know that’s at stake that if they have one more loss they’re pretty much going to be out of the playoff picture regardless of what happens in the Big Ten championship game,” Kinnel said. “That would be nice for us, definitely.”
The Wolverines can do no better than fourth place in the Big Ten East this season, which is their worst finish since they fired Brady Hoke for placing fifth in the East in 2014.
A win over Ohio State instantly makes a fourth-place finish much more palatable, and if it knocks the Buckeyes out of the playoff picture, then that’s just umami in the wound.
“Definitely motivates you just to have that opportunity to kind of disrupt someone else’s season while just making yours better,” said UM defensive tackle Maurice Hurst.
Not everybody is so publicly motivated by spoiling Ohio State’s season, however.
For defensive end Chase Winovich — who grew up a Buckeye fan, the rivalry itself is all the motivation that is ever needed.
“It’s the fact that they’re Ohio State and we’re Michigan,” he said.
“I don’t know about spoiling Ohio State. It’s greater than that.”
Tony, I did think of a time recently where ttun spoiled our playoff hopes. 2015. bo schembechler’s ghost caused that Michigan punter to fumble and allowed a last second MSU TD for the win. Although the play left buckeye fans with great joy it was short lived once we realized that play stole our shot at the B1G championship and probably a back to back trip to the playoffs. We had a good chance at winning it all that year, but those pesky ROUS spoiled it
4th place in the East Division sounds better than 6th place in the Big Ten overall, which is where they are. There ya go, wolverines. You’re not in 6th place, you’re in 4th! Take pride in it.
Screw the Blue!!