Michigan-Ohio State, diminished? No, college football’s No. 1 rivalry is as bitter as ever

Editor’snote:Allweek,TheAthleticiswritingaboutcollegefootballrivalriesatamomentofchangeinthesport.Readourrankingofthetop100rivalrieshereandalsovoteforyourfavorites. In1835,armedmilitiasgatheredforatensestandoffalongacontestedpieceoflandknownastheToledoStrip.AtstakewasthecityofToledoandastretchoftheMaumeeRiver,acrucialshippingchannelclaimedbyOhioandthesoon-to-bestateofMichigan. Thebuildupwasworsethanthewar,whichwasresolvedafterafewgunshotsandnofatalities.OhiogottheToledoStrip,andthenewstateofMichigangotlandintheUpperPeninsula.Theydidnotlivehappilyeverafter. Almost200yearslater,theMichigan-OhioWarisstillanaptoriginstoryforthecollegefootballrivalryitinspired.TheMichigan-OhioStaterivalryinvolveslotsofshouting,shovingandposturingbutlittleactualviolence—exceptonthefootballfield,whereitremainsthemostintense60minutesoftheregularseason.Thevictorsgloat,thelosersseetheandneithersidegivesaninch. “It’salmo