The Ohio State tradition of crossing out the “M” in “Michigan” is a time-honored tradition that dates back to the early days of the rivalry between the two schools.
Each year, on the eve of the annual Ohio State-Michigan football game, students and alumni gather at the Shoe to cross out the “M” in “Michigan” on the scoreboard. In the days leading up to the game, the letter “M” is hidden across campus and around town as well.
Origins
Details are iffy on when and how the tradition began, but it had to have begun sometime after the rivalry started well over a century ago.
At that time, the Michigan Wolverines were one of the most dominant teams in college football and were often referred to as the “Kings of College Football.” The Ohio State Buckeyes, on the other hand, were a relatively new team and were not as highly regarded. However, in 1919, the Buckeyes pulled off a major upset when they defeated the Wolverines, 13-3. This was the first time that Ohio State had ever beaten Michigan and it started a rivalry that has lasted over a century.
Since that first victory, the Buckeyes have gone on to have a lot of success against their rival, including a streak of eight consecutive wins from 2012 to 2019. The Buckeyes have seen much success, winning 13 of the last 15 games.
Governor’s proclamation – and wager
The tradition is so popular that in 2016, then Ohio-governor John Kasich issued a proclamation declaring the day the two teams play as “Scarlet Letter Saturday.” Here’s the text of the proclamation:
And as an aside, something that happened more recently: The Governors of Ohio and Michigan, Mike DeWine and Gretchen Witmer, put a wager on the matchup in 2021.
From a press release on the wager:
“This football game is a time-honored tradition between our two states that pits the best we have to offer against each other for four quarters,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “That’s why I’m joining Governor DeWine to bet some of the best Michigan-made sweets and treats that our state has to offer from Cherry Republic. With everything on the line for a trip to the Big Ten Championship game, I can’t wait to cheer on the Wolverines. Go Blue!”
“With so much on the line in this year’s edition of The Game, Fran and I are very excited to see the Buckeyes kick-off on Saturday and continue their great rivalry” said Governor Mike DeWine. “I am proud to engage in this friendly bet, highlighting some of Fran and my favorite treats from across the Buckeye State that we know many Ohioans will be enjoying as they cheer the Buckeyes. O-H!”
Both Governors wagered confectionary treats from their respective states.
Ultimately, Governor Whitmer won the bet as Michigan beat Ohio State 42-27.
Campus and city-wide
As mentioned earlier, crossing out the letter “M” is done all over campus and town, not just at the football field.
Here are some notable shots from the past few years, from campus to city hall:
Other schools have adopted the tradition, too
Last year, the Georgia Bulldogs were slated to play Michigan in a high-stakes, all-or-nothing playoff matchup.
So, what did the student body do? Cross out the “M” in “Michigan” all over campus, naturally.
“The eneXy of my eneXy is Xy friend,” one Instagram post read, showcasing the crossed out “M’s” on campus.
“So once we got the ok we started changing M’s to X’s,” the group [responsible for crossing out the “M’s” said. “We’ve gotten mostly positive feedback from UGA students and OSU students and it is fun having OSU backing us. UGA and OSU have never really had a mutual enemy until now and it’s fun to build a relationship through it,” read one article from the BuckeyesWire.
It seems like the tradition boded well for the Bulldogs, who smashed the Wolverines 34-11 before capping off their season by beating Alabama and becoming national champions.