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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

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Nothing But โ€˜Net โ€“ Week #05 โ€“ 11/02/2026 โ€“ The Calm Before The Storm

The (#16) University of Michigan menโ€™s basketball team didnโ€™t play any games this week.  It was a rare week off, between the end of the 3-game exhibition season and the regular season.  Since they have only played exhibition games, Michiganโ€™s record is still 0-0.

The Exhibition Schedule

The schedule is kind of weird this season.  For many seasons, Michigan only played one exhibition game, usually against a hopelessly overmatched GLIAC team, in Crisler Arena, and usually very close to the start of the regular season.  Last season, Michigan played two exhibition games, one in Ann Arbor and one in Madison Square Garden, against two quality opponents (Cincinnati and St. Johnโ€™s).  This season, Michigan played three exhibition games, two of them in Crisler Arena and one of them in Grand Rapids.  They won the two exhibition games in Ann Arbor, against a โ€œcupcakeโ€ (Eastern Michigan) and a quality opponent (Oregon State).  They lost the third exhibition game, against a ranked opponent (#10 Houston), and they looked mediocre doing it.  They also had more than a week between the last exhibition game and the first regular season game, which is unusual.

The Regular Season

The regular season starts tonight with a home game against Oakland.  Michigan has had plenty of opportunities to experiment with lineup combinations, and to see most of the players in action.  They have a very challenging non-conference schedule, and the Big Ten looks as tough as ever.

The Players

Now that weโ€™ve had a chance to see most of the players in actual game situations, we can start to get a feel for what to expect from them.  My observations:

  • After two seasons of having a dominant forecourt (Danny Wolf and Vlad Goldin in 2024-2025, and Aday Mara, Morez Johnson, Jr., and Yaxel Lendeborg in 2025-2026), this seasonโ€™s group is going to be a step back.ย  Moustapha Thiam and J.P. Estrella are good, but not dominant.ย  We donโ€™t know if Marcus Mรธller, Oscar Goodman, or Jalen Reed will be able to help.ย  Mรธller hasnโ€™t played yet, and Goodman and Reed have been ineffective.
  • Michigan has a nice collection of guards this season, led by Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney, but they arenโ€™t elite enough to carry the team when the forecourt is overpowered.ย  The Houston exhibition game proved that.ย  McKenney had a terrible shooting performance, and that doomed Michigan.ย  When the guards are โ€œonโ€, Michigan should be able to stay with anyone, but if theyโ€™re โ€œoffโ€, things get a little tricky.ย  The other guards (Roddy Gayle Jr., Kenny Noland, and Ricky Liburd) might be able to help.ย  So far, Gayle has looked good in the one game he played in, Noland has been steady but unimpressive, and Liburd has been athletic but not productive.
  • The freshmen all look like freshmen.ย  Quinn Costello has shown some promise, but heโ€™s the exception.ย  Malachi Brown played in the first two exhibition games, but didnโ€™t do much.ย  Joseph Hartman looked good in the EMU exhibition game, but didnโ€™t do much in the Oregon State exhibition game.
  • Injuries have already been a problem, all involving freshmen.ย  Michiganโ€™s highest rated incoming freshman (Brandon McCoy Jr.) suffered a season-ending knee injury during the European tour this summer.ย  Another freshman (Lincoln Cosby) is still rehabbing from a knee injury of his own, and probably wonโ€™t play at all this season.ย  In addition, Mรธller missed all three exhibition games as he recovers from testicular cancer.ย  It isnโ€™t clear if/when heโ€™ll start to play.ย  Finally, Hartman missed the Houston exhibition game with a shoulder injury, and might be out for a couple weeks.

This Week

This week, Michigan plays 2 games.  On Monday (11/02/2026, 6:00 p.m., BTN), they play Oakland in Crisler Arena, then on Friday (11/06/2026, 8:00 p.m., TNT), they play (#4) Connecticut in TD Garden in Boston, MA.

Oakland was 16-16 (12-8 in Horizon League) last season.  They lost in the 1st round of their conference tournament, and didnโ€™t play in any postseason tournament.  They didnโ€™t have any impressive wins, and they had several unimpressive losses: Central Florida, Eastern Michigan, Northern Iowa, Wright State (twice), IU Indy, Cleveland State, Youngstown State, Robert Morris, Green Bay, Detroit Mercy, and Northern Kentucky.  They donโ€™t have any noteworthy players, and they donโ€™t have much height: a 6โ€™10โ€ player and a 6โ€™11โ€ player.  This is a game that Michigan should win handily.  If they struggle to put Oakland away, the rest of the season looks a lot more iffy.

Connecticut was 34-6 (17-3 in Big East) last season.  They lost to Michigan in the National Championship game.  They were very good, and theyโ€™re expected to be just as good this season.  They donโ€™t have any noteworthy players, but they have plenty of height: two 6โ€™11โ€ players and a 7โ€™0โ€ player.  This game is officially a โ€œtoss upโ€, but given how Michigan has looked in their three exhibition games, it looks like UConn has the advantage.  If Michigan can play a clean game, with low fouls and low turnovers, and above average shooting percentages, they might find a way to win it.

Check back next week to find out what happened and why.

Go Blue!