Ohio State Buckeyes ©	Michigan Wolverines
Played November 22, 1975 at Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, Michigan

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Ohio State ©	2	8	1	0	.889	5	0	0	1.000	3	0	0	1.000	0	1	0	.000
Michigan	1	9	1	0	.900	5	0	0	1.000	4	1	0	.800

Previous Belt Meetings

 

The top-ranked, 10-0 Ohio State Buckeyes of coach Woody Hayes traveled to the Big House to face the 4^th ranked, 8-0-2 Michigan Wolverines of coach Bo Schembechler.  Ohio State scored twice in the final 7:11 to retain The Belt with a 21-14 victory.  It appeared the Buckeyes might control the game easily as they took their opening drive 15 plays over 63 yards with All-Big 10 QB Cornelius Greene connecting with RB Pete Johnson on a 7-yard touchdown pass for the 7-0 lead.  The Wolverines tied the game in the 2^nd quarter after an 80-yard drive with All-Big 10 RB Gordon Bell throwing to All-Big 10 WR Jim Smith for an 11-yard touchdown on a halfback option pass.  Early in the 4^th quarter, a short punt by the Buckeyes' All-Big 10 P Tom Skladany gave Michigan the ball at the Ohio State 43-yard line & the Wolverines took 9 plays to get into the end zone with QB Rick Leach getting the go-ahead score on a 1-yard touchdown run.  With Ohio State trailing 14-7, Greene led an 11-play, 80-yard drive with Johnson scoring on 4^th down & 1, his third try from inside the 5-yard line for the touchdown that tied the score with 3:18 to play.  Knowing a tie would send the Buckeyes to the Rose Bowl, Leach tried to rally the Wolverines but his pass from inside the Michigan 10-yard line was intercepted by CB Ray Griffin near the Michigan 30-yard line.  Griffin returned the interception to the Michigan 3-yard line before Johnson took it in on the next play to give the Buckeyes a 21-14 win & the Rose Bowl trip.  Ohio State’s Heisman Trophy winning, All-American RB Archie Griffin was held to 46 yards rushing.  It marked the first time in 31 games he had been held under 100 yards rushing.  Johnson’s 2 touchdowns gave him a Big Ten record 23 for the season.  Leach finished with 102 yards passing but 3 interceptions, Bell added 124 yards rushing to his touchdown pass & RB Rob Lytle added 104 yards rushing for the Wolverines.  Ohio State finished the season 11-1; Big Ten Champions & ranked 4^th nationally while the Wolverines finished 8-2-2, ranked 8^th nationally.  Michigan would play for The Belt again in 1977.