Michigan vs. Michigan State (FV’s College Game of the Week)
No. 24 Michigan State fell to No. 6 Michigan, 21-7, at home on Saturday, despite attempts to intimidate the Wolverines during their pregame warm-up.
No. 6 Michigan checks off another team on their revenge tour after beating No. 24 Michigan State on the road, 21-7, despite the Spartans’ attempts to intimidate the Wolverines during their pregame warm-up.
Though Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, and Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio, acknowledged that the highly emotional matchup would exemplify sportsmanship, the Spartans broke the agreement before the game even started, locking arms and descending upon the Wolverine’s who were already warming up. Michigan’s Lawrence Marshall and Devin Bush were ‘clotheslined’ in the process.
However, Bush was not going to take that lying down.
The linebacker made his way to the middle of the field and began using his cleats to scuff the Spartans logo, before he was eventually stopped. A further scuffle ensued before the teams were separated from each other.
Jim Harbaugh said during his post-game conference that the Wolverines were not going to have been intimidated by the Spartan’s attempts to rile his team – and the Wolverines certainly proved they were not shaken.
Michigan held the Spartans to a measly 94 yards of total offense, their fewest in a game since 1964, which also came against Michigan. Spartan quarterback Brian Lewerke finished 5-25, which ranks as the worst completion percentage from a Big 10 quarterback in the past 20 seasons. While Michigan State struggled in the pass-game, they only recorded 15 yards from the run.
In a ridiculous shutdown of the Spartans’ offense, Michigan out-gained and out-rushed Michigan State by leaps and bounds. The Wolverines passing game recorded 395 yards to the Spartans’ 94, while their run game put up 183 yards to the Spartans’ 15.
Despite the complete annihilation of Michigan State’s offense, the score was close nearly the entire game. Tied 7-7 in the third quarter, Michigan came up big on a 79-yard touchdown by wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones, making the game 14-7.
With 10 minutes left in the fourth, Michigan scored again after a six-minute drive, making the game 21-7. The touchdown served as the nail in the coffin, as Michigan State was unable to answer.
As the clock expired, Michigan stormed the field and celebrated their victory on the Spartans logo.
It goes without saying that this game has been highly anticipated by both sides after Michigan’s loss last year to Michigan State, 14-10. Upon being asked if he thought the ‘tide had turned’ in his difference-making touchdown, Peoples-Jones had a bigger moment in mind.
“The tide has been turned. The tide turned last year when we lost,” Peoples-Jones said.
Michigan’s Chase Winovich delivered a final blow to Spartan nation in a post-game interview when he referred to Michigan State as their “little brother,” alluding to a comment originally made by former Michigan running back Mike Hart in 2008.
“Sometimes, your little brother starts acting up, and you just gotta put them in place.”
Michigan moves into the top spot in the Big 10 conference after Purdue pulled off a shocking upset against No. 2 Ohio State, beating the Buckeyes 49-20.
Michigan’s so-called ‘revenge tour’ will continue next week in Ann Arbor, as they take on No. 18 Penn State, who barely scraped past an unranked Indiana in a 33-28 win. Michigan lost to Penn State last year in a brutal offensive beating, 43-13.
Michigan State will go on to face Purdue at home.