Was last year’s Michigan-OSU game a ‘Game of the Century?’

It’s hard to define a “Game of the Century” but would last season’s win by Michigan football over Ohio State qualify?

As a society, we tend to overuse terms a lot, especially when it comes to sports. Sports tend to have their own little overused words of wisdom and clichés, and the term “Game of the Century” is definitely one of them.

If you just search “Game of the Century college football” online, thousands of results instantly pop up on your Google search engine.

There are different results that come up, but the one thing that is constant is that there were many, many games throughout college football’s history that were called “Game of the Century.”

Most of these games were for a national championship, yes, but there were some that had high enough stakes where the game could be considered a “Game of the Century” without having national championship stakes.

The last Michigan football game to be referred to as a “Game of the Century” was Michigan’s rivalry game against Ohio State in 2006 at the Horseshoe.

It had all the makings of a national championship game, just without the stakes. We all know the end result of that game, a disappointing 42-39 loss.

It had been all Ohio State since that game in 2006, with Michigan football’s lone win coming in 2011, prior to 2021 of course.

There were a couple of close losses to Ohio State in the leadup to Michigan’s decade drought from 2012-2021, with close defeats in 2012, 2013, and 2016, but the stakes weren’t particularly high in any of those games except for the 2016 game, which could probably be considered a “Game of the Century” if we’re being honest.

Was the 2021 iteration of the Michigan-OSU rivalry a ‘Game of the Century?’

Just looking purely from a numbers standpoint, in the number of views and the ratings, “The Game” averaged an 8.1 rating and 15.89 million viewers on FOX, marking the highest-rated and most-watched regular season college football game since a #1 vs. #2 LSU-Alabama game on CBS two years ago (9.7, 16.64M).

The Wolverines win ranks as the highest-rated and most-watched game in the Ohio State-Michigan series since 2016 (9.4, 16.84M), and trails only that game as their top matchup since a #1 vs. #2 meeting in 2006 (13.0, 21.0M). Ratings increased 15% and viewership 28% from the previous meeting two years ago (7.1, 12.42M).

So, if we look at it from purely a numbers standpoint, there is an argument to be made that last year’s rivalry game was a “Game of the Century.”

Now, looking at it from a competitive standpoint, the game had all the makings of a top game. Obviously, excluding national championship stakes, this was a matchup between two top-5 programs for a national berth in the Big Ten championship, and then a likely berth in the college football playoff.

I do think though that this game was somewhat diminished by each program having a loss prior to the game. Ohio State had lost earlier in the season to Oregon and Michigan football had lost earlier in the season to Sparty.

Also, although Ohio State had a dangerous passing attack, everybody knew that their defense was uncharacteristically bad last year, especially against the run, which Michigan fans and OSU fans can admit. That also diminished this game. There were no first-round draft picks for OSU on defense last year.

In years past, OSU and Michigan football had high draft picks up and down the roster, on offense and defense. Last year, Michigan had this for defense, but not for offense, and it was the opposite for Ohio State.

Lastly, the way the rankings are now with CFP rankings and the BCS, it was so different back then and now, it’s hard to really compare those two eras. The ranking systems were totally different.

Based on this video, this is what makes a “Game of the Century.”

Overall, I’d say the 2016 game was closer to a “Game of the Century” than this 2021 version. I’m sure most Michigan and OSU fans would agree.

Last year’s game wasn’t even close to be considered on that level. That’s another key factor. The game has to be a nail-biter. Last year’s game wasn’t.

The numbers, stats, and views all back up a possible “Game of the Century” but the stakes, high-level talent, dominance, and on-field product didn’t.

I don’t even know what makes a “Game of the Century” in modern times, to be honest. I’m genuinely curious. If you can explain it to me, I’m all ears.

Here are some other links that attempt to identify all of the games of the century throughout history. Here and here. You might have your own opinion though.

Some people will probably laugh at this, and that’s okay too. Ohio State has definitely played in more “Game of the Century” type of games over the last 10-15 years than Michigan has (because they’ve been better obviously) but what’s the criteria for defining that type of game?

Michigan fans (and OSU fans), putting the actual rivalry banter aside for one minute, what makes a “Game of the Century?” Have we seen any other “Games of the Century” in the 2010s and/or 2020s?

Sound off in the comments below!