The 2017 Ohio State-Michigan game delivered an extra bit of history.
This afternoon when the Buckeyes defeated the Wolverines 31-20, Urban Meyer became the first coach in the series to win his first six games since Michigan's Fielding Yost did it from 1901-1906. Yost started 9-0 against the Buckeyes, so Meyer has a way to go to catch him. Jim Tressel (5-1) and Francis Schmidt (4-2) have the next-best starts to their tenures in Columbus.
Yost and Woody Hayes are tied for the most wins in the series at 16 each.
Conversely, prior to today, Rich Rodriguez was the only coach in Michigan history to start out 0-3 against Ohio State. He was fired after the 2010 season and never got a fourth opportunity. Today Jim Harbaugh joined him as the second Wolverines coach to reach 0-3 in The Game.
Here's how Meyer's start compares historically with coaches on both sides who coached at least six games in the rivalry:
| COACH | YEARS | SCHOOL | RECORD |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIELDING YOST | 1901-1906 | MICHIGAN | 6-0 |
| URBAN MEYER | 2012-2017 | OHIO STATE | 6-0 |
| Lloyd Carr | 1995-2000 | MICHIGAN | 5-1 |
| JIM TRESSEL | 2001-2006 | OHIO STATE | 5-1 |
| FRITZ CRISLER | 1938-1943 | MICHIGAN | 4-1-1 |
| BENNIE OOSTERBAAN | 1948-1953 | MICHIGAN | 4-1-1 |
| EARLE BRUCE | 1979-1984 | OHIO STATE | 4-2 |
| FRANCIS SCHMIDT | 1934-1939 | OHIO STATE | 4-2 |
| WOODY HAYES | 1951-1956 | OHIO STATE | 3-3 |
| JOHN WILCE | 1918-1923 | OHIO STATE | 3-3 |
| HARRY KIPKE | 1929-1934 | MICHIGAN | 3-3 |
| BO SCHEMBECHLER | 1969-1974 | MICHIGAN | 2-3-1 |
| BUMP ELLIOTT | 1959-1964 | MICHIGAN | 2-4 |
| JOHN COOPER | 1988-1993 | OHIO STATE | 0-5-1 |
The six-time B1G Leaders/Eastern Division champions (tiebreakers and postseason bans be damned!) play Wisconsin this Saturday in Indianapolis for the conference title. Meyer is 1-1 in that game.
