23) OSU 25, Michigan 21 2005
In 2004, Michigan went to their 2nd straight Rose Bowl. They had won at least a share of the B1G in 5 of the last 8 years. They had finished worse than 2nd in the B1G once in that span (3rd in 99 when they still finished 9th in the AP). They finished outside the top 12 in the AP once in that span, and that was a still respectable 20th. They also had a split national title in 1997. They were a model of consistency.
Perhaps 2005 is the year that knocked Michigan off it's axis. They've had teams in 2006, 2016 and 2018 that were in the national title hunt for the entire season. However, starting in 2005, they are 1-14 vs OSU, 7-8 vs MSU (which is by far their worst stretch since pre-Bo), have won 3 bowl games, and have yet to climb above 9th in the final AP. What happened?
The season was quite eventful. They lost to Notre Dame 17-10 week 2 (that ND team has been covered). They lost at home by 3 to Minnesota by giving up a 61 yard run on 3rd and 9 as Minnesota was trying to run out the clock and force OT. They gave up the winning TD with 24 ticks left to lose @ #15 Wisconsin. They also won @ Iowa, @ then #21 NW and @ then #11 MSU, as well as handing PSU their only loss of the season. They were 7-3 and ranked #17, but were 9 points from being 4-6 and 13 points from being undefeated.
We've talked a lot about 2005 OSU, uber talented but not always with the results to match. This game is not different. OSU probably should've won by more. Why this game makes the list is it's probably the 3rd best finish to a Michigan game I've seen.
OSU started fast. Smith to Holmes converted a 3rd and 14. Brush native Roy Hall set up a goal to go with an 11 yard catch on 3rd and 1. Smith kept the ball on an option for a 4 yard TD run, but OSU missed the PAT. Michigan's first drive got to the OSU 28, but Lloyd Carr gambled and 4th and 1 and OSU held firm. OSU then drove down for a FG, 9-0. A penalty killed Michigan's next drive, and OSU took over at their own 40, halfway through the 2nd quarter.
Then, in classic 2005 style, the Bucks decided to be generous and let Michigan into the game.
Maurice Wells fumbled on the first play. Michigan took 9 plays, but they went 36 yards for a TD. OSU answered with a FG drive that stalled inside the Michigan 10. OSU lead at half, 12-7.
OSU forced a 3 and out to start the 2nd half. However, Smith fumbled, which Michigan recovered at the OSU 20 and converted into a FG. A couple of possessions later, AJ Trapasso shanked a punt that Michigan got at the OSU 37. Aided by a PI call, Michigan quick snapped OSU for a short TD run, then a lumbering Chad Henne 2pt conversion gave Michigan their first lead at 18-12. OSU then missed a FG. On the ensuing drive, Michigan converted a 4th and 1, then OSU committed a completely unnecessary hold on 3rd and 10 to allow an eventual Michigan FG.
OSU was down by 9 halfway through the 4th quarter. They hadn't scored since halftime. All 3 of Troy Smith's wins vs Michigan are on the list, and this is the lowest. However, what happened next is probably his best play vs Michigan.
OSU started the next drive at their own 33. Smith accounted for all 67 yards. After a 27 yard pass to Anthony Gonzalez, Smith scrambled for 14 yards on 3rd and 10, which included a great cutback to get the first down. On the next play, he found Santonio Holmes across the middle for TD. Holmes dove into the endzone to elude a few Michigan defenders, but was flagged for 15 yards. Because of that, Michigan started the next drive at midfield. After a first down, they punted from OSU's 35, downed at OSU's 12 with 4 minutes left, OSU trailing. 21-19.
Smith found Ginn 3 times for 26 yards and Holmes 3 times for 24 yards. A few sprinkled runs had OSU at the Michigan 31 with 47 seconds left. Then this happened.
Knowing OSU could wind the clock down and kick a game winning FG, Michigan started using their timeouts. OSU scored 2 plays later on an Antonio Pittman run. OSU missed the 2 pt conversion, but still lead by 4. Michigan got to their own 40 after a pass to Jason Avant, but Tyler Ecker failed to get out of bounds on a 2nd down pass, ending the game.
Smith was the hero. He went 27-37 for 300 yards and a TD, and added 37 rushing yards and another score. He went 9-12 130 yards, and 2 rushes for 17 yard on the last 2 drives. Smith starting the year suspended caused some rust which didn't shake until after losing to Texas (#1) and PSU (#3 on the road) by a total of 10. Given what he did in this situation, you can't help but wonder what a team with him starting from the beginning of the camp would've looked like.
Michigan went on to lose the Alamo Bowl by 4 pts to Nebraska. They ended up going 7-5, playing 5 ranked teams (4 in the top 15), 2 more teams ranked at the time of the game, and their 5 losses were by a combined 21 points. Then again, only 4 of their wins were by more than 3, and 3 of those were against Northern Illinois, Eastern Michigan and a 4-7 Indiana team. Weird team.
22) Ohio State 33, Wisconsin 29 2011
2011 was a sucky year for OSU. Finishing 6-7, it was Ohio State's worst record since Coopers first year in 1988 (the 1999 team went 6-6, but back then you had to be over .500 to make a bowl). It is the only post Cooper year where OSU lost both to Michigan and their bowl game.
It wasn't supposed to be like this. It was supposed to be the senior season of Terrelle Pryor, Boom Herron, Devier Posey and the 3 5 star Olineman from the 2008 class (Michael Adams, JB Shugarts and Michael Brewster). It was also the junior year of Jake Stoneburner, Duron Carter and Jordan Hall, and featured youngsters like Braxton Miller, Carlos Hyde and Devin Smith. The offense should've been loaded. The defense lost a lot to graduation, but we've seen OSU reload before.
Tatgate ruined everything. Tressel was gone. Herron, Posey and Adams were suspended 5 games. Carter left the program. And interim coach Luke Fickell probably wasn't ready. Former MiLB Joe Bauserman started as QB. He lead the team to a 5 point win over Toledo before and ugly loss to Miami. Braxton Miller took over as QB, and did lead a win over 3 win Colorado, but OSU only scored 7 pts in a loss to MSU and blew a huge lead to Nebraska (already mentioned). They had beaten then #16 Illinois by 10 the previous week despite completing 1 pass (
no, seriously). OSU came in at 4-3, and this was the first home game for the returning suspendees. It was also a night game at the Shoe. Boom Herron was was on camera crying during the national anthem.
Wisconsin is well known for being an old school football team. They are known for a great running games, great OLines (see avatar) and prolific RBs, as well as good defenses. And as far as QBs go....have I talked about their Oline? Seriously, what would it look like if Wisconsin ever had an NFL caliber QB?
Unfortunately, in 2011 Wisconsin had to rely on a grad transfer from NC State to play QB. Seriously, how good can an NC State transfer be? His name was *checks notes*....RUSSELL WILSON?!?!?!? This list features games where OSU beat Tom Brady and Russell Wilson, and neither team was coached by Tressel or Meyer. Amazing. (For the record, Tressel did beat Phillip Rivers in 2003).
Anyways, Wisconsin was really freaking good with Wilson at QB. In the regular season, they won 10 games by am average of 36.6 pts a game. They began the year ranked 11 and rose to #4. The week before this game, they lost @ #15 MSU by 6 on a walk off Hail Mary that was originally ruled down at the 1 yard line then overturned via replay. They dropped to #12.
The first half was actually quite tame. Wisconsin's 2nd drive resulted in a TD pass to RB Montee Ball. After an exchange of punts for a while, OSU got good field position at the 40 (Tresselball?). They engineered a 10 play, 31 yard drive that resulted in a FG, with 14 yards coming on a Miller scramble on 3rd and 10. That was OSU in 2011. The lone scoring drive of a half averaged 3.1 yards per play, and less than 2 yards per play when you take away a broken play. The first half featured 8 punts and one drive longer than 31 yards.
The second half was bananas.
Herron took the first play from scrimmage 57 yards to the Wisconsin 18. After a loss of 1, he ran for 18 more, setting up first and goal at the 1. The first 3 plays saw Miller under center and hand off to Herron, and all 3 were stuffed (the 2nd down play was initially ruled a TD but correctly overturned by replay). On 4th down, Miller faked to Herron and ran a naked boot. Miller was one on one with Wisconsin redshirt junior DE Brendan Kelly on the edge. Now, Kelly is probably a nice guy and a good football player. But even as a frosh, Brendan Kelly is not taking down Braxton Miller in the open field. Miller waltzed in and OSU lead 10-7.
Wisconsin went 3 and out on their next possession. Philly Brown blocked the punt which OSU recovered at the 1. After the previous series where OSU lined up under center and rushed Boom Herron into the line, OSU got creative.....and did the same thing with the smaller Jordan Hall. After being stopped cold on the first 2 plays, Hall was able to dive into the endzone on 3rd down after initially being stopped. The offensive coached in 2011 was not, shall we say, good. or creative. Or competent.
After one first down, OSU forced Wisconsin to punt. However, Hall muffed the punt, which the Badgers recovered on the OSU 27. Wisconsin covnerted a 3rd and 4 and scored on a 3rd and goal from the 1 to make it 17-14. Just like that, the game was close again after OSU seemed to start separating themselves.
A great punt pinned Wisconsin inside their own 5. A grounding call on Wilson set up a punt that OSU returned to the Wisconsin 34. OSU got a 1st and goal at the 7, but two inside Herron runs (at least one was out of the shotgun) set up a 3rd and goal that OSU didn't convert. OSU settled for a FG and a 20-14 lead.
A good return by Jared Abbrederis set up Wisconsin's next drive at their own 40. They drove to the OSU 38, setting up a 4th and 2. They ran Ball on a sweep that OSU swarmed, and Wisconsin turned it over on downs. OSU had the ball, up 6 with 8 minutes left. On 3rd and 4, Miller make Kelly whiff on a QB draw (poor guy), and made a first down. 3 plays later, on 3 rd and 2, OSU ran and option left. Mike Adams had a good block on Kelly (he didn't miss a tackle, at least), Andrew Norwell got a good block on a LB and Jake Stoneburner got a great block on a safety to spring Miller for a 44 yard TD. OSU went for 2 to go up by 14, but failed. But they lead by 12 with 4:20 left to play. It seemed over.
Russell Wilson will be an NFL HOF QB someday. The fact that Wisconsin only had 14 points was a testament to great game by the defense. However, Wilson can only be shut down so long.
Wisconsin answered quickly. A 40 yard draw to Ball set up Wisconsin at the 17. On the next play, Abbrederis beat Bradley Roby on a post for a score. On OSU's next possesion....they lined up under center and handed off the Herron and 1st and 2nd down (bangs head against wall). A 3rd down Miller keeper was short and OSU had to punt with 2:30 left. After 3 plays netted 19 yards, Wilson found Abbrederis wide open for a 49 yard TD. Wilson converted the 2pts on a pass to Ball, and Wisconsin led 29-26. After playing so well, the defense just collapsed.
Jordan Hall had a great return to the OSU 48 with 55 seconds left. It took OSU 28 seconds and 1 timeout to get a first down at the Wisconsin 40. Rather than call their last timeout, OSU rushed to the line. And Braxton Miller showed why he's special.
Just an amazing play.
Drew Basil's kickoff went out of bounds. Starting at their 40, Wilson almost found Nick Toon twice deep in OSU territory. A penalty on what seemed to be the last play gave Wisconsin one last play at the OSU 45. However, his last pass was hurried and never got close. OSU won a thriller.
OSU won the following week to get to 5-3. They lost their last 4 games by a combined 22 points to finish 6-7. Then they hired Urban Meyer, who ended up being pretty successful. So I guess it worked out.
Wisconsin won out in the regular season, then beat MSU in the first ever B1G title game thanks to a wild comeback and a somewhat controversial running into the kicker call. They lost to a top 5 Oregon team by 7 in the Rose Bowl.
Since Michigan won a split title in 97, there have been a handful of B1G teams who were National title contenders. In 2005 and 2008, Penn State was 1 second away from an undefeated season, then were 1 spot out of the CFP in 2016. Michigan was #2 heading into The Game in 2006, and in position to make the CFP in 2016 and 2018 had they beaten OSU. Iowa in 2015 and Wisconsin in 2017 were undefeated heading into the B1G title game. MSU made the CFP in 2015. Yet, I wonder if of all those teams, 2011 Wisconsin was the best. They were coming off a Rose Bowl berth (although they had lost JJ Watt), had a typical Wisconsin rushing attack and a legendary QB. They didn't have a killer schedule, but all 10 of their regular season wins were by double digits, and all but 1 were by at least 4 TDs. Take away 2 Hail Marys, and they are playing LSU in the BCS title game instead of having that awful Bama-LSU rematch. Hell, take away this game and maybe they get the nod over non-division champ Bama.
Still a great game, though.
21) Ohio State 20, Wisconsin 17 2008
Another Wisconsin game? Why not!
2008 was supposed to be a great year for OSU. The past 2 seasons, OSU had lost in the BCS title game, but both of those teams had seen mass defections to the NFL. The 2006 team had 5 first rounders and 9 defnesive starters move on. The 2007 team lost a Heisman winner, leading rusher, 2 leading receivers, and 8 total draft picks. The 2008 team lost...3 total draft picks, 2 of them being 7th rounders. James Laurinaitis, Malcom Jenkins and Alex Boone all eschewed the NFL draft to come back. Beanie Wells, fresh off a great sophomore campaign was back, as was 18 starters. Add in Tressel's best recruiting class since 2002, and OSU was primed for a big year. They started off #2.
However, the year went to crap quickly. Wells got hurt in the opener and missed the next 3 games. Week 2 saw OSU trail a 4 win Ohio team into 4th quarter. Week 3 saw a 32 pt loss to USC. Senior QB Todd Boeckman was benched for freshman Terrelle Pryor. OSU then beat a decent Troy and a decent Minnesota team. They now traveled to Wisconsin ranked #14.
Wisconsin entered the game ranked #18, but this was not a good Wisconsin team. In fact, it might be the worst Wisconsin team since the early Barry Alvarez years. They had beaten then #21 Fresno St, but Fresno ended up 5th place in the WAC. The previous week they had lost to Michigan, but this was Rich Rodriguez's first team that went 3-9. They beat 2 bowl teams all year, and needed OT to beat Cal Poly. They lost their bowl game by 29.
Why is this game so high? Well it was a very exciting finish. But mostly because this is the only road Buckeye game I've ever been to. The Wisconsin band had been suspended for the week, which opened up a lot of extra seats. Add in the loss the previous week, and I was able to score very cheap tickets. I also had a buddy living in Milwaukee at the time, so no need for a hotel. Just needed gas and beer money. ROAD TRIP!
It was a night game at Camp Randall. I left Cleveland around 6 am and drove to Milwaukee. Coincindetally, I needed to stop for gas in South Bend. When I walked into the gas station to buy a snack, I saw I was one of about 20 people there. 19 of them wearing Notre Dame gear and me clad in Scarlet and Gray. Everyone immediately starred at me when I walked in.
As I walked out, one of the patrons yelled at me, "Go Irish".
I stopped, looked at him and asked, "Who are they playing?"
He replied, "Stanford"
I thought for a second, shrugged, and with a very disintered tone said, "Sure, Go Irish". To this day, I don't know if he thought I was actually wearing Stanford colors, or just wanted me to know he was a Notre Dame fan (
Notre Dame beat an eventual 5-7 Stanford team 28-21.)
When my buddy and I got to Madison, we tried to find a bar before the game. Every bar was packed, as the Brewers, lead by CC Sabathia, were playing the Phillies in the playoffs (
CC didn't pitch that game and the Brewers were eliminated. However, he lead them in WAR tha year despite speding half the season here.)
While it was an exciting finish, it was overall not a tremedously well played game. So the recap won't be as long.
OSU started out fast, with Beanie Wells scoring from 33 yards out. OSU had one drive go into Wisconsin territory and another start there, but neither resulted in points. Wisconsin eventually scored on a 15 play, 91 yard drive with a longest gain of 11. On the series after that, OSU got down to the Wisconsin 32. But at the end of the play, Dane Sanzenbacher was hit hard, fumbled, and was given a concussion ( I am sure the play would be targeting now). Wisconson eventually drove down to the OSU 3 with 5 seconds left and kicked a FG for a 10-7 halftime lead.
On OSU's first 2nd half drive, Wells took the first handoff and raced 54 yards to the Badgers 26. OSU got a 1st and goal at the 3, but settled for a FG. After some Tresselballing, OSU took over at their own 41 near the end of the 3rd. They ended up with a FG and a 13-10 lead. To this point, there had been many punts and little offense. However, I did get to experience "Jump Around" inbetween the 3rd and 4th quarter. Even without the band, the entire stadium shook. It was as awesome as advertised.
Wisconsin took over with 10:25 left. A methodical drive resulted in a 2 yard TD run and a 17-13 lead with 6:30 left. OSU hadn't scored a TD since the opening drive, but now needed one. Facing a 3rd and 6, Pryor found Hartline for 19 yards. Pryor lost 5 yards on the next play, fumbled, but got it back. Next play, 2nd and 15, he found Hartline for 27 yards, but Hartline fumbled, only for Brian Robiskie to recover. A few plays later, on 2nd and 15, Pryor floated a ball to Ray Small. From my seats, it looked like 3 Badgers could've picked it. Somehow, Small caught for a 14 yard gain. A few plays later, Pryor kept it on an option and went 11 yards for a score. On Wisconsin's first play after the kickoff, Malcom Jenkins picked it off, allowing OSU to kneel on it.
Despite a fun finish, it wasn't a great game. The QBs combined for 291 yards on 44 attempts. Wells had 168 yards, but over half came on 2 carries. Wisconsin had 1 play over 20 yards (a pass to Glenville alum Kyle Jefferson). But I'll always remember the experience, from the Notre Dame gas station to Jump Around under the lights.
OSU would lose to Penn State and Texas in the Fiesta Bowl. Their three loses were to teams who finished #3,#4 and #8 in the final AP poll. OSU did have 2 blowout road wins against MSU and NW, both of whom won 9 games. But to not even win the B1G in the year when you returned so much was a dissapointment.