On November 18, 2006, Michigan and Ohio State squared off in Columbus, both undefeated. Two titans with an unrivaled history found themselves in what was dubbed by the national media “The Game of the Century.” The Big Ten title and a spot in the BCS National Championship game were at stake. The game went back and forth like a heavyweight fight, but in the end, the scoresheet went in Ohio State’s favor.

The day before, the great patriarch of Michigan football, Bo Schembechler, had passed away, and along with him metaphorically went the program. Michigan went to Pasadena on New Years Day and got thumped by USC.

Bo's passing shook the rivalry and the Michigan program

Bo’s understudy, Lloyd Carr, decided to stick around for one more year. After all, he had a senior, fourth-year starting quarterback and running back, the eventual first overall NFL Draft pick at left guard, and a talented receiving corps. Who could blame him for giving it one last go-around? But a shocking loss to Appalachian State started the season, followed by a humiliating drubbing by Oregon and the Michigan program that had spent most of the previous season looking unbeatable had now lost four straight. The program that had seemed unshakeable for over 40 years was now suddenly lost without its figurehead.

The Wolverines rebounded with eight straight wins before dropping the final two to Wisconsin and Ohio State. In Carr’s swan song, Michigan faced a heavily favored Florida squad coached by Urban Meyer who relied heavily on his star quarterback. Carr pulled out all the tricks in the bag, using an offense almost foreign to the Michigan faithful and beat Meyer’s Gators.

Carr’s retirement a year after Bo’s passing signaled the end of Michigan football as we knew it and college football’s greatest rivalry suffered along with it. Ohio State beat Michigan by a combined score of 100-24 over the three years that followed while Michigan was guided by an outsider who many felt never truly understood the importance of the rivalry.

And so it was only fitting that it would take a Bo disciple to right the ship. Brady Hoke immediately returned the program to what it was like under Bo and followed in Bo’s footsteps by beating Ohio State in his first season. It ended Ohio State’s seven game winning streak over Michigan, but the Buckeyes were going through some troubles of their own. The great tattoo scandal sent Jim Tressel packing and left the Bucks headless last season, but led the man who was on the losing end of the final game of the old Michigan era to become the new head man in Columbus.

All he has done in his rookie season is not lose a game. Despite being ineligible for the postseason, OSU is ranked fourth in the AP poll and could conceivably be crowned national champions by the writers upon season’s end. Michigan faced a much tougher non-conference schedule which eliminated any national title hopes, but still holds hopes of a Big Ten title. And that’s just the way it should be: title hopes on the line, dreams either made or dashed.

Tim Biakabutuka's record performance ruined OSU's perfect season in 1995 (Larry E. Wright)

It’s the way it was so often throughout the past few decades. Something was always on the line, and more often than not, it was that way for both teams. The season-ending battle truly was the one game season.

Six times in the past 19 matchups, at least one of the two has entered The Game undefeated. Saturday marks the seventh and Michigan will be looking to do what it has done three times since 1993: hand the Buckeyes their first loss.

In 1993, OSU entered with a 9-0-1 record, it’s only non-win a 14-14 tie at Wisconsin. Michigan was just 6-4 with losses to Notre Dame, Michigan State, Illinois, and Wisconsin. The Wolverines played spoiler with a resounding 28-0 win in what Ohio State head coach John Cooper called “by far the most embarrassing game I’ve been associated with in college football.” Tyrone Wheatley gashed the Buckeyes for 105 yards and Todd Collins played an efficient game. The defense picked off the Buckeyes four times and Michigan ended Ohio State’s 16-game unbeaten streak and hopes of an outright Big Ten title and handed the Bucks their first shutout since 1982.

Two years later, in 1995, Ohio State visited Ann Arbor with a 11-0 record and a No. 2 national ranking. Michigan was just 8-3. A Buckeye win would give them the Big Ten title and likely a national championship pending the Rose Bowl result. But yet again, Michigan played spoiler. Prior to the game, Ohio State receiver Terry Glenn mouthed off to the media that Michigan was nobody. But when the teams took to the field, Tshimanga Biakabutuka rushed for 313 yards, the most an Ohio State defense had ever given up to a single back as Michigan soared to a 31-23 victory. Once again, Cooper issued a strong statement, saying, “I don’t know if I’ve ever been as disappointed in my life as I am right now.”

Charles Woodson helped keep Michigan's perfect season intact against OSU in 1997

The following season, Michigan traveled to Columbus to face yet another unbeaten and second-ranked Ohio State squad. Michigan was 17-point underdogs and this time, Cooper kept his players from speaking to the media in order to prevent any bulletin board material. But Michigan didn’t need it. Ohio State jumped out to a 9-0 halftime lead, but wouldn’t score again. Michigan had to turn to Brian Griese due to an injury to starter Scott Dreisbach and he threw a 68-yard touchdown to Tai Streets. Kicker Remy Hamilton added a pair of field goals to give Michigan the 13-9 win. Following the game, it was Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson who did the talking, saying, “It was a great victory, to be able to look those people in the eye and say, ‘this is why I didn’t go to Ohio State’. I wanted to win at Michigan.”

In 1997, it was Michigan that carried the undefeated season into The Game. At 10-0 and ranked first in the nation, Michigan hosted the 9-1, fourth-ranked Buckeyes. The Big Ten title was on the line – either Michigan won it outright or the two shared it – and for Michigan, the national title was at stake. Michigan prevailed 20-14 on the heels of a great all-around performance by Woodson and advanced to the Rose Bowl where the Wolverines beat Washington State and captured the national title.

In 2002, Ohio State once again brought an unblemished record into the matchup. At 12-0, and ranked second, Ohio State needed a win to capture the Big Ten and advance to the BCS National Championship game. Michigan was 9-2 with losses to Notre Dame and Iowa. The Buckeyes held on, intercepting a John Navarre pass near the end zone to win 14-9 and eventually won the national title.

This Saturday, the rivalry has the ferver it did back then. Michigan needs a win and a Nebraska loss to advance to the Big Ten championship game. Ohio State needs a win to complete an undefeated season. The only thing holding the game back from receiving all of the national spotlight is the sanctions Ohio State is currently facing, keeping the Buckeyes from being able to win the Big Ten and play for the national title. But on the field, the two teams will battle it out just like the good old days and Michigan will hope to ruin Ohio State’s dream season for the fourth time in the last 20 years.

The man who has resurrected Michigan’s program with the Bo-like approach now faces off with the man who has transformed the Buckeye program. It has all the makings of a new “ten-year war” like the one Bo and Woody Hayes once fought with both programs at the top of their games. Most importantly, the game matters again. It’s back to the way it was.

Last night’s commitment of St. Clairsville, Ohio linebacker Michael Ferns continued Brady Hoke’s recruiting onslaught of the state down south. Today, we take a look at his home state team, the team we feel will be the second toughest opponent on the schedule this season, the Ohio State Buckeyes. For previous opponent previews, see UMass, Minnesota, Illinois, Northwestern, Iowa, Purdue, Air Force, Notre Dame, Nebraska, and Michigan State.

Overview

Despite being ineligible for post-season, Urban Meyer's squad figures to be one of the Big Ten's top teams

Despite being in a state of flux entering the 2012 season, a lot of excitement surrounds the Buckeyes. After a disappointing 6-7 record, and following the NCAA sanctions that led to Jim Tressel’s resignation, Ohio State went out and got the best coach available, Urban Meyer.

The former Ohio State assistant (he coached tight ends and receivers in 1986-’87) is best known for winning a pair of national championships at Florida in 2006 and 2008 before retiring in ’09. The lure of the job in Columbus was too good to pass up and now he’s intent on guiding the Buckeyes right back to the top of the Big Ten. He’s installing an up-temp offensive style that has never been seen in Columbus and that’s where much of the excitement stems among a fan base used to the old “Tressel-ball” offense.

Offense

The good news for Meyer is that he inherits 19 returning starters, the most prominent being sophomore quarterback Braxton Miller. Miller earned the starting nod four games into his freshman year last season and seemed to improve every game. He finished the season with a 54.1 completion percentage, 1,159 yards, and 13 touchdowns, but he was asked to throw just 14 times a game. What’s encouraging was that he threw just four interceptions. But it was his leg that did the most damage as Miller rushed 159 times for 715 yards. He had three 100-yard games, including one against Michigan.

He has drawn comparisons to former Buckeye Troy Smith and if he can refine his passing, he’ll be a dangerous quarterback for years to come. Miller will benefit the most from Meyer’s offense, which thrived with Tim Tebow at the helm at Florida. It will utilize his ability to run and limit the need for a downfield passing game.

If Braxton Miller improves his accuracy, he'll be one of the conference's most dangerous QBs

While Miller was the team’s leading rusher a year ago, the leading running back, Dan Herron, is gone. However, the next two do return. Jordan Hall and Carlos Hyde combined for 205 rushes for 971 yards and eight touchdowns, though neither had a 100-yard game. Hall seems best suited for Meyer’s spread, which gets the ball to playmakers in space, allowing them to beat defenders one-on-one. Hyde is more of a power back, something Meyer never really had at Florida, so his role in the offense will be one to keep an eye on.

The offensive line has to replace three starters, but if there is a silver lining to the suspension of left tackle Mike Adams for several games last season, it’s that some of the backups got starting experience that will pay off this season. Moving over to left tackle will be Jack Mewhort who started at right guard last season. Reid Fragel has locked down the other tackle spot, moving over from tight end. Meyer likes the mobility that Fragel provides. On the interior, Andrew Norwell and Marcus Hall both return, while Corey Linsley looks to be the top contender to replace Mike Brewster at center. The concern on the line is depth, which Meyer will be looking to build throughout fall camp.

The biggest area of concern for the OSU offense is receiver. DeVier Posey is gone, though he missed most of the season last year due to suspension. Last year’s leading receiver, sophomore Devin Smith, is back, but “leading receiver” should be taken lightly in this case. He’s a burner, but caught just 14 passes for 294 yards and four touchdowns. Corey Brown, Verlon Reed, and Chris Fields also return. Brown is likely to be the No. 1 wideout this fall after a standout spring. Reed had a strong freshman campaign in 2010, but missed most of last season with a torn ACL. Tight end Jake Stoneburner is a solid receiving threat who played some slot receiver throughout the spring.

Defense

On defense, Ohio State will be traditionally strong, returning nearly everybody. The star of the defense is end John Simon, an All-Big Ten first-teamer last season. Joining him on the line are tackles Jonathan Hankins and Garrett Goebel, and end Adam Bellamy. All three have starting experience and will give Ohio State one of the best defensive lines in the Big Ten.

The linebackers will also be a solid group. The two outside spots are set with Etienne Sabino and Ryan Shazier. Sabino had a solid year last season with 62 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, while Shazier was the surprise of the year for the Buckeyes with 57 tackles, five for loss, and three sacks as a true freshman. He brings great athleticism to the spot and will be looked upon to break out this season. The biggest position battle is middle linebacker where Storm Klein and Curtis Grant are battling it out. Klein was the starter last season but missed some time in the spring with a knee injury, opening the door for Grant to surpass him on the depth chart.

Senior John Simon is the leader of the Buckeye defense

The secondary is extremely talented, but paper thin heading into the fall, at least at the cornerback spot. Bradley Roby has locked down one corner position after a breakout redshirt freshman season. The other spot is a battle between Travis Howard and Doran Grant. Howard was last year’s starter, but a bit of a letdown. Due to the dismissal of Dominic Clark, Meyer will have to rely on youth for depth at corner behind Roby, Howard, and Grant.

The leader of the secondary is safety C.J. Barnett who led the team with 75 tackles last season. He’s one of several returning safeties with experience. Christian Bryant will likely hold down the other safety spot, while Orhian Johnson, last year’s starter, is fighting for time. Bryant was the team’s third leading tackler with 68. Corey Brown is a former five-star recruit to provide depth as well.

Special Teams

On special teams, both kicker Drew Basil and punter Ben Buchanan return. Basil made 16 of 19 field goal attempts last season with a long of 47, while Buchanan averaged 41.3 yards per punt, which ranked fifth in the Big Ten. In the return game, Hall was effective last season, ranking sixth in the conference in punt returns and fifth in kick returns, so he’ll surely improve on that this season.

Outlook

Overall, the Buckeyes have the talent to be vastly improved. The main question is how quickly they will grasp Meyer’s new system. Last season was essentially a wash with no real offensive system, several key players missing significant time due to suspension, and an interim head coach. It’s safe to say there will be significant improvement in 2012.

If the offense can simply improve to average, it could be the difference between two or three wins. Last year’s total offense ranked 107^th nationally with 318 yards per game, and scoring offense ranked 81^st, averaging 24 points per game. Just improving into the top 50 in scoring offense would have given the Bucks five more points per game and could have swung a couple of losses into wins. That’s a realistic expectation, especially with what should be an improved defense.

The schedule also lends itself to an improved record with four weak out-of-conference games against Miami (Ohio), UCF, California, and UAB. The Buckeyes open the Big Ten schedule at Michigan State and also have to visit Wisconsin the week before hosting Michigan, but the other two road trips are at Indiana and Penn State, both of which should be wins.

Given the favorable schedule, the experience returning on an already stellar defense, and the improvement of the offense in Meyer’s spread system, the Buckeyes should win eight or nine games this fall and challenge for the Big Ten Leaders Division title. Leaders Division foes should take advantage of their opportunity this season since Ohio State is ineligible to compete in the Big Ten Championship game due to sanctions, because the Bucks are a year or two away from returning to their usual perch atop conference.

What it means for Michigan

If the Buckeyes weren’t banned from the postseason, they would likely be the favorites to represent the Leaders Division in the Big Ten Championship game. But with nothing to look forward to after Thanksgiving, Nov. 24 will be their bowl game. In fact, every intangible surrounding the matchup tilts to OSU’s favor. The game is in Columbus where Michigan hasn’t won since 2000, and although Michigan won last season, it means the Bucks are out for revenge. A new coach running an offensive system that will seem like crack to Buckeye fans used to watching paint dry already has expectations soaring.

Michigan may very well enter the game controlling its own destiny in the Big Ten title race, needing a win to capture the Legends Division and Ohio State will relish the opportunity to play spoiler. That’s why no conference game will be tougher for the Wolverines.