If you believe that Michigan will never enjoy relative dominance over OSU again you need to understand the historical ebb and flow of college football's great programs. There is no better example of this than the rivalry between two very proud programs, Alabama and Tennessee, in the game known as "The Third Saturday in October".
The matchup has been series of streaks, with both teams enjoying both ecstasy and misery against their border-state enemy. Going back to 1948:
Tennessee 9-1-3
The Vols went on a streak of nine wins, one loss and three ties. General Robert Neyland was AD and Johnny Majors finished second in Heisman voting.
Alabama 5-0-1
Bear Bryant teams win two national championships.
Tennessee 4-0
The last years under Doug Dickey with a streak against The Bear.
Alabama 11-0
Three more nattys under Bryant.
Tennessee 4-0
Bryant was a tough act to follow for Ray Perkins and others.
Alabama 7-0
Culminating in Gene Stallings natty.
Tennessee 11-2
Phil Fulmer arrives. A natty ensues with not Peyton Manning, but Tee Martin.
Alabama 14-0
In 14 years, Nick Saban has won every meeting with Tennessee.
Look at the way each program was able to bounce back from a long losing streak with a winning streak of their own!
Michigan is suffering an eight-game losing streak after dropping six straight leading up to the lone recent win in 2011. That's 15 seasons, long enough that perceptions of reality can be affected. Long enough for some fans to moan "we'll never beat OSU again ever".
But imagine if Michigan is able to pull off an OSU win on the way to a playoff appearance. Sure, given how awful 2020 has been so far for Michigan, that keystone win seems distant. But we're talking about college football, where anything can happen, including Michigan upsetting OSU.
Michigan recruits very well today, but the momentum of a playoff run could very easily lead to parity in the recruiting wars. That would be a key to help position Michigan for consistent success against our chief rivals on the fourth Saturday in November.
The matchup has been series of streaks, with both teams enjoying both ecstasy and misery against their border-state enemy. Going back to 1948:
Tennessee 9-1-3
The Vols went on a streak of nine wins, one loss and three ties. General Robert Neyland was AD and Johnny Majors finished second in Heisman voting.
Alabama 5-0-1
Bear Bryant teams win two national championships.
Tennessee 4-0
The last years under Doug Dickey with a streak against The Bear.
Alabama 11-0
Three more nattys under Bryant.
Tennessee 4-0
Bryant was a tough act to follow for Ray Perkins and others.
Alabama 7-0
Culminating in Gene Stallings natty.
Tennessee 11-2
Phil Fulmer arrives. A natty ensues with not Peyton Manning, but Tee Martin.
Alabama 14-0
In 14 years, Nick Saban has won every meeting with Tennessee.
Look at the way each program was able to bounce back from a long losing streak with a winning streak of their own!
Michigan is suffering an eight-game losing streak after dropping six straight leading up to the lone recent win in 2011. That's 15 seasons, long enough that perceptions of reality can be affected. Long enough for some fans to moan "we'll never beat OSU again ever".
But imagine if Michigan is able to pull off an OSU win on the way to a playoff appearance. Sure, given how awful 2020 has been so far for Michigan, that keystone win seems distant. But we're talking about college football, where anything can happen, including Michigan upsetting OSU.
Michigan recruits very well today, but the momentum of a playoff run could very easily lead to parity in the recruiting wars. That would be a key to help position Michigan for consistent success against our chief rivals on the fourth Saturday in November.
