COLUMBUS — The first Ten-Year War between Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler defined the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry.
The second Ten-Year War, which ended on Wednesday, redefined it.
Whether we knew it in the moment or not, now that the firing of Michigan coach Sherrone Moore has ended an era of the rivalry, we can look back on the last 10 versions of The Game (played between 2015 and 2025, with the 2020 game canceled by COVID) and compare the stakes, personalities, intensity and historical impact favorably with the era between 1969 and 1978 when Woody and Bo faced off 10 times.
Ohio State and Michigan first played in 1897. The game was moved to the regular season finale in 1935. The first college football polls arrived in 1936.
For the first 33 years of those polls, through 1968, Ohio State vs. Michigan was a matchup of two Top 10 teams seven times.
Between 1969, when Schembechler was hired at Michigan, and 1978, when Hayes was fired at Ohio State, it was a Top 10 game seven times.
Over the next 36 years, it was a Top 10 matchup six times.
Between 2015, when Jim Harbaugh was hired at Michigan, and 2025, when Sherrone Moore was fired at Michigan, it was a Top 10 game six times.
To recap, Top 10 matchups in the Game:
1936-1968: 7 in 33 years
1969-1978: 7 in 10 years (First 10-Year War)
1979-2014: 6 in 36 years
2015-2025: 6 in 11 years, but only 10 games (Second 10-Year War)
Yeah, this was another War.