Thanksgiving weekend is all about food, family and football. For many families, college football is an essential part of the weekend because of the Michigan vs. Ohio State rivalry game that takes place each year.
“The Game,” as it is often referred to, holds significant national interest and has been played for over a century, as the schools are the two most winning programs in history. This year’s game was not without drama. Michigan was looking to win for the third year in a row after losing the eight previous years in a row versus Ohio State. An important added element was where each school stood in the College Football Playoff rankings. Coming into the game, Ohio State was ranked 2nd and Michigan was ranked 3rd. Understanding that the top 4 teams in the country go to the playoffs with a chance to win the national championship added to the tension. Losing this game likely meant the school would fall out of the playoffs. On top of all that, Michigan’s coach, Jim Harbaugh, was serving the last game of a three-game suspension for a sign-stealing scandal.
The anticipation for this game was so high, I needed to scout out the scene myself. Knowing that being away on Thanksgiving wasn’t an option, I went with my family and friends to the Big House for Michigan’s previous Big Ten game against Purdue. They won that game, setting themselves up to be undefeated heading into the game against Ohio State.
The Game turned out to be a thriller. Michigan was winning 10-7 at halftime. Every time Michigan tried to seal the game, Ohio State had an answer and kept it close. Michigan was finally able to put the game away with a 4th quarter interception, holding on to win 30-24.
The Fieldston community is split down the middle when it comes to supporting Michigan or Ohio State. Form V student Lily Saal said, “I love Michigan because I went to a game last year and I tailgated for over five hours in the freezing cold and it was an unforgettable experience. Michigan is a great and resilient team and I look forward to seeing them win the national championship.” On the other hand, Form IV student, Shane Mittman, an Ohio State fan, said, “Personally, I was very disappointed with the outcome of the game, but it was one of the most hyped-up games of our lifetime and it lived up to it.”
