It's been a decade of dominance over Michigan full of iconic plays. Here are the 10 best from 2010 to 2019.
Honorable Mention: Zach Boren Sacks Devin Gardner – 2012
It wasn't a game-breaking play like you'll see on the rest of this list, but Zach Boren's 2012 sack on Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner is one of the most iconic moments of the rivalry from the past decade and is probably most Buckeyes fans' strongest memory from the 2012 victory.
It might not rank in the top 10, but it's certainly worthy of an honorable mention.
10. Joey Bosa Picks off Wilton Speight – 2015
Ohio State gave Jim Harbaugh one hell of a welcome to the rivalry, blasting Michigan 42-13 in Jim Harbaugh's first rivalry game as the Wolverine's head coach.
Ezekiel Elliott was the player of the game, rushing for 214 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries, but his former roommate had the play of the game when Joey Bosa tipped Wilton Speight's pass in the air, intercepted it and ran it back 30 yards to the 10-yard line.
The lone regret is that he didn't score.
9. Here Comes the Boom – 2010
Ohio State had already buried Michigan when Daniel "Boom" Herron broke loose for the play of the game.
Herron took a Terrelle Pryor handoff at his own goal line, ran through one defender, and then was off to the races, running 98 yards downfield for a touchdown.
For a few seconds, it was the longest play from scrimmage in Ohio State football history until a late penalty flag was thrown on Dane Sanzenbacher for his downfield block, turning the 98-yard touchdown run into just a measly 89-yard rush.
It's still a touchdown in our hearts.
8. Braxton Miller Enters the Fun Zone – 2013
Braxton Miller had all kinds of fun against Michigan in his final rivalry game as Ohio State's quarterback, scoring five total touchdowns, including this 54-yard run where he breaks a Michigan safeties ankles without breaking stride and stiff-arms another into the end zone.
It doesn't quite make the cut for this list, but we're not just going to forget about that time he blocked a Michigan defender with a Michigan defender, either.
7. Justin Fields' Bounceback Dagger – 2019
Ohio State was rolling against Michigan once again in 2019, but the mood among the Buckeye faithful grew pretty grim when Justin Fields went to the sideline after suffering when looked like a serious knee injury late in the third quarter.
Thankfully, he wasn't sidelined for long. He returned to action later in the drive and made the play of the game on his very first snap back in by rolling out to buy time, setting his feet and delivering a perfect pass to Garrett Wilson in the back corner of the end zone for a 30-yard dagger touchdown.
6. Zeke Puts the Game on Ice – 2014
Michigan played Ohio State uncomfortably close during the Buckeyes' 2014 national championship season.
With starting quarterback J.T. Barrett out for the game (and the season) with an ankle injury, the Buckeyes found themselves facing a crucial 4th-and-1 while ahead just one score late in the fourth quarter.
Then, Ezekiel Elliott made a play.
Elliott got the one yard and then plenty more, taking a handoff 44 yards to the house to put the game on ice and send the Bucekyes to the Big Ten Championship game. You know the rest.
5. Dwayne Haskins Strikes – 2017
A knee injury to J.T. Barrett forced redshirt freshman Dwayne Haskins into his first meaningful action as Ohio State's quarterback in the biggest rivalry in all of sports.
Haskins rose to the ocassion.
On his first drive, back-to-back false starts forced Ohio State into a 3rd-and-13 situation down six points on the road late in the third quarter. Haskins responded by uncorking a bullet to Austin Mack, threading a pass right between two Michigan defenders for a first down to extend the drive that would lead to a touchdown.
Buckeye fans had that play on loop all offseason.
4. Malik Hooker's Pick Six – 2016
Ohio State's offense could not get anything going against one of the nation's top defenses, so Malik Hooker took it upon himself to get some points.
Swarmed with pressure from the Buckeye pass-rush, Wilton Speight tossed up a duck right into the middle of the field. Hooker collected it and swiftly deposited it right into the end zone to give the Buckeyes one of just two touchdowns they'd score in regulation.
3. Chris Olave's Blocked Punt – 2018
Ohio State dominated most of the 2018 edition of The Game, but two quick Michigan scores at the end of the first half had the Wolverines right back in the game in the third quarter.
Chris Olave took care of that.
The freshman burst through the middle of the formation and flew to the football, blocking a punt and sending it right into the arms of Sevyn Banks, who took it into the end zone for a score.
Michigan never recovered, and the Buckeyes continued to put it on the "nation's best defense."
2. The Brooklyn Dagger – 2016
This wasn't even Curtis Samuel's most impressive play of the drive, but it's certainly the most iconic.
The very next play after J.T. Barrett gave the Buckeyes an easy first down on fourth-and-1, Samuel broke loose behind a convoy of blockers and scampered 15 yards to give the Buckeyes a 30-27 double-overtime win over No. 3 Michigan and essentially punch their ticket to the College Football Playoff.
1. Tyvis Powell Saves the Game – 2013
The 2013 edition of The Game came down to one play – and Tyvis Powell came up huge.
Michigan scored a touchdown with just over 30 seconds to play in Ann Arbor to bring the Wolverines within one of the No. 3 Buckeyes. Michigan head coach Brady Hoke decided not to play for overtime, and went for the win with a two point conversion, but Powell read the play all the way.
The redshirt freshman stepped in front of a Devin Gardner pass and picked it off, sealing the game and preserving Ohio State's national title hopes with its 24th straight win.
