The 1977 game did not carry as much importance as some of its predecessors like the 1969 and 1976 games, but it still had some important qualities that shaped this rivalry long-term. It still featured two teams ranked in the top 5 (something that had almost become commonplace in this rivalry) and was decided by just one score, but it definitely did little to change the tide of the rivalry and change its legacy long-term. This is one of those games that just added to what was already a great series. One interesting thing to note about this game was that it was the last game to be held in Ann Arbor between Bo and Woody. Background:
Michigan's 1977 team, much like Ohio State's 1976 squad had the challenge of replacing one of its best offensive players. Rob Lytle had graduated and Michigan had to find somebody else to run the ball. They still had Rick Leach and Glenn Davis, but losing Lytle was a major obstacle. Roosevelt Smith and Harlan Huckleby did a nice job at replacing Lytle. This is one of the major things that allowed the 1977 Wolverines to be so successful.
The Wolverines started their 1977 run much like their 1976 run. They dominated early, winning their first 6 games by a combined score of 193-42. That's pretty impressive considering that those games included two ranked teams, two road games, and a rivalry game against MSU. Michigan did fall the next week in a road game against Minnesota, but followed it up with three dominant wins against Purdue, Northwestern, and Iowa. Michigan spent 4 weeks during the season ranked #1 and entered the OSU game ranked #5. This would be the 8th consecutive time Michigan entered the OSU game ranked #5 or higher.
