The Wolverines went into the game under a new head coach, Bo Schembechler, who was trying to redefine a college football power that had fallen on hard times.
The game was witnessed by a (then) stadium-record crowd of 103,588 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, and began the highly combative stretch of the rivalry informally known as The Ten Year War.
Ohio State's 1969 football team was dubbed by the media as the "greatest college football team of all time", with a handful of proven All-Big Ten players and All-Americans, such as quarterback Rex Kern, running backs Larry Zelina, Jim Otis and John Brockington, wide receivers Jan White and Bruce Jankowski, middle guard Jim Stillwagon and defensive back Jack Tatum.
Three Buckeye players, including Kern, Otis, and Tatum finished in the top ten of the Heisman Trophy voting in 1969.
But the team began the season with an unimpressive 3–2 record, including a loss to in-state rival Michigan State and the eventual Big Eight co-champion Missouri.
Michigan would win their next four games, with a team including quarterback Don Moorhead, fullback Garvie Craw, wingback John Gabler, tailbacks Glenn Doughty and Billy Taylor, offensive lineman Dan Dierdorf and defensive stars Barry Pierson, Thom Darden, Cecil Pryor and Henry Hill.
Due to the Big Ten's "no repeat" rule in effect at the time, the Buckeyes knew a victory would give them their second consecutive national championship because they could not go to a bowl game.
To motivate his team, Schembechler had the number 50 (for the 50 points Ohio State scored against the Wolverines the year before) displayed everywhere in the Michigan locker room, and taped to every player's practice uniform.
[1] In addition, Schembechler said that if Michigan lost, they would not accept the Rose Bowl berth they had essentially clinched because of the "no repeat" rule.
Michigan added a touchdown following a momentous punt return [2] and a field goal on its subsequent possession for the halftime (and eventual final) score of 24–12.
Ohio State appeared to take control of the game right from the opening kickoff, when Rex Kern kept the ball and ran for 25 yards on the first play from scrimmage.
Glenn Doughty returned the kickoff to the Michigan 44, and Don Moorhead led a drive downfield, primarily getting the ball to tight end and captain Jim Mandich.
Once Michigan got the ball to the Ohio State 3, Schembechler called a basic off-tackle play, and Garvie Craw scored to tie it up.
Kern led the Buckeyes downfield again, hitting Larry Zelina and Jan White, who scored and put Ohio State up 12–7.
Once they reached the Ohio State 33, Michigan ran a tailback draw, and Billy Taylor gained 28 yards to the Buckeye 5.
As the fourth quarter got underway, Hayes realized that his offense needed to play more aggressive and not punt the ball back to Michigan after each possession.