The intense rivalry between Michigan and Ohio State is one of the biggest draws in college football, blending fierce competition with a mix of animosity and respect. However, it seems like Sherrone Moore’s Michigan and Ryan Day’s Ohio State got a bit of a snub recently, thanks to some praise for another powerhouse—Oregon.

On October 14, 2024, Josh Pate gave Oregon’s Autzen Stadium some serious credit. Despite Michigan and Ohio State having stadiums with over 100,000 seats, Pate said that Autzen Stadium, with just over 60,000 seats, is the loudest stadium in the Big 10. He shared, “I am blessed enough to have stood on the field for the biggest games in all these environments and I was there last night. This place is louder than any other venue in the Big 10, including places with 30,000 and 40,000 more seats.” In what seemed like a jab at Ohio State, Pate added, “I feel as though I was there last night. Ohio State was occasionally shaken and disturbed by that atmosphere.” 

So, despite Michigan and Ohio State boasting massive home stadiums, it looks like Oregon’s Autzen Stadium can easily outshine them when it comes to sheer volume. On game days, the noise at Autzen peaks at around 127 decibels, which was on full display as Oregon pulled off a thrilling 32-31 win over Ohio State in front of 60,129 fans. In contrast, Michigan and Ohio State combined can seat over 210,000 people, yet it seems they might struggle to match the energy and noise levels of Oregon’s home crowd.

Last year, Ohio State didn’t face the same noise level at Michigan Stadium as they did at Autzen. This raises the question—will the rivalry between Michigan and Ohio State be as electric for fans if it doesn’t have that deafening crowd energy?

The rivalry history between Michigan and Ohio State

Speaking of their rivalry, the history between Michigan and Ohio State is deep. It began in the 1830s with a brief skirmish between militias from both states. Since their first matchup in 1897, the teams have played annually without a break since 1918, in what fans now call “The Game.” Last year, Sherrone Moore’s No. 3 Michigan team won their third straight against Ryan Day’s No. 2 Ohio State, securing a 30–24 victory. After that game, former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said, “It’s not healthy for the student-athletes on either side when you’re trying to put that much (pressure), where someone is practically thinking it’s life or death.”

This fierce rivalry continues this year with “The Game” scheduled for November 30, 2024, at Ohio Stadium. It’s a huge opportunity for Ohio State to make up for their recent losses, having dropped the last three games to Michigan. While the game will certainly be thrilling, according to Pate, it won’t be the loudest matchup of the season. What do you think—does noise level really affect the excitement, or is the rivalry itself enough to keep fans on the edge of their seats?