In case you've ever wondered how Ohio State has fared historically against the rest of the Big 10, but were too lazy to look it up for yourself (just kidding), I went ahead and did all the work for you.
Originally, I was curious as to what the all-time series head-to-head W/L record was between Ohio State and Iowa heading into last season's meeting, and the idea for this article was born.
Up to and including the 2009 season and results, Ohio State's overall record vs. current and former Big 10 member schools is an impressive 457-190-28.
Here is how the Buckeye's overall conference W/L record breaks down team-by-team.
10 wins, 2 losses, and 2 ties vs. the Chicago Maroons (no longer in DI/B10)
61 wins, 30 losses, and 4 ties vs. the Illinois Fighting Illini (includes 2009 win)
66 wins, 12 losses, and 5 ties vs. the Indiana Hoosiers (includes 2009 win)
45 wins, 14 losses, and 3 ties vs. the Iowa Hawkeyes (includes 2009 win)
43 wins, 57 losses, and 6 ties vs. the Michigan Wolverines (includes 2009 win)
27 wins, 12 losses, and 0 ties vs. the Michigan State Spartans (DNP in 2009)
42 wins, 7 losses, and 0 ties vs. the Minnesota Golden Gophers (includes 2009 win)
59 wins, 14 losses, and 1 tie vs. the Northwestern Wildcats (DNP in 2009)
13 wins, 12 losses, and 0 ties vs. the Penn State Nittany Lions (includes 2009 win)
37 wins, 13 losses, and 2 ties vs. the Purdue Boilermakers (includes 2009 loss)
53 wins, 17 losses, and 5 ties vs. the Wisconsin Badgers (includes 2009 win)
As you can see above, the only team in the conference to have an advantage over the Buckeyes is Michigan, but since 1919, the series is even at 43-43-5.
The Michigan lead in the series was "padded" in the first 15 meetings between 1897 and 1919.
The Wolverines dominated a very young Ohio State program, with Michigan winning 14 of those 15 games—the only caveat for OSU coming in 1910 when the teams battled to a 3-3 tie in Columbus.
Even with the very lean John Cooper years (2-10-1 vs. UM), Ohio State still leads the head-to-head series 31-28-2 from 1950-2009, a span widely considered as the modern era of college football.
Michigan is the all-time wins leader in college football with 877, so to be trailing only them in Big Ten history is nothing to be ashamed of.
The Buckeyes are currently on a six-game winning streak against their hated-rival to the North, and Coach Jim Tressel has an 8-1 record since taking over in 2001.
I believe Ohio State has a chance to close the series gap significantly over the next 20 to 30 years and maybe even overtake Michigan during my lifetime (I'm 36 now so it could happen).
We all should cherish our teams history, but it gets old every time I have to listen to a UM fan, living solely in the past, throwing out the worn-out "57-43-6" comeback to my arguments about how the series is a dead-heat since 1919.
It sure would feel amazing to see the Buckeyes take the lead in the overall series vs. Michigan, so I really hope it happens before I check out. I'll add it to my Bucket List.
It may not happen, but it's not impossible either, especially as long as Jim Tressel is in charge in Columbus.
Just eight years ago, 57-43-6 was 56-35-6, and even though it is a rivalry game, talent-wise, I just can't see the Buckeyes losing to Michigan anytime before games in Ann Arbor in 2013 or 2015 at the earliest.
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