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Michigan 6 Michigan State 15 – Game 9 Recap

GAME 9 PROJECTION vs. RESULTS

Final Score: 6-15, Michigan State by 9 over Michigan
SP+ Projection: Michigan by 17.1 (-26.1)
CD Projection: Michigan by 8 (-17)

FIVE FACTORS

GAME 9 RECAP vs. Michigan State

Problems at every offensive position. That’s on the coordinator and the head coach. They didn’t install a system that maximized their talent. They didn’t teach what they installed well enough to make it work. They didn’t adapt fast enough. They now look lost. There are plenty of numbers that rub salt into the wound. Michigan nearly got shut out by the 68th ranked SP+ defense, at home, in a rivalry game. That’s an unacceptable failure that players and fans alike do not deserve.

Defensively, this is another game where a mediocre performance by the defense slides under the radar because they are light years ahead of the offense. However, what if I had told Jay Hill that they would give up 58 yards rushing in the 3rd quarter alone? They allowed another 10+ minute drive in a game that the offense needed life support. The defense is capable of playing championship level football, but we still don’t see it consistently. I would keep the coordinator, the scheme, and all the players. But they are not blameless in this season, or in this game.

Speaking of not blameless, another missed FG set the tone for this game.

Kicking is hard, I am not going to pile on to very specific players. The performance and production is just not good enough for this program.

This problem didn’t start tonight, and it probably won’t end tonight. How did Michigan end up with this coaching staff? How has the previous era that culminated in the 2023 National Championship collapsed to being humiliated by a Sparty team for their first Big Ten win? That level of existential failure needs to be excised from the program. The biggest long term problem right now is: who is the leader that can and will put the program under the microscope and cast out everything and everyone who needs to go? We’ll see, hopefully sooner rather than later. Go Blue

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๐‘ณ๐‘ถ๐‘ถ๐‘ฒ๐‘ฐ๐‘ต๐‘ฎ ๐‘ฉ๐‘จ๐‘ช๐‘ฒ: ๐‘ด๐‘ฐ๐‘ช๐‘ฏ๐‘ฐ๐‘ฎ๐‘จ๐‘ต ๐‘ฝ๐‘บ. ๐‘ด๐‘ฐ๐‘ช๐‘ฏ๐‘ฐ๐‘ฎ๐‘จ๐‘ต ๐‘บ๐‘ป๐‘จ๐‘ป๐‘ฌ, 2021

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins Highlighting Key Rivalry Games
๐‘พ๐’‚๐’๐’Œ๐’†๐’“ย ๐‘บ๐’‰๐’“๐’†๐’…๐’”ย ๐’•๐’‰๐’†ย ๐‘ฉ๐’๐’–๐’†

The fifth installment of the series examining the football rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State takes us back just five years, to 2021. Midway through the season, it was obvious that the Wolverines had recaptured their mojo. Coach Jim Harbaugh had recommitted to the running game, brought in a new strength coach and a new defensive coordinator, and returned the team to its roots. Life was good. 

But now the Wolverines were traveling to East Lansing, where the Spartans were experiencing their own renaissance, fueled primarily by running back Kenneth Walker III. Each team entered the game with a perfect record. The irresistible force was meeting the immovable object. 

Michigan got off to a lightning-quick start when Cade McNamara connected with freshman Andrel Anthony on a crossing route, and Anthony raced past everyone for a 93-yard touchdown, arguably the best play of his brief time with Michigan. Gradually, the Wolverines increased that lead to 30-14. You couldnโ€™t blame Michigan fans if they were already celebrating. A Michigan defense can usually protect a sizable lead. 

But then, late in the fourth quarter, Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne threw a pass that looked like a prayer, and Jayden Reed came down with the ball just short of the goal line. Walker then pushed his way into the end zone for the score. Making matters worse, Michigan State went for two, and Thorne found Tre Mosley in the back of the zone, and the Spartans closed the gap to just eight points. In the fourth quarter, Walker found a hole in the middle of the Michigan defensive line and raced 58 yards for a touchdown. Just like clockwork, Thorne found Reed in the end zone again, and the game was suddenly tied at 30. 

Still, the Wolverines fought back. McNamara connected with Mike Sainristil for a big gain, but the drive stalled and the Wolverines settled for a Jake Moody field goal. The Wolverines were in good shape midway through the fourth quarter, but a fumble by J.J. McCarthy gave Michigan State possession deep in Wolverinesโ€™ territory. Michigan State knew what to do with that opportunity, and Walker raced 23 yards up the middle for the go-ahead score. With the rain hampering both offenses late in the game, the Wolverines had one final shot, but McNamara was intercepted by Charles Brantley, and Michigan State held on for a 37-33 win. 

Despite the loss, Michigan went on to accomplish great things in 2021. J.J. McCarthy? Itโ€™s fair to say that he redeemed himself after that loss. 

Thanks to the Big Ten Network and YouTube for the attached highlights of this game. As always, we own nothing and do not profit from this blog post, which is provided strictly for the benefit of readers.ย 

This and other great content can be found at newyorkwolverine.com

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๐‘ณ๐‘ถ๐‘ถ๐‘ฒ๐‘ฐ๐‘ต๐‘ฎ ๐‘ฉ๐‘จ๐‘ช๐‘ฒ: ๐‘ด๐‘ฐ๐‘ช๐‘ฏ๐‘ฐ๐‘ฎ๐‘จ๐‘ต ๐‘ฝ๐‘บ. ๐‘ด๐‘ฐ๐‘ช๐‘ฏ๐‘ฐ๐‘ฎ๐‘จ๐‘ต ๐‘บ๐‘ป๐‘จ๐‘ป๐‘ฌ, 1968

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins Highlighting Key Rivalry Games
๐‘จย ๐‘ญ๐’Š๐’๐’‚๐’ย ๐‘ฝ๐’Š๐’„๐’•๐’๐’“๐’šย ๐‘ถ๐’—๐’†๐’“ย ๐‘ด๐‘บ๐‘ผย ๐’‡๐’๐’“ย ๐‘ฉ๐’–๐’Ž๐’‘

The fourth installment of this series examining the football rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State takes us to 1968. The offseason had been rough for Michigan coach Bump Elliott, who endured intense criticism from alumni following a 4-6 season in 1967. Quietly, the Wolverines had assembled quite a roster for the 1968 campaign, but that did little to ease the criticism.ย 

Michigan entered the game against Michigan State with a 2-1 record. Making matters worse, the Spartans had defeated Michigan for three years in a row, and most pundits expected that streak to continue. Itโ€™s fair to say that Elliott was feeling some pressure before that game. 

But on one, glorious fall afternoon, the Michigan Wolverines gave outgoing coach Bump Elliott a day to remember, one that recalled times when Michigan was one of the elite powers of college football. For three hours on a Saturday in October, 1968, the Wolverines recalled the memories of previous years, and sent Bump out with a final victory over the Spartans. 

The game definitely had some drama. In the fourth quarter, Michigan State seized the lead when Charles Wedemeyer connected with Frank Foreman on a 2-point conversion to give the Spartans a 14-13 lead. The Michigan State defense was converging on Michigan quarterback Dennis Brown when Brown found tight end Jim Mandich along the Michigan sideline for the turning point of the game. Mandich made the catch and outraced everyone to the south end zone of Michigan Stadium for a 53-yard touchdown that put the Wolverines ahead to stay, as Michigan topped Michigan State, 28-14. 

Elliott chose to resign after the 1968 season. Heโ€™s remembered mostly for losing his final game to Ohio State, 50-14, but thatโ€™s not the most fair assessment of his tenure. In 1964, he led a Michigan squad that went 10-1, won the Big Ten championship and the Rose Bowl, and was just a failed 2-point conversion from a perfect season and a likely National Championship. Thatโ€™s certainly worthy of note. 

Thanks to YouTube and YouTube poster College Football Historian for this highlight film of the game, which has no sound. As always, we own nothing, and this blog post is provided strictly for the enjoyment of readers. 

This and other great content can be found at newyorkwolverine.com

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๐‘ณ๐‘ถ๐‘ถ๐‘ฒ๐‘ฐ๐‘ต๐‘ฎ ๐‘ฉ๐‘จ๐‘ช๐‘ฒ: ๐‘ด๐‘ฐ๐‘ช๐‘ฏ๐‘ฐ๐‘ฎ๐‘จ๐‘ต ๐‘ฝ๐‘บ. ๐‘ด๐‘ฐ๐‘ช๐‘ฏ๐‘ฐ๐‘ฎ๐‘จ๐‘ต ๐‘บ๐‘ป๐‘จ๐‘ป๐‘ฌ, 2006

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins Highlighting Key Rivalry Games
V๐’Š๐’๐’•๐’‚๐’ˆ๐’† ๐‘ด๐’Š๐’„๐’‰๐’Š๐’ˆ๐’‚๐’ ๐‘ซ๐’๐’Ž๐’Š๐’๐’‚๐’๐’„๐’†

The third installment of this series examining the football rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State takes us to 2006. In a series thatโ€™s known for controversy, the only controversial play in the 2006 game served as little more than a footnote to the theme of the game. 

The play in question was a touchdown pass from Michigan quarterback Chad Henne to Adrian Arrington. In all honesty, it appeared that Arrington landed out of bounds before he hit the end zone, but anyone who watched the game would have been hard pressed to argue that play might have altered the gameโ€™s outcome. 

The game pitted the modern spread-option offense of Michigan State coach John L. Smith vs. the pro-style offense favored by Michigan coach Lloyd Carr. The Wolverines approached the game with a workman-line seriousness of purpose. They controlled the game by running Mike Hart behind a dominant offensive line that buckled their chin straps on every play and opened gaping holes with ease. The result was a game that played directly to Michiganโ€™s strengths, as the Wolverines used a suffocating defense that limited Michigan Stateโ€™s offensive threats. The Spartans were repeatedly forced to punt after three plays, while the Michigan offensive line made running easy for Hart. The beauty of the Wolverinesโ€™ approach was that it placed the Michigan State defense between a rock and a hard place. The Spartans could commit to stopping the run, which would leave receivers like Arrington, Mario Manningham and Steve Breaston running free in the secondary, or play a more cautious defense, which would provide minimal support to stopping Mike Hart. Virtually everything Michigan tried worked. Early in the second quarter, Manningham beat double coverage and Henne connected with him in the end zone to extend Michiganโ€™s lead to 14-0. By halftime, the Wolverines led 17-0, and it was all over but the shouting. 

Michigan State fought back in the second half, with rushing touchdowns from running back Jehuu Caulcrick and quarterback Drew Stanton, but it was strictly a formality by that time. The Wolverines established their superiority early, and cruised to a 31-13 victory in the type of game that would put a smile on Bo Schembechlerโ€™s face. 

Thanks to YouTube, ESPN, Michigan Replay and YouTube poster College Football Historian for the attached broadcast of this game. As always, we own nothing, and this blog post is provided strictly for the enjoyment of readers. 

This and other great content can be found at newyorkwolverine.com

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๐‘ณ๐‘ถ๐‘ถ๐‘ฒ๐‘ฐ๐‘ต๐‘ฎ ๐‘ฉ๐‘จ๐‘ช๐‘ฒ: ๐‘ด๐‘ฐ๐‘ช๐‘ฏ๐‘ฐ๐‘ฎ๐‘จ๐‘ต ๐‘ฝ๐‘บ. ๐‘ด๐‘ฐ๐‘ช๐‘ฏ๐‘ฐ๐‘ฎ๐‘จ๐‘ต ๐‘บ๐‘ป๐‘จ๐‘ป๐‘ฌ, 2012

Looking Back is a Special Feature by Jeff Cummins Highlighting Key Rivalry Games

The second installment of the series examining the football rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State takes us to 2012. During the previous season, Michigan football experienced a complete restoration of pride under new head coach Brady Hoke. The Wolverines defeated many opponents, and even won the Sugar Bowl. By 2012, alumni began arriving at their tailgate parties earlier and staying longer. Yes, it certainly was great to be a Michigan Wolverine!

But as the warm glow of the tailgate party faded, there was one nagging irritation: Michigan had lost to Michigan State in 2011, and the Wolverines hadnโ€™t beaten the Spartans since 2007. Situations like that are simply intolerable. 

So as the teams took the field for the 105th meeting in the rivalry, the stage was set for an instant classic. The rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State has featured some of the hardest hits in college football history, and the 2012 game would be one of the most physically brutal contests in the history of the rivalry. In a series that has featured Bubba Smith and LaMarr Woodley, Tony Mandarich and Steve Hutchinson, the 2012 game would become a classic for the ages, as Michigan offensive tackle Taylor Lewan and Michigan State defensive end William Gholston put on a legendary battle. 

In the first quarter, Michigan quarterback connected with Jeremy Gallon, easily one of the most underrated receivers in Michigan history, and Gallon zigged and zagged for a 22-yard gain. As the game unfolded, it was clear that play was an aberration. Tough defense ruled the game, and both offenses had trouble moving the ball. In the second quarter, Michigan running back Fitz Toussaint carried the ball 38 yards to the Michigan State 6-yard line, giving the Wolverines their first good scoring opportunity. Four plays later, Brendan Gibbons kicked a 24-yard field goal to give Michigan a 3-0 lead. Later in the half, Matt Wile extended the Wolverinesโ€™ lead with a 48-yard field goal. Michigan had the lead, but it would be a long time before the Wolverines could breathe easily.

Michigan State gradually began to seize the momentum in the third quarter. Andrew Maxwell connected with Paul Lang in the north end zone for a touchdown, and suddenly the Spartans had the lead, 7-6. The teams traded field goals, and with two minutes remaining, the Wolverines had a first down at their own 38-yard line. Time for just one final offensive series. With time winding down, Robinson completed a 19-yard pass to Drew Dileo, who reached the Michigan State 22-yard line. Gibbons then kicked a field goal that narrowly went through the uprights, and Michigan won, 12-10, in one of the most intense games in the history of the series.

Michigan’s season ended in disappointing fashion, but on this day, the Wolverines settled an old score with the Spartans.

Thanks to YouTube, the Big Ten Network, and YouTube poster WolverineDevotee for the attached video. As always, we own nothing and this blog post is provided strictly for the enjoyment of readers.

This and other great content can be found at newyorkwolverine.com