In a highly anticipated rivalry matchup, Michigan annihilated Michigan State in a 49-0 victory, putting an end to the tension that arose from last year’s postgame fight. The Wolverines asserted their dominance right from the start and never let up, securing a statement win.
It’s worth noting that the previous meeting between these teams was marred by the tunnel fight at Michigan Stadium, overshadowing Michigan’s convincing 29-7 triumph and the reclaiming of the Paul Bunyan Trophy. This time, there were no physical altercations, but Michigan State had to issue an apology for displaying a picture of Adolf Hitler on the jumbotron before the game.
Since that incident, Michigan has continued to soar in college football, despite facing multiple NCAA investigations. On the other hand, Michigan State fired head coach Mel Tucker due to a sexual harassment allegation, and the team now finds itself at the bottom of the Big Ten after suffering five consecutive losses.
This 116th in-state battle took place at Spartan Stadium, with the game being broadcast on NBC and livestreamed on Peacock and Fubo. Michigan had high expectations as a 25½-point favorite.
Here’s a recap of the game:
Michigan utterly dominated Michigan State, securing a resounding 49-0 victory that allowed them to retain control of the Paul Bunyan trophy. The Wolverines commanded the game from start to finish, showcasing their superiority in every aspect. This win brings their season record to a perfect 8-0, while Michigan State now holds a disappointing 2-5 overall record, suffering their fifth consecutive loss.
In the final seconds of the game, backup quarterback Alex Orji scored a rushing touchdown, extending Michigan’s lead to a staggering seven touchdowns.
J.J. McCarthy delivered a stellar performance, displaying the best half of his career. By halftime, he had accumulated 276 yards and three touchdowns, setting Michigan up for a comfortable 28-0 lead. McCarthy ultimately completed 21-of-27 passes for 287 yards and four touchdowns before being rested, along with the rest of the Michigan starters.
McCarthy’s go-to targets were tight ends Colston Loveland and AJ Barner, both of whom had over 75 receiving yards and a touchdown. Additionally, Blake Corum contributed 59 rushing yards and scored the opening touchdown. Michigan’s backups were unable to add any more points in the final 20 minutes of the game.
On the other hand, Michigan State struggled to generate any offense against Michigan’s formidable defense, gaining a mere 190 yards and converting only 10 first downs. Quarterback Katin Houser had a tough time, particularly against the nation’s top defense, and threw an interception returned for a touchdown by Mike Sainristil.
With this victory, Michigan remains undefeated at 8-0 and now enters their bye week. Their next challenge will be against Purdue in two weeks. Meanwhile, Michigan State will aim to end their month-long losing streak in their upcoming away game against Minnesota.
It’s worth mentioning that Michigan defensive back Ja’Den McBurrows, who was involved in last year’s tunnel fight, made a late interception to further emphasize their dominance over Michigan State.
J.J. McCarthy’s outstanding performance continued, culminating in 287 yards and four touchdowns. This time, he connected with his other tight end, AJ Barner, for an effortless touchdown at the goal line. The drive leading up to the touchdown was aided by multiple 15-yard penalties against Michigan State’s defense on the opening play.
Michigan State started the second half with one of their best drives, gaining multiple first downs and venturing into Wolverine territory. However, they faced a crucial fourth-and-short situation and decided to go for it. Unfortunately, miscommunication between Katin Houser and Tre Mosley led to an interception by Sainristil, who returned it 72 yards for a pick-six.
During this play, MSU right tackle Spencer Brown was ejected for a helmet-first dive at Michigan defensive end Braiden McGregor, who was on the ground.
The first half had been a complete domination by the Wolverines in East Lansing, making it one of the most lopsided halves in the history of this rivalry. Michigan held a commanding 28-point lead, excelling on both offense and defense. J.J. McCarthy was the standout performer, completing 20-of-26 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns. The Wolverine defense limited Michigan State to a mere 51 total yards and just two first downs.
Michigan had an opportunity to score once more before halftime, but a false start penalty and subsequent 10-second runoff cost them additional points. Nevertheless, the Wolverines were in complete control, and their victory seemed all but certain.
In terms of pregame notes, Michigan State had to apologize for an inappropriate trivia question displayed on the scoreboard, featuring a picture of Adolf Hitler. This blunder was attributed to a third-party source, and MSU vows not to collaborate with them in the future. Additionally, MSU debuted their black “Shadows” uniforms, complete with black helmets, jerseys, and pants.
This week, Michigan made headlines for alleged NCAA rules violations regarding scouting future opponents in-person. However, this controversy did not overshadow the game itself, as Michigan has been dominant throughout the season with an average margin of victory of 32.7 points and an incredibly stout defense. It was expected that Michigan would emerge triumphant against Michigan State, particularly given the Spartans’ offensive struggles and the presence of redshirt freshman quarterback Katin Houser who was making only his second career start.
To find out more about the game, check out the highlights and updates below.
