No one can dispute that the rivalry between the Ohio State football program and Michigan is one of the greatest rivalries in college football. In fact, many consider it the best rivalry in all of sports. Hate between these programs has festered for decades.
These two programs are two of the greatest in the sport, too. That's part of what makes the rivalry so great. Most times when these two teams face off, there is something very big at stake. The Ohio State Buckeyes certainly know that based on the last four years.
Apparently, everyone knows that except those in charge of the Big Ten Conference. The Big Ten created what it is dubbing the "Rivalry Series", including 17 football games. Yet somehow, The Game isn't one of the games that they have designated in the series.
The Ohio State football team vs. Michigan isn't part of the new Rivalry Series
The only possible explanation for this is that the Big Ten believes that everyone knows that the Ohio State/Michigan game is a rivalry, and they don't need to spell it out by including that game in this series. Otherwise, someone is stupid enough to really declare that this isn't a rivalry.
Everyone associated with this decision needs to reevaluate what they are doing. Not having that game listed on something designated as the Rivalry Series is very stupid. Yet, they have the Buckeyes taking on Wisconsin as one of those games, too.
None of this makes any sense, and the decisions that the Big Ten Conference has made over the last few years have been increasingly baffling. While this Rivalry Series doesn't really mean anything, it's just a bad look for a conference that is trying to establish itself as the best one in college football.
It wouldn't be shocking to see someone make a statement on this at some point.