THE BIGGEST RIVALRY IN SPORTS:

13 days and counting to the game that defines sports rivalry. The Apple Cup? Hell no, that is so small time they can fit it in a cup, not a bowl. Yankees-Red Sox? Red Wings-Avalanche? Chargers-Raiders? Cal-Stanford? No, no, no and please. No my friends I am talking about The Ohio State-Michigan game. The biggest rivalry in sports as ranked by an ESPN poll and as stated by a true blooded Buckeye...me. Hell even John Stewart has witnessed it as the Daily Show broadcast from OSU all last week when he stated on his Thursday night show: "Honestly, Ohio State-Michigan, it's like Sunni-Shiite, I've never seen anything like it. It is insane."

This one is so big you can make the argument that it had its beginnings in a war. A bloodless war, more of a conflict, but a war never the less. The Toledo War of 1835 in which both the states of Ohio and Michigan claimed the territory now known as Toledo. Ohio won that one (or lost it, depending on how you want to look at it).

The inaugural meeting between the 2 schools was in 1897. Michigan won that one in a blowout and continued to dominate the rivalry for the next 14 years. Through the 2005 season, Michigan leads the overall series 57-39-6, and the conference series 45-39-4.

All of those previous meetings however pale in comparison to the ramifications that the game in 13 days could have. As of today, Ohio State and Michigan are both undefeated and ranked #1 and #2 respectively in the Bowl Championship Series rankings. Barring an upset loss by either team in the coming two weeks, the winner of the 2006 game will have a chance to play for a national championship.

13 days and counting to the biggest rivalry in sports. #1 versus #2. The Ohio State-Michigan game. 13 days and counting...go Buckeyes.

Thanks for reading.