Historical context is not always best provided by the participants of history, but that didn’t stop Ohio State and Michigan players from trying to provide some big-picture perspective after finishing one of recent memory's most exciting versions of their storied rivalry.

Some Buckeyes talked about telling their children decades from now that they played in the game that turned The Game into "what it used to be." Others mentioned the 2006 tilt in which No. 1 Ohio State edged out No. 2 Michigan in dramatic fashion.

"Former players were saying this is a legacy game," said Sam Hubbard, who made two big stops near the goal line for the Ohio State defense in the first half. "That put a lot of things in perspective, and the fact that we’re part of this game and what we're going to do will be written in history books was a big factor in the way we played."

Discussion of rivalry restoration is interesting coming from the Buckeyes, who have won 12 of the past 13 meetings. Of course, they had never needed double overtime and a fourth-down scrap for inches to get there before. If the rivalry is in fact "back," what do both sides have to do to make sure it stays there? And what can we hope to see moving forward?

Let's take a look back. A Michigan team ranked No. 3 in the nation. A defensive battle decided by three points. An Ohio State team that had to replace more than half its starting lineup from the previous season. An irate head coach flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct in a losing effort. Does any of that sound familiar?

That was the same recipe for Michigan and Ohio State’s showdown in 1971. The Wolverines won 10-7 with a late assist from a possible pass interference penalty that wasn’t called. Buckeyes coach Woody Hayes preferred that it had been. He let officials know by ripping into them, then literally ripping into the yard markers and leaving their tattered remains scattered on the Ohio State sideline.

That kicked off what was arguably the best five-year stretch that one of the best rivalries in sports has ever seen. From 1971 to 1976, the Wolverines and Buckeyes played five straight games decided by a touchdown or less. Ohio State went 3-1-1 despite losing the first battle.

In the middle of that stretch, a young Jim Harbaugh moved to Ann Arbor with his family. Urban Meyer wasn’t far away, and the history playing out on their television sets wasn’t lost on him, either.

"I'm very humbled to be a part of it," Meyer said after adding a new chapter to the rivalry Saturday night. "And you can't ask for better efforts. They have great players; we have great players. They're a very well-coached team, and so are we. And it's good for the country to see the Big Ten in action like that."

The onus to make sure that history repeats itself, or at least rhymes, as the saying goes, will fall largely on Michigan and Harbaugh in the coming year. The Wolverines have a five-game losing streak in The Game to snap, and they will have to do it with a team much greener than the one that went to Columbus this past weekend.

Nearly the entire veteran defense will be gone at the end of this season, as will Michigan’s top three pass-catchers and some experienced offensive linemen. Quarterback Wilton Speight will return to lead an offense loading up on young talent. The Wolverines' 2017 situation won't be all that much different than that of J.T. Barrett and the Buckeyes this season. The question is whether Michigan's coaching staff has built the same foundation of depth and athleticism that Ohio State used to replace a very talented roster without any major hiccups.

If not, Harbaugh could be off to an 0-3 start against his biggest rival. Meyer would add to an unprecedented 6-0 record on the Ohio State side of The Game. No matter how close the games are, it’s hard to consider a stretch where one side always wins as the halcyon days of any rivalry.

Based on what Michigan has done in two seasons under Harbaugh, it doesn’t feel like a stretch to assume it will be up to the test. Will Saturday’s game be the start of something special? The good news is we have only 362 days left until we find out.