<P> Between 1951 and 1968 under Hayes, the Buckeyes won 12 of 18 contests, including a 1957 victory in Michigan Stadium, the first game in the series attended by over 100,000 fans . In 1958, Ohio State had a 20--14 lead towards the end of the game . On the final play, Michigan fullback Gene Sisinyak ran the ball from the one - yard line for what might have been a game - winning touchdown, but Ohio State defensive tackle Dick Schafrath hit Sisinyak, forcing a fumble . In the 1968 game, Ohio State won 50--14, outscoring its foe 29--0 in the second half and attempting an unsuccessful two - point conversion attempt on its final touchdown . In the post-game interview Hayes was asked why he went for two points with an already insurmountable 50--14 lead and he replied, "because I couldn't go for three". The victory gave top - ranked Ohio State the Big Ten title for the first time in seven years en route to an AP national championship . The Buckeyes had also narrowed the series margin to 37--24--4 . </P> <P> Wolverines coach Bump Elliott resigned after the 1968 loss and Michigan hired Miami (Ohio) head coach Bo Schembechler, who had previously been an assistant at Ohio State under Hayes, to revitalize its football program . On November 22, 1969, Hayes led his top - ranked Buckeyes into Michigan Stadium to face Schembechler's Wolverines in the first matchup between two coaches who would come to define the rivalry between the two programs . The Buckeyes brought a 22 - game winning streak into Ann Arbor, but behind an inspiring 60 - yard punt return by Barry Pierson that set up a Wolverine touchdown in the second quarter, and a defense that intercepted Ohio State six times (three by Pierson), the Wolverines won a defensive battle (both teams were scoreless in the second half) for a 24--12 upset . </P> <P> The contest was the first in the famous "Ten - Year War" between Hayes and Schembechler, which pitted some of OSU's and UM's strongest teams against one another . Four times between 1970 and 1975, Ohio State and Michigan were both ranked in the top five of the AP Poll before their matchup . The Wolverines entered every game during those years undefeated and won only once, a 10--7 victory in Ann Arbor on November 20, 1971 . The Michigan graduating class of 1975 shared or won the Big Ten championship every season, yet went to the Rose Bowl only once, in 1972 . They only lost or tied with Ohio State during the regular season in that period . </P> <P> In 1973, both teams entered undefeated, with the winner guaranteed a trip to the Rose Bowl . The rivals played to a 10--10 tie in Ann Arbor on November 24, and the athletic directors of the other Big Ten institutions were forced to vote on the Big Ten representative for the bowl game . In a secret ballot, Ohio State won the vote, to the outrage of Michigan athletic officials and fans . Schembechler argued that Michigan was robbed of its on - field achievements, and for months afterward, Ohio State newspapers were flooded with angry Wolverine letters and threats of lawsuits . </P>

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