Ohio State v Michigan 1974: Nothin' Better

I stumbled onto this ESPN Classic game while flipping channels and figured I would give a quick synopsis of this unbelievable matchup. Make note of who the announcers are.

Scene: Columbus, Ohio

Date: November 23, 1974

Matchup: #3 10-0 Michigan v #4 9-1 Ohio State

Announcers: Keith Jackson and Joe Paterno (A solid pairing: Paterno's sentimentalism and knowledge of strategy went perfectly with Jackson's iconic voice. Plus, they are solid 10's on the "Legend Scale," so the pairing is even better in 2008.

Introductions: The best part of this game was the intro's. One by one, the players walk in front of the camera and are announced - Archie Griffin, Dick Mack, Gordon Bell. The haircuts are legendary and the players were obviously hyped up (one guy is pounding on his chest and scowling like Lattimore from "The Program")...

Game Notes: The heralded Michigan defense had led the Wolverines to an undefeated season so far and the only bump in Coach Schembechler's road to the Rose Bowl was hated Ohio State. The atmosphere was especially intense in Columbus because of the 1973 Rose Bowl controversy, when OSU was picked to represent the Big 10 through a secret ballot process, leaving the whole state of Michigan fuming.

The Buckeye defenders played their hearts out, forcing incompletions and hitting UM quarterback Dennis Franklin all day. Eventual Heisman winner Archie Griffin helped the Bucks control the game and the clock, but Michigan would not go away. Down 12-10 and down to its last timeout, Franklin completed a 20 yard pass to put the Wolverines in field goal range with 16 seconds left. Out game Mike Lantry, a straight on kicker who had missed two potential game winning field goals against OSU in 1973. Lantry lined up the 33 yarder and his kick started straight, but slowly drifted left. Jackson said it might be good, Paterno agreed, but the referee waived his arms violently, signaling "no good."

The crowd prematurely rushed the field and ripped the goal posts down. Woody Hayes grabbed the field microphone to ask the crowd to please leave the field, but it didn't matter now. The Bucks had pulled an upset over Schembechler and would be attending another Rose Bowl.