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It was, but it always felt transitory to me.

What I mean is that Wisconsin is a big game for Ohio State when both are good but that is true of any team. A rivalry is big no matter what.

Ie, if Michigan and Wisconsin are both terrible this year, I'll want tOSU to win the games but beating a terrible UW team isn't "exciting". Beating (or not beating) Wisconsin is only exciting to the extent that THIS game matters, THIS year. A rivalry is different. When Michigan had their 3-9 debacle in 2008 it was still a big deal to beat them. Beating a terrible Badger team wouldn't excite me.

Good thing it's been a long time since that was the case. Last losing record (5-7) was 2001.

And even then, I wouldn't call them terrible. That loss to Minnie still pisses me off. And that game against IU was the only game I walked out on. Maddening.

I get that.

@847badgerfan ,
I hope this doesn't come across as arrogant or condescending. I don't mean it that way, Helmetosity is what it is.

I was thinking about this and realized that Michigan's "helmet" is an additional factor that makes the Michigan game "big" to Ohio State fans.

Example:
Suppose that Ohio State scheduled to open the 2033 season with OOC games against Alabama and Mississippi State. Further suppose that both the Tide and the Bulldogs just completely suck in 2033. Ohio State crushes both of them and they both finish sub .500.

Both games are against bad TEAMS but one of them is against a great PROGRAM.

The rational data driven Mr Spock in me sees both of those games equally. In both cases, Ohio State beat a bad team. That being said, the Alabama win means MUCH more to me because even though I KNOW that they are both equivalent teams, when I see my Buckeyes beat guys wearing Bama uniforms I think of the Bear, Stallings, Saban, and all those NC's. 

Helmets matter to fans, that is my point and it is an additional reason that beating Michigan is a big deal to me even when Michigan sucks whereas beating Wisconsin is a big deal only to the extent that the particular Wisconsin team is a quality opponent. 

@847badgerfan ,
I hope this doesn't come across as arrogant or condescending. 

....

Helmets matter to fans, that is my point and it is an additional reason that beating Michigan is a big deal to me even when Michigan sucks whereas beating Wisconsin is a big deal only to the extent that the particular Wisconsin team is a quality opponent.

1. Not at all.

2. Like I said, it's good that Wisconsin is far more often, than not, a quality opponent. I think we all get more satisfaction with our teams when they beat good/great teams/programs.

I kinda disagree. I think rivalry trumps helmet.

Back when I watched Purdue football, beating IU was ALWAYS a big deal. Doesn't matter how much we suck. Doesn't matter how much they suck. Gotta win that game. POTFH!

Now, for a non-rivalry game, I do agree. Beating a helmet is more exciting than beating a non-helmet, even if they both suck equally that year.

Oh I wasn't saying that Helmetosity trumps rivalry, just pointing out that in Ohio State's case those two converge.

For Purdue you might beat your rival or you might beat a helmet but you can't do both at the same time. For Ohio State, we can. Same for Michigan with Ohio State filling the role of rival/Helmet.

Is PSU a helmet?

Is UNL?

FSU?

Miami?