Posted on

Michigan 49 Michigan State 0 – Game 8 Recap

GAME 8 PROJECTION vs. RESULTS

Final Score: 49-0, Michigan by 49 over Michigan State
SP+ Projection: Michigan by 19.5 (+29.5)
CD Projection: Michigan by 27 (+22)

FIVE FACTORS

GAME 8 RECAP vs. Michigan State

Another team decided to create a game plan to stop the Michigan run game. While Michigan managed to hit the magic number 50% success rate on the ground, the Spartans held the Wolverines to 2.8 yards per run play (stats removed once the score was out of hand). Fortunately for Michigan, JJ McCarthy may be the best QB in the country. McCarthy had no problem throwing the team on his back and slaughtering the Spartan defense, finishing 21-27 for 287 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2+ quarters of action. Colston Loveland caught 2 of those touchdowns on twin 22-yard receptions, while AJ Barner and Roman Wilson also found the end zone. JJ and the starters were so efficient that Michigan’s depth players were able to play almost the entire second half.

On the other side of the ball, Jesse Minter and Steve Clinkscale finally put the finishing touches on a shutout for the Michigan defense. For the second time in B1G Ten play, the defensive unit outscored the opponent’s offensive unit thanks to another Pick-Six by captain Mike Sainristil in the 3rd quarter. Linebacker Junior Colson had a great bounce back game, leading the team in tackles with 11. Edge player Braiden McGregor led in the tackles-for-loss (TFL) column with 1.5. Eight different players made a play in the Spartan backfield as the Wolverines accumulated 8 TFLs total on the night.

All of the special teams units combined to execute cleanly with no major mistakes, which was the primary objective against an overmatched rival. The main item of note was that Tyler Morris seems to have seized control of the punt return role. He also made a good decision to field a bouncing punt, and did so cleanly and avoided taking a major hit in the process. I look forward to future explosive plays from Morris as a returner.

A road game against a bitter rival amidst major off-field distractions posed a major threat to derail Michigan’s special season to this point. Instead, the Wolverines seemed even more locked in and focused on the task at hand. It was another dominant performance in a season full of similar games against overwhelmed foes. This one was the most complete decimation to date, and I am glad they saved such a beat down for Sparty. Next is a bye week to rest and heal for the pivotal November stretch of B1G Ten games. Onward!

Posted on

Michigan vs Michigan State Football — Looking Back – 2022

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

The final installment of this year’s series looking back at the football rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State takes us back just one year, to the 2022 matchup.

By 2022, Michigan’s status as one of the elite powers in college football had been firmly reestablished. By contrast, Michigan State was struggling. Just a year earlier, Spartan fans and alumni puffed out their chests and shouted, “Tuck comin!” By 2022, Michigan State seemed to have lost its way.

For its part, Michigan had undergone some changes in 2022. Do-everything superstar Aidan Hutchinson had graduated and joined the neighboring Detroit Lions in the NFL. JJ McCarthy had won the quarterback competition against Cade McNamara and he and running back Blake Corum were now the clear leaders of the team.

Truth be told, the game itself was pretty boring. Michigan exhibited a methodical dominance that seemed to lull Michigan State to sleep. On the field, at least.

The Wolverines relied on five field goals by Jake Moody to top the Spartans, 29-7. The onslaught of field goals produced the numbing effect of Novocain.

Oddly enough, the real drama began after the game ended. The viral power of social media produced sketchy reports of a fracas in the tunnel following the game. Rumors on social media platforms quickly gave way to credible news reports detailing a violent confrontation. Even the most cynical football fans were stunned.

The confrontation in the tunnel raised tensions between the two institutions to an unprecedented level. The months following the game produced an animosity that represented more than mere bragging rights.

Fans, alumni, and even casual observers anticipate the 2023 game with an awkward fascination. The 2022 game? Strangely enough, it will be remembered for decades.

Thanks to ESPN, YouTube, and YouTube poster ZTL for the following broadcast of the 2022 game. As always, I own nothing and I do not profit in any way from this blog post.


Posted on

Michigan Football Podcast — State Championship – Game 8 MSU Preview

Support the Podcast, Get Gear

Phil @pcallihan and Clint @Clint_Derringer preview the game vs MSU – SP+ analysis, commentary, look back at notable games in the rivalry’s history, and prediction.

Earn rewards for listening to this podcast. Download the Autograph app and use referral code: umgoblue

Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Pandora | Stitcher | Email | RSS |


Podcast Archive

Podcast Summary

  • Michigan vs Michigan State game analysis.0:00
    • Phil Callihan and Clint Derringer preview Michigan’s game versus Michigan State, discussing the teams’ strengths and weaknesses, as well as the rivalry between the two teams.
    • Clint Derringer analyzes the SP plus rankings for the teams, finding them closely grouped from 52nd to 56th, with Michigan State ranked 55th and Minnesota ranked one spot behind them at 56th.
    • Clint Derringer discusses Michigan State’s inconsistency under interim coach, citing coaching change and off-field issues as factors.
  • Michigan-Michigan State rivalry and off-field drama.5:05
    • Michigan State fans use Michigan’s off-field drama to fuel trash talk.
    • Michigan football team’s culture of resilience and teamwork is tested on the road against Michigan State.
    • Phil Callihan and Clint Derringer discuss the intensity of the Michigan State-Michigan rivalry, with Phil noting that it has the most outliers and craziness compared to other rivalries.
    • Players seem to be taking the rivalry more seriously this week, with Blake Corum specifically mentioning that it’s a big game and means a lot to them.
  • Michigan football, past games and rivalries.12:25
    • Blake Corum mentions the rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State, expressing uncertainty which team means more to him.
    • Phil Callihan highlights the impact of the COVID season on the team’s performance, with players reflecting on the loss to Michigan State as a turning point.
    • Phil Callihan recounts a memorable moment from the 1990 Michigan Wolverines football game against Michigan State, where a touchdown catch by Desmond Howard was initially called incomplete due to a lack of visibility in the stands.
    • Callihan reflects on the strange nature of the game, including Demetrius Brown’s multiple interceptions and Michigan’s near victory despite these mistakes.
  • Michigan vs. Michigan State football rivalry.18:47
    • Clint Derringer highlights Kenneth Walker’s iconic performance in 2021, with a possible upset on the Michigan State side.
    • Clint Derringer predicts Michigan will win 34-7 against Michigan State, with a close halftime score of 14-7.
    • Phil Callihan recounts the history of Michigan State’s dominance over Michigan, including the 1987 game where Michigan lost 17-11 despite throwing only 7 interceptions.
  • Michigan football, past and present.23:47
    • Phil Callihan recounts a memorable game against Michigan State, including a late-game comeback and a painful loss.
    • Clint Derringer agrees, highlighting four rivalry games from his college years with distinct personalities and memorable moments.
    • Phil Callihan and Clint Derringer reminisce about a legendary performance by Braylon Edwards in a Michigan football game, sharing memories and insights from their perspective as fans.
    • The speakers discuss the impact of JJ McCarthy’s legs on the Michigan offense, with Callihan expressing concern about how much is too much in terms of running.
    • Clint Derringer and Phil Callihan discuss the physicality of the Michigan State vs. Michigan football game, with Derringer noting that Michigan State will try to physically shake or punish Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy.
    • Callihan brings up the example of Braylon Edwards’ game against Michigan State, where he was mugged and the referees were cowardly in not calling a penalty.
  • Michigan football game strategy and player performance.31:16
    • Clint Derringer hopes to see Michigan’s defense dominate and limit first downs against Michigan State, as the Wolverines have been giving up easy scores early in games.
    • Phil Callihan recalls a memorable play at Michigan Stadium, where a punt block led to a Michigan State touchdown, highlighting the importance of special teams in the rivalry game.
    • Clint Derringer wants to see a dominant performance from Michigan’s secondary, with no coverage busts or missed tackles.
    • Phil Callihan and Blake Corum discuss JJ McCarthy’s risk-taking behavior as a physical Quarterback, acknowledging McCarthy’s hard-headedness and love for the game.
    • Phil Callihan wants to see JJ McCarthy reined in and not get hurt in the game against Michigan State, while also wanting to see the Michigan defense take over and silence the opposing fans in their home stadium.
  • Michigan football’s chances against Michigan State.39:58
    • Clint Derringer predicts Michigan will win by 27 points, citing a dominant defense and quick trigger from the Spartan fan base.
    • Jim Harbaugh emphasizes the importance of November games and the upcoming rivalry matchup against Michigan State.
Posted on

Michigan vs Michigan State Football — Looking Back – 2012

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

The fourth installment of this year’s series looking back at classic games between Michigan and Michigan State takes us back to 2012.

The previous season had seen a complete restoration of Michigan pride, with one notable exception. Brady Hoke was indoctrinated as the head coach by renewing an old Michigan tradition: Michigan lost to Michigan State in Hoke’s first year, just as the Wolverines had lost to the Spartans in Bo Schembechler’s first year.

The 2012 campaign proved to be considerably more challenging than 2011 for Michigan. The Wolverines dropped early games to Alabama and Notre Dame, and some of the luster from the previous season seemed to have faded. The grudge match against Michigan State proved to be just the tonic for the Wolverines.

Once the game began, it quickly took on the character of many clashes between Michigan and Michigan State, evolving into a hard-hitting, low-scoring affair. There were plenty of offensive theatrics, but they produced few points. On this day, the Wolverines relied heavily on the dependable feet of their kickers, and they delivered in the clutch.

Michigan trailed by a point as the fourth quarter began, but Brendan Gibbons promptly erased that deficit with a 21-yard field goal. The lead didn’t last long, as Michigan State drove deep into Wolverine territory before the Michigan defense forced a Dan Conroy field goal.

Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson responded with a 43-yard run to the Michigan State 32-yard line, but once again, a Wolverines’ drive was thwarted. A valiant effort by the Michigan defense gave the Wolverines one final shot at victory.

Robinson then led the Michigan offense on a courageous drive, battling a feisty Michigan State defense every step of the way. With just five seconds remaining, Gibbons battled a tough angle to kick a 39-yard field goal, giving Michigan a 12-10 win.

Michigan’s powerful offense never hit its stride in this game, a testament to the hard-hitting Michigan State defense. It’s fitting that this classic, defensive-oriented affair was the 900th victory in Michigan football history.

Thanks to ESPN, the Big Ten Network, YouTube and YouTube poster WolverineDevotee for the highlight film of this game. As always, I own and do not profit from this blog post in any way.

Posted on

Michigan vs Michigan State Football — Looking Back – 2007

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

The third installment of this year’s series looking back at the football rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State takes us back 2007.

Lloyd Carr’s final team began the season with a lot of expectations; too many, as it turned out. The Wolverines came in with one of the best rosters in the last 50 years of Michigan football. Quarterback Chad Henne, running back Mike Hart and offensive tackle Jake Long were all seniors with significant experience, and they led an explosive offense. Mario Manningham and Adrian Arrington were dangerous receiving threats, and Carson Butler and Mike Massey were both reliable tight ends. The defense was led by outside linebacker Shawn Crable, with speedy cornerback Morgan Trent able to provide blanket coverage on receivers. Player for player, the Wolverines could match up with any team in the nation.

Unfortunately, the matchups didn’t end all that well in the first two games, as Michigan fell to Appalachian State and Oregon, starting the season with an inauspicious record of no wins and two losses. However, by the time Michigan was about to face Michigan State, the Wolverines had reeled off seven consecutive wins, and were playing with the kind of zest that led them to 11 consecutive victories in 2006. Michigan State had a new coach named Mark Dantonio, who went on to make quite an impact on the rivalry.

Things started well for Michigan. After Jamar Adams came up with a clutch interception, Hart added a couple of long runs and Henne connected with Butler to give Michigan a 14-3 lead that seemed to be commanding. Emphasis on the word “seemed.”

The second half was quite different. Jehuu Caulcrick got things started with a 1-yard plunge for a Michigan State touchdown, and suddenly, there was a footballl game in East Lansing. As the fourth quarter began, MSU quarterback Brian Hoyer tossed a 5-yard touchdown pass to Kellen Davis, and the Spartans grabbed the lead. Seven minutes later, Caulcrick scored on another 1-yard run, and things looked pretty bleak for Michigan.

With precious little time left, the Wolverines woke up and started playing like a championship team. Following an injury to Henne, freshman Ryan Mallett came in to play quarterback for Michigan. Mallett was promptly sacked and stripped of the ball, but Hart alertly picked up the fumble and fought his way for 15 yards and a critical first down. Following several plays with Mallett at quarterback, Henne returned to throw a beautiful touchdown pass to Greg Matthews, and the Wolverines were back within stiking distance. Then, on 3rd & 11, Henne completed a daring pass to Manningham, who walked a veritable to tightrope to earn a first down for Michigan. A few plays later, Henne found Manningham again, as the receiver caught the ball while falling backward for an amazing touchdown. Michigan had retaken the lead, for good.

Michigan State got the ball back, and Crable promptly sacked Hoyer to stick the Spartans in a deep hole. Three incompletions later, the Wolverines took possession of the ball and the game, earning one of the most hard-fought victories in the history of the rivalry.

Following the game, Hart referred to Michigan State as “little brother,” an infamous quote that fired up the Spartans for more than decade to follow. But on this day, Hart performed in a clutch manner, and the Wolverines earned a win for the ages.

Thanks to ABC Sports, YouTube, and YouTube poster Pizza Pizzichetti for the accompanying broadcast of this game. As always, I own nothing, and this blog post is strictly for the enjoyment of readers.