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Brad Daugherty Fan Club
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In the midst of staying at home, I've done some thinking about my OSU fandom. After some reflection, I thought it'd be fun to make a list of my favorite OSU games over the years. When I went through them all, I found roughly 40 games that I thought were noteworthy. So I figured I'd make a list of MY top 40 games as a fan. Some context:
1.) I became a fan in the early 90s. The list skews more towards the Tressel/Meyer era because of how successful they have been. These are games I remember watching, so nothing from before the Cooper era.
2.) I have no set criteria. "Favorite" could mean a great game, an important game, the narrative surrounding the game, or just personal feelings. Just how I feel. Some games are either elevated or devalued because the rest of the season made the game feel more or less significant.
One thing that did definitely guide this list is "what was the story heading into the game". Some of these games seem like relatively simple games, but I believe the story heading into the game made all the difference.
Obviously, as you'll see, some games are bumped up because of personal feelings.
3.) They are ranked, however there are parts of the list where games are roughly interchangeable in how I feel about them. I feel strongly that the top 6 are in the right order. After that, the rankings aren't as meaningful.
4.) I probably missed a few games because I am an amateur list maker. SO SUE ME. Or say where I was an idiot and incorrectly ranked games. All in good fun. But I am sure there's a no-brainer game I missed because I'm a moron.
5.) I think I am going to go in batches of 5 at a time, depending on my schedule. Who knows. But I want to convey why I think this game was memorable. Highlights/full game of each game are posted.
6.) I hope this spurs some conversation/reminiscing. But if you all think this is dumb, I'll stop.
Here are games 40-36:
40.) Ohio State 56, Michigan 27 2019
I otherwise don't have a game from the most recent season. The only really close game was a heart breaking (and horribly reffed) game, and I only have 1 OSU loss on here (for a good reason). The 2019 version might have been the most complete Buckeye team I've watched, so it needed a game on this list. So, as is a common theme, I chose a win over Michigan.
Michigan stormed out to an early 6-0 lead. Harbaugh was fired up. I think Michigan was secretly very confident after a second half surge including big wins over ND and MSU.
OSU then went on a 42-10 run that saw:
- JK Dobbins do whatever he wanted
- Chris Olave and Garret Wilson made multiple big plays
- Justin Fields get hurt, leave the game, come back, and have a Heisman worthy TD throw to Wilson
- Michigan give OSU a first down by jumping offside on a punt, fumbling a shotgun snap due to wind, and committing a 15 yard unsportsmanlike by untying a shoe
In the end this was an elite team soundly defeating a very good team, which happened to be a rivalry game. The exclamation point was JK Dobbins literally dunking on Michigan as he scored the final TD. Great team, deserved better from the committee and the refs.
39.) Ohio State 42, Michigan 41 2013
This game was not fun.
OSU, after going 12-0 but ineligible for postseason in 2012, was billed as a national champion favorite in 2013. Despite an early season injury to Braxton Miller and a 3 game suspension for Carlos Hyde, the offense soared all year. However, the defense was shaky at times, giving up 35 to Cal (with a young Goff at QB), 30 to NW (more on that game later) and 35 to an Illinois team whose best win, BY FAR, was over Cincinatti (their other wins were over an FCS school and two teams who combined to go 1-21). Still, OSU was 11-0, ranked 3rd in the BCS behind FSU and Bama.
Michigan started the year 5-0, beating a solid ND team and an 8-5 Minnesota team by 29. However, their offense tanked mid season. In the 4 games leading up to this game, Michigan scored 6, 13, 9* and 21 points (the 9 point game was vs Northwestern. It was only 9 points in regulation. The game went into overtime and they eventually won 27-19, but 9 points in regulation. Also, the 2013 NW team will be mentioned again). They were 7-4. but had lost 3 of 4 and 4 of 6, and hadn't beaten a bowl team since the first weekend in October.
Michigan's offense saved their best performance for this game. Devin Gardner threw for 451 yards and Michigan put up over 600 yards of offense. Michigan grabbed the early lead on a 99 yard TD drive. Braxton Miller had a 53 yard TD pass and a 53 yard TD run in the first quarter.
A scrum after an early second quarter kickoff saw three ejections, including starting OSU guard (and Glenville alum) Marcus Hall. His parting gift to the crowd:
Yup.
OSU took their first lead with 6:59 to go in the 3rd. They extended the lead to 14 late in the 3rd, but a Carlos Hyde fumble let Michigan back in. Michigan tied it at 35 with 5:01 left in the 4th. Hyde gave OSU the lead with 2:41. Michigan scored with 32 seconds left to play. They opted to go for 2. Bedford native Tyvis Powell (more on him in game #2) intercepted the 2 pt try and saved the season.
In the end, this was a game effort by an undermanned Michigan team. However, OSU wouldn't win again, losing in the B1G title game and the Orange Bowl. The lasting memory is Devin Gardner after throwing the last pick.
38.) Ohio State 31, Michigan 16 1998
Another Michigan game? Why not!
OSU from 1993-1998 was awesome (more on this in game #8). If you exclude 1994 (4 losses) they lost 8 games in 5 years (also tied a top 10 Wisconsin team in 93). Those losses were:
- To Peyton freaking Manning in 95.
- To a #1 ranked (at the time) Penn State team in 97, in Happy Valley
- To eventual #3 FSU in the Sugar Bowl after the 97 season.
- To Nick Saban and MSU in a fluky game in 98.
- To Michigan in 93, 95, 96, and 97, all when OSU had a shot at national championship.
Those Cooper teams were great. They produced a Heisman Trophy and tons of draft picks (including 2 #1 overall picks). But Cooper couldn't beat Michigan and struggled in other big games. Only one year did he win both the Michigan game and the bowl game, and it was 1998. In essence, that was the Cooper era: great talent and good results, but never putting it all together.
1998 was Cooper's best team. Lead by Andy Katzenmoyer and Joe Germaine, they stared the year #1 in the AP and Coaches poll. They were #2 in the initial BCS poll (this being the first year of the BCS) and were #1 when they inexplicably lost to MSU. However, they were still 9-1 heading into The Game vs 9-2 Michigan.
Michigan had lost to a solid ND team and a Donovan McNabb lead Syracuse team. They were probably held back by having a first year starter at QB named [checks noted] Tom Brady. That's right, John Cooper coached against both Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in college. He beat one and should've beat the other.
The actual game wasn't much to write about. OSU went up 14-0 int he first, and never lead by less than single digits. David Boston had 2 TDs. Here's a pic of him taunting Charles Woodson from 1997 BECAUSE THAT'S THE TYPE OF BOSS DAVID BOSTON IS
In the end, this is a non-de-script game. It makes the list because 93-98 was almost and epic era of OSU football, and this was the culmination.
OSU would end up #3 in the BCS, having to watch Tennessee beat FSU in the inaugural BCS title game. OSU would beat Texas A&M in the Sugar Bowl and finish #3 in the polls (Wisconsin, OSU and Michigan all tied for B1G title at 7-1. but at that time, the tie break was "whoever hasn't been to the Rose Bowl in the longest time gets to go. Seriously, that was the tiebreaker. OSU and Michigan had gone the previous 2 seasons, and Wisconsin last went in 1993, so Wisconsin got the nod).
37.) Ohio State 31, Penn St 24 2014
Reasons why this game mattered:
The OSU/PSU rivalry is insane, and makes multiple entries on the list
This game many "bonkers" moments
The 2014 season ended up being pretty good
Ohio State entered this week 13th in the CFP poll. They were behind 5 SEC teams, 3 Big 12 teams, Notre Dame, and 5 spots below the highest B1G team. An early season loss to Virginia Tech seemed to have killed OSU's playoff hopes. They hadn't lost since then but their best win was....Navy? They were clearly playing for a conference title at best (*wink*). Penn State was 4-2. Their best win was either a 2 pt win over pre Scott Frost UCF or a 3 pt win at Rutgers (who somehow won 8 games that year).
This was a whiteout under the lights in Happy Valley, which meant is was a tough environment. OSU jumped out to a 17-0 halftime lead, but Penn State forced overtime. Here's how it happened:
- Vonn Bell "intercepted" a pass at the PSU 39, that OSU eventually turned into a Zeke TD run. It was not legal catch (see highlights below) but somehow SURVIVED REPLAY
- OSU kicked a 49 yd FG early in the 2nd quarter, despite snapping the FG after play clock expired (OSU got some calls in this game...to see PSU get calls, see game #13)
- Anthony Zettel, a DL who played for the Browns in 2018, had a 40 yard Pick Six
- JT Barrett sprained his MCL during regulation
- Penn State, down 3, drove into the red zone with under a minute left, but settled for a tying FG.
In OT1, Penn State scored a TD. OSU answered in 3 plays, with JT Barrett scoring on a sprained MCL. In OT2, JT again scored on a sprained MCL. Up 7, the OSU defense forced a 4th and 5. Either by OSU wizardry or PSU dumfoolery, the 4th down play saw Joey Bosa blocked by PSU running back Akeel Lynch. No seriously, PSU tried to block Joey friggin Bosa with a RB. Check the highlights below if you don't believe me. The result was Bosa driving Lynch back into PSU QB Christian Hackenberg, resulting in a walk off sack.
This was a bizarre game. It's also part of 6 games from the 2014 season on the list. Furthermore, the last 2 TDs of the game were rushing TDs scored by a QB playing with a sprained MCL. And it's the lowest of 4 OSU/PSU games on the list. INSANE!
PSU ended up losing to both Maryland and Rutgers that season. But they won their bowl game!
36.) Ohio State 28, Washington 23 2019
OSU has played in the Rose Bowl 3 times since I've been a fan. They've won all 3, and thus all 3 have made this list (see game #6 for more details).
However, this game makes the list because it was the last game for Urban Meyer. His accolades will be well described throughout this list. 2018 was a trying year for him. He was suspended for 3 games to start the year (More about the 2018 campaign in game #13) . He announced his "retirement" after beating Michigan, so we knew this was his OSU swan song.
The game itself was not extremely interesting. OSU jumped out to a 28-3 lead midway through the 3rd. Washington got within 5 with 42 ticks left, but failed to recover an onside kick and thus OSU prevailed.
This was nothing more than OSU's sendoff to Urban. He took an already strong program and raised it to new heights. Thanks for the memories, Urbs!
So there is the first 5 games. I plan on going all the way to #1 if you guys are interested. If not, I spent a lot time researching this for nothing.
1.) I became a fan in the early 90s. The list skews more towards the Tressel/Meyer era because of how successful they have been. These are games I remember watching, so nothing from before the Cooper era.
2.) I have no set criteria. "Favorite" could mean a great game, an important game, the narrative surrounding the game, or just personal feelings. Just how I feel. Some games are either elevated or devalued because the rest of the season made the game feel more or less significant.
One thing that did definitely guide this list is "what was the story heading into the game". Some of these games seem like relatively simple games, but I believe the story heading into the game made all the difference.
Obviously, as you'll see, some games are bumped up because of personal feelings.
3.) They are ranked, however there are parts of the list where games are roughly interchangeable in how I feel about them. I feel strongly that the top 6 are in the right order. After that, the rankings aren't as meaningful.
4.) I probably missed a few games because I am an amateur list maker. SO SUE ME. Or say where I was an idiot and incorrectly ranked games. All in good fun. But I am sure there's a no-brainer game I missed because I'm a moron.
5.) I think I am going to go in batches of 5 at a time, depending on my schedule. Who knows. But I want to convey why I think this game was memorable. Highlights/full game of each game are posted.
6.) I hope this spurs some conversation/reminiscing. But if you all think this is dumb, I'll stop.
Here are games 40-36:
40.) Ohio State 56, Michigan 27 2019
I otherwise don't have a game from the most recent season. The only really close game was a heart breaking (and horribly reffed) game, and I only have 1 OSU loss on here (for a good reason). The 2019 version might have been the most complete Buckeye team I've watched, so it needed a game on this list. So, as is a common theme, I chose a win over Michigan.
Michigan stormed out to an early 6-0 lead. Harbaugh was fired up. I think Michigan was secretly very confident after a second half surge including big wins over ND and MSU.
OSU then went on a 42-10 run that saw:
- JK Dobbins do whatever he wanted
- Chris Olave and Garret Wilson made multiple big plays
- Justin Fields get hurt, leave the game, come back, and have a Heisman worthy TD throw to Wilson
- Michigan give OSU a first down by jumping offside on a punt, fumbling a shotgun snap due to wind, and committing a 15 yard unsportsmanlike by untying a shoe
In the end this was an elite team soundly defeating a very good team, which happened to be a rivalry game. The exclamation point was JK Dobbins literally dunking on Michigan as he scored the final TD. Great team, deserved better from the committee and the refs.
39.) Ohio State 42, Michigan 41 2013
This game was not fun.
OSU, after going 12-0 but ineligible for postseason in 2012, was billed as a national champion favorite in 2013. Despite an early season injury to Braxton Miller and a 3 game suspension for Carlos Hyde, the offense soared all year. However, the defense was shaky at times, giving up 35 to Cal (with a young Goff at QB), 30 to NW (more on that game later) and 35 to an Illinois team whose best win, BY FAR, was over Cincinatti (their other wins were over an FCS school and two teams who combined to go 1-21). Still, OSU was 11-0, ranked 3rd in the BCS behind FSU and Bama.
Michigan started the year 5-0, beating a solid ND team and an 8-5 Minnesota team by 29. However, their offense tanked mid season. In the 4 games leading up to this game, Michigan scored 6, 13, 9* and 21 points (the 9 point game was vs Northwestern. It was only 9 points in regulation. The game went into overtime and they eventually won 27-19, but 9 points in regulation. Also, the 2013 NW team will be mentioned again). They were 7-4. but had lost 3 of 4 and 4 of 6, and hadn't beaten a bowl team since the first weekend in October.
Michigan's offense saved their best performance for this game. Devin Gardner threw for 451 yards and Michigan put up over 600 yards of offense. Michigan grabbed the early lead on a 99 yard TD drive. Braxton Miller had a 53 yard TD pass and a 53 yard TD run in the first quarter.
A scrum after an early second quarter kickoff saw three ejections, including starting OSU guard (and Glenville alum) Marcus Hall. His parting gift to the crowd:
Yup.
OSU took their first lead with 6:59 to go in the 3rd. They extended the lead to 14 late in the 3rd, but a Carlos Hyde fumble let Michigan back in. Michigan tied it at 35 with 5:01 left in the 4th. Hyde gave OSU the lead with 2:41. Michigan scored with 32 seconds left to play. They opted to go for 2. Bedford native Tyvis Powell (more on him in game #2) intercepted the 2 pt try and saved the season.
In the end, this was a game effort by an undermanned Michigan team. However, OSU wouldn't win again, losing in the B1G title game and the Orange Bowl. The lasting memory is Devin Gardner after throwing the last pick.
38.) Ohio State 31, Michigan 16 1998
Another Michigan game? Why not!
OSU from 1993-1998 was awesome (more on this in game #8). If you exclude 1994 (4 losses) they lost 8 games in 5 years (also tied a top 10 Wisconsin team in 93). Those losses were:
- To Peyton freaking Manning in 95.
- To a #1 ranked (at the time) Penn State team in 97, in Happy Valley
- To eventual #3 FSU in the Sugar Bowl after the 97 season.
- To Nick Saban and MSU in a fluky game in 98.
- To Michigan in 93, 95, 96, and 97, all when OSU had a shot at national championship.
Those Cooper teams were great. They produced a Heisman Trophy and tons of draft picks (including 2 #1 overall picks). But Cooper couldn't beat Michigan and struggled in other big games. Only one year did he win both the Michigan game and the bowl game, and it was 1998. In essence, that was the Cooper era: great talent and good results, but never putting it all together.
1998 was Cooper's best team. Lead by Andy Katzenmoyer and Joe Germaine, they stared the year #1 in the AP and Coaches poll. They were #2 in the initial BCS poll (this being the first year of the BCS) and were #1 when they inexplicably lost to MSU. However, they were still 9-1 heading into The Game vs 9-2 Michigan.
Michigan had lost to a solid ND team and a Donovan McNabb lead Syracuse team. They were probably held back by having a first year starter at QB named [checks noted] Tom Brady. That's right, John Cooper coached against both Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in college. He beat one and should've beat the other.
The actual game wasn't much to write about. OSU went up 14-0 int he first, and never lead by less than single digits. David Boston had 2 TDs. Here's a pic of him taunting Charles Woodson from 1997 BECAUSE THAT'S THE TYPE OF BOSS DAVID BOSTON IS
In the end, this is a non-de-script game. It makes the list because 93-98 was almost and epic era of OSU football, and this was the culmination.
OSU would end up #3 in the BCS, having to watch Tennessee beat FSU in the inaugural BCS title game. OSU would beat Texas A&M in the Sugar Bowl and finish #3 in the polls (Wisconsin, OSU and Michigan all tied for B1G title at 7-1. but at that time, the tie break was "whoever hasn't been to the Rose Bowl in the longest time gets to go. Seriously, that was the tiebreaker. OSU and Michigan had gone the previous 2 seasons, and Wisconsin last went in 1993, so Wisconsin got the nod).
37.) Ohio State 31, Penn St 24 2014
Reasons why this game mattered:
The OSU/PSU rivalry is insane, and makes multiple entries on the list
This game many "bonkers" moments
The 2014 season ended up being pretty good
Ohio State entered this week 13th in the CFP poll. They were behind 5 SEC teams, 3 Big 12 teams, Notre Dame, and 5 spots below the highest B1G team. An early season loss to Virginia Tech seemed to have killed OSU's playoff hopes. They hadn't lost since then but their best win was....Navy? They were clearly playing for a conference title at best (*wink*). Penn State was 4-2. Their best win was either a 2 pt win over pre Scott Frost UCF or a 3 pt win at Rutgers (who somehow won 8 games that year).
This was a whiteout under the lights in Happy Valley, which meant is was a tough environment. OSU jumped out to a 17-0 halftime lead, but Penn State forced overtime. Here's how it happened:
- Vonn Bell "intercepted" a pass at the PSU 39, that OSU eventually turned into a Zeke TD run. It was not legal catch (see highlights below) but somehow SURVIVED REPLAY
- OSU kicked a 49 yd FG early in the 2nd quarter, despite snapping the FG after play clock expired (OSU got some calls in this game...to see PSU get calls, see game #13)
- Anthony Zettel, a DL who played for the Browns in 2018, had a 40 yard Pick Six
- JT Barrett sprained his MCL during regulation
- Penn State, down 3, drove into the red zone with under a minute left, but settled for a tying FG.
In OT1, Penn State scored a TD. OSU answered in 3 plays, with JT Barrett scoring on a sprained MCL. In OT2, JT again scored on a sprained MCL. Up 7, the OSU defense forced a 4th and 5. Either by OSU wizardry or PSU dumfoolery, the 4th down play saw Joey Bosa blocked by PSU running back Akeel Lynch. No seriously, PSU tried to block Joey friggin Bosa with a RB. Check the highlights below if you don't believe me. The result was Bosa driving Lynch back into PSU QB Christian Hackenberg, resulting in a walk off sack.
This was a bizarre game. It's also part of 6 games from the 2014 season on the list. Furthermore, the last 2 TDs of the game were rushing TDs scored by a QB playing with a sprained MCL. And it's the lowest of 4 OSU/PSU games on the list. INSANE!
PSU ended up losing to both Maryland and Rutgers that season. But they won their bowl game!
36.) Ohio State 28, Washington 23 2019
OSU has played in the Rose Bowl 3 times since I've been a fan. They've won all 3, and thus all 3 have made this list (see game #6 for more details).
However, this game makes the list because it was the last game for Urban Meyer. His accolades will be well described throughout this list. 2018 was a trying year for him. He was suspended for 3 games to start the year (More about the 2018 campaign in game #13) . He announced his "retirement" after beating Michigan, so we knew this was his OSU swan song.
The game itself was not extremely interesting. OSU jumped out to a 28-3 lead midway through the 3rd. Washington got within 5 with 42 ticks left, but failed to recover an onside kick and thus OSU prevailed.
This was nothing more than OSU's sendoff to Urban. He took an already strong program and raised it to new heights. Thanks for the memories, Urbs!
So there is the first 5 games. I plan on going all the way to #1 if you guys are interested. If not, I spent a lot time researching this for nothing.