An interesting question indeed. Something that this Michigan fan takes for granted as just plain everyday living but why is this rivalry between Michigan and the Fuckeyes so much bigger than the in-state rivalry between Michigan and the Spartans?
First and foremost it is one of the oldest and, what ESPN has called, the greatest North American sports rivalry of all time. How did this come to pass? There are many people who give different reasons for why this regular season game has such a Super Bowl type feeling. My thoughts on why this rivalry is so much bigger is that Michigan and Ohio State, for many many years now, have always been two of the most elite colleges in the NCAA. They have played every year since 1900 and it has always been the last game of the season. What this means, given the two teams near dominance of college football from year to year, is that when November comes, like last years #1 OSU v. #2 Michigan, the game always has Big Ten conference implications, if not National Championship implications. Nearly every year this game damages the others season...whether it be by knocking them from the ranks of the undefeated (possiblity this year if OSU keeps winning) or by keeping the other out of a bowl game (needing 6 wins to be bowl eligible) or just by losing the game (Michigan QB Chad Henne, RB Michael Hart, and Tackle Jake Long all came back for their senior year simply to defeat Ohio State as these three have never beaten them).
There have also been coaching rivalries with this series as well. Bo vs. Woody back in the 70s, Lloyd vs. Tressell today. Bo was an assistant under Woody Hayes before taking over Michigan's reins and that lifted the rivalry even higher. "Ten Year War" is what that coaching rivalry was named (Michigan and Bo Schembechler went 5-4-1 during the "War" before Hayes was fired). After Hayes was fired Michigan dominated the series until Tressel arrived and we have struggled to beat those bastards ever since.
You see, Michigan vs. Michigan State has implications on the season because (a) it is a Big Ten game, (b) it is an inter-state rivalry, and (c) the rivalry is made by the fact that they are only a stone's throw from each other in the state of Michigan. Overall, Michigan vs. MSU is a rivalry because it has to be, nearly by definition.
Michigan vs. Ohio State is a man-made kegger that explodes the moment the ball kicks off from either Ohio Stadium or glorious Michigan Stadium on those cold November afternoon. I am not downplaying the Michigan vs. State rivalry by any means, it is just as crucial a victory in a season as you could want and God knows there have been some fantastic games between the teams (MSU's "Clockgate" victory and Michigan's come from behind victory in 2004). They play for the Paul Bunyan Trophy every year and it is a treasure to keep until next year knowing that you beat a rival to keep it, or win it back.
In the end though, anyone you ask that is a Michigan fan will tell you that the rivalry game that they look forward to the most is Michigan vs. Ohio State because as much as we love to beat up the Spartans...victory is just so so much sweeter if it's the Buckeyes with their heads down when that final whistle sounds.
I hope this helped Kiznox. If you ever want to talk Michigan vs. Ohio State or football in general you know I would love nothing more. I leave you, and all of you fellow readers, with two words...the only two you ever need to know...Go Blue!
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