The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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DECEMBER 2023 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 33 Three Straight Over The Buckeyes Gets Special Mention Beat Ohio State three straight times as a Michigan player, and you'll never have to keep quiet at future football reunions. The 2023 band of Wolverines are eyeing exactly that opportunity on Nov. 25. Here are the last five times Michigan has pulled off at least three straight against OSU, and facts surrounding those streaks: • 1995-97 (three wins) — This streak began with Tshimanga Biakabutuka running wild with 313 yards rushing for the Wolverines in 1995. It concluded with the Wolverines' 20-14 victory in '97, Heisman winner Charles Woodson bolting away on a 78-yard punt return touchdown. One game later in the Rose Bowl, the Wolverines nailed down the national championship. • 1988-91 (four wins) — The torch passing from Bo Schembechler to Gary Moeller featured four straight victories over the Buckeyes, in a period of five consecutive Big Ten titles. Schembechler's final team took the Buckeyes down in Ann Arbor, 28-18, while Moeller's first Michigan team pulled off a victory in Columbus, 16- 13. • 1976-78 (three wins) — Quarterback Rick Leach led the Wolverines to three straight wins over the Buckeyes from 1976-78, helping Schembechler secure the upper hand in the Ten-Year War with Woody Hayes. The streak featured two victories at Ohio State, beginning with the resounding 22-0 shutout in '76. The Wolverines' defense did the hon- ors the following two seasons, in 14-6 and 14-3 wins. • 1945-48 (four wins) — The Wolverines took down the Buckeyes in four straight, highlighted by The Mad Magicians' 21-0 win in Ann Arbor in 1947. Michigan's streak fea- tured a pair of national championships, in '47 and '48. • 1938-40 (three wins) — The Tom Harmon era featured three straight wins over the Buckeyes, two of them in Columbus. The 1940 contest involved a 40-0 rout in which Harmon ran for 3 touchdowns, threw for 2 more scores, kicked 4 extra points, picked off 3 passes and averaged 50 yards per punt. He received a standing ovation from stunned Ohio State fans and went on to receive the Heisman Trophy two weeks later. — John Borton After five straight losses to his program's most bitter rival, head coach Jim Harbaugh has won two in a row against Ohio State by decisive 15- and 22-point margins, respectively. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN area, its alleged scouting of Michigan on behalf of Purdue notwithstanding. Jansen waves it off, succinctly. "Sounds like an excuse," he said. "Sounds like you're trying to make ex- cuses for your team, for your program, for your coach, just like your coach is trying to go out there and proclaim they're tough. Hey, line up the last Sat- urday in November, and let's figure this out." The former Wolverine captain knows this as well. Heading into this high- stakes poker game, he will go with Michigan's chips over Ohio State's. "I would much rather be Michigan's team than Ohio State's team," Jansen assured. "I think Michigan's offen- sive line is much more athletic, much more physical. I will use the toughness word about both the offensive and de- fensive line. The defensive front seven for Michigan has the ability to rotate two groups in and out, throughout the course of the game, and there's little to no drop-off. You're going to be fresh through four quarters. You're going to be healthy at the end of the season. "Then in the secondary, because of the injuries at the beginning of the year, now all of a sudden you've developed depth, you've developed experience. When guys get on the field, it's not their first time." He then offered up a bold statement. "This Michigan defense, in the next four weeks, is really going to make a statement," Jansen said. "They're going to be the defense we're talking about — a dominant unit. "People always compare defenses to the '97 team, and how dominant that defense was. This defense has a chance to be better. They've got more depth. "This Michigan football team, on both sides of the ball, is very well-bal- anced. They can run, they can pass, they can defend the run, they can get after the quarterback and they can defend the pass. I think Michigan is the most complete team in the country. "I would much rather be Michigan than Ohio State." ❑