The 1973 Ohio State-Michigan Game Remains College Football’s Most Heated and Controversial Battle With Pasadena Dreams at Stake

The 1973 Ohio State vs. Michigan football game is etched in history as one of the most controversial and hotly debated contests the sport has ever seen. What was expected to be a classic battle between two college football powerhouses vying for a trip to the Rose Bowl instead ended in chaos, controversy, and lingering bitterness that still sparks debate among fans and historians more than five decades later.

By the time Ohio State and Michigan met on November 24, 1973, their fierce rivalry, dubbed “The Ten Year War” between legendary coaches Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler, was already regarded as the pinnacle of college football intensity. Both programs were undefeated at 10-0, with the Big Ten championship, national title implications, and a trip to the Rose Bowl hanging in the balance.

The stakes could not have been higher. In those days, the Big Ten Conference allowed only one team to advance to the Rose Bowl, regardless of the quality or record of other programs. There were no playoffs, and the postseason structure was rigid. Thus, the annual Ohio State-Michigan showdown effectively served as a winner-takes-all contest, with the loser staying home despite their success.

Michigan entered the game ranked No. 4 in the nation, with a powerful defense and a balanced offense led by quarterback Dennis Franklin. Ohio State, ranked No. 1, boasted a fierce rushing attack featuring bruising fullback Pete Johnson and elusive running back Archie Griffin, a sophomore who would later win two Heisman Trophies. Woody Hayes, the fiery Buckeyes coach known for his authoritarian style and deep disdain for Michigan, faced off against his former assistant Bo Schembechler, who had quickly restored the Wolverines to national prominence.

Played at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor before more than 105,000 fans, the contest lived up to its billing. It was a physical, punishing defensive battle defined by hard hits, missed opportunities, and momentum swings. Both teams traded blows, with neither able to establish clear dominance. Michigan struck first with a field goal in the second quarter, but Ohio State responded with a touchdown run by Griffin, taking a 7-3 lead into halftime.

The second half continued the grueling defensive war, with Michigan managing to score a touchdown in the third quarter to reclaim the lead at 10-7. However, Ohio State responded with a field goal in the fourth quarter, tying the game at 10-10. The tension in the stadium was palpable as both teams fought for the decisive score, but the defenses held firm.

Late in the fourth quarter, Michigan suffered a critical blow when quarterback Dennis Franklin broke his collarbone. His injury would later prove to be a significant factor in what became one of the most controversial decisions in college football history.

With neither team able to break the deadlock, the game ended in a 10-10 tie. For the second consecutive year, the bitter rivals had finished their matchup without a winner, leaving the Big Ten championship and the coveted Rose Bowl berth to be decided not on the field, but by a vote of Big Ten athletic directors.

The conference’s rules dictated that only one team could represent the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl, and with both Ohio State and Michigan undefeated at 10-0-1, the decision was left to the athletic directors of the conference’s other schools. It was a system ripe for controversy, and controversy is exactly what followed.

In the days leading up to the vote, speculation ran rampant. Ohio State’s dominant performance in their non-conference schedule and their No. 1 national ranking were factors in their favor. On the other hand, Michigan’s strong defensive showing and impressive overall play had many believing they deserved the trip to Pasadena. Yet, Franklin’s injury cast a shadow over Michigan’s chances. Questions arose as to whether the Wolverines would be at full strength for the Rose Bowl, which ultimately influenced the decision-making process.

When the votes were tallied, the result sent shockwaves through the college football world: Ohio State was chosen to represent the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl.

The decision ignited outrage in Ann Arbor and across the state of Michigan. Bo Schembechler was furious, publicly criticizing the process and accusing the athletic directors of playing politics. Michigan players, many of whom believed they had done enough to earn the trip to Pasadena, were devastated. The wounds from that decision cut deep, fueling the already white-hot rivalry between the two programs.

The controversy did not end there. Ohio State went on to face USC in the Rose Bowl, where they dominated the Trojans 42-21, validating the athletic directors’ decision in the eyes of some. But for many in Michigan, the sense of injustice lingered, and the rivalry only intensified in the years that followed.

Beyond the immediate aftermath, the 1973 Ohio State-Michigan game left a lasting legacy on college football as a whole. The controversy exposed flaws in the Big Ten’s postseason selection system and sparked debates about fairness, objectivity, and the need for clearer tiebreaker rules. It highlighted the limitations of a system that relied on human judgment rather than on-field results to determine championship fates.

The game also underscored the brutal intensity and national significance of the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry. Known as “The Game,” this annual clash had always been fierce, but the events of 1973 elevated it to an even higher level of drama and consequence. The bitterness stemming from that year fueled both programs’ desire to dominate the other, setting the stage for future epic battles.

In the years since, many fans, analysts, and historians have reflected on the 1973 contest as a defining moment not only in the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry but also in the broader evolution of college football. It exposed the need for reform, which eventually contributed to changes in conference rules, postseason formats, and tiebreaking procedures across the sport.

Today, college football is shaped by playoff systems, expanded bowl access, and more transparent selection processes designed to avoid the kind of controversy that marred the 1973 season. Yet, the memory of that fateful game remains vivid, particularly for Ohio State and Michigan supporters who understand the weight of what was lost — and gained — that year.

For Ohio State fans, the 1973 tie represented validation, perseverance, and the reward of competing on the sport’s biggest stage. For Michigan supporters, it remains a painful reminder of what they believe was an opportunity unjustly taken from them. The differing perspectives only add to the mystique and complexity of the rivalry.

More than 50 years later, the 1973 Ohio State-Michigan game continues to serve as a symbol of both the beauty and flaws inherent in college football’s rich, passionate, and sometimes controversial traditions. It is a reminder that in this sport, the results are not always determined solely by the action on the field, but sometimes by the politics, perceptions, and imperfect systems that govern it.

Few games in the history of the sport have sparked as much debate, anger, and reflection as that fateful November day in Ann Arbor. The fallout forever changed the course of the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry and left a mark on the sport that endures to this day.