Keys to the Game: Michigan football at Michigan State

It’s that time of year again — the game many in the state of Michigan can’t wait to be over. What was once a fun time of family gathering, sitting around tailgates in your maize and blue or green and white trading friendly barbs over wine and cheese (Ann Arbor) or Natty Light and assorted nuts (East Lansing) is now, “which uncle isn’t coming for Thanksgiving if his team loses?” day.

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But we’re back to the old days in one aspect, anyway, when Michigan is expected to win this game on an annual basis. Even then, it didn’t always work out that way, of course. The Spartans usually save their best for the Wolverines, and if Michigan doesn’t match the intensity — even in years like this, when MSU is way down (especially defensively – oof) — this could absolutely be a game. U-M is not the road warrior it was from 2021-23 … far from it.

“Records do not matter in this game,” Moore said in cliche-type fashion … but he’s right. “So, you can’t look at the past and say, ‘Oh — they’re going to do that.’ We’re going to get everything they’ve got. We’re going to get their best; they’re going to get our best. So, it’ll be a great game, a physical game, a great atmosphere. That’s all we can worry about.”

But it’s rare that a bad MSU team beats an even solid Michigan team. The Wolverines have the personnel to be “good,” even, but not if they can’t beat the Spartans on the road.

No excuses this week — they need to take care of business. Here are the keys to avoiding the upset Saturday night in East Lansing.

Michigan Key No. 1 — Don’t let MSU quarterback Aidan Chiles and his receivers beat you 

Let’s be honest — if this Michigan State team has success running the ball on the Wolverines, Michigan has bigger problems than we thought. But it’s more likely the Spartans are going to try to get their yardage through the air, and they have some personnel to accomplish it. Chiles was on point last week at Indiana, completing 27-of-33 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown, and he has ability. The quick passing game limits the likelihood of turnovers and can help negate the U-M pass rush, and he’s also capable of doing some damage with is feet. He ran 8 times for 48 yards at IU and was used as the primary back on short yardage.

“He does some really good things,” Moore said. “He’s created some explosive plays with his legs, so it’s a little similar to last week as far as [that goes] … not as not as twitchy as [Washington’s Demond] Williams was, but he definitely can make those plays with his legs.

“He does a good job with play actions and things in the pocket, rolling out. So, we’ve got to do a good job containing him.”

And MSU’s Nick Marsh, too. But if you give the sophomore receiver added attention, Omari Kelly and Chrishon McCray can make you pay, too. Look for the Michigan State play callers to try to get the ball out of Chiles’ hands in a hurry, add some more to his rushing load, and try to negate U-M’s advantage against MSU’s weaker offensive line.

The U-M defense was less aggressive last week than against USC, and it played to their advantage. We hope to see more of that Saturday night.

Key No. 2 — Don’t fall too in love with the passing game

Michigan offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey is probably salivating after watching clips of the MSU pass defense. The Spartans can’t get to the quarterback, their pass defense is banged up and weak … in many of the games we’ve seen this year, opposing receivers have been so wide open there’s no Michigan State defensive back in the picture.

U-M freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood is more than capable of picking this defense apart, but the Wolverines have an elite back in Justice Haynes, too, who can have a huge game with his big play ability. We expect him to play Saturday, and for this offense to be balanced and effective. The tools are there for one of the best offensive games of the year against this opponent if they protect the ball and take what’s there.

Balance is still the key.

Michigan key No. 3 — Better special teams, and avoid the “stupid stuff”

These, along with turnovers, can be the equalizer in games like these. You know there will be chirping and extracurriculars, but when you’re the more talented team, you have more to lose. Do your job, ignore it — no 15-yard penalties, retaliation, etc. — and hammer them where it matters … on the scoreboard.

“The biggest thing is that you’re not going to win the game talking,” Moore said. “You’re not going to win the game with all the extra stuff. So, conscious effort on just attacking what we need to attack to win the football game. The fans, the crowd, their players talking … people talk. That doesn’t matter.

“So, we have to worry about executing and put in the work to go win the game. That’s it. Don’t worry about all the other stuff that can harp you from — exerting energy on things you don’t need to exert on.”

Michigan State punter Ryan Eckley, meanwhile, is fantastic and a field flipper. U-M return man Semaj Morgan needs to catch the ball and protect it, maybe even a solid return or two if Eckley outkicks the coverage. And punter Hudson Hollenbeck needs to start punting like they say he does in practice. They can’t be giving up short fields.

Michigan at MSU — The Breakdown 

Beating Washington kept all Michigan’s hopes alive, and yes, it seemed like the biggest obstacle remaining between a 9-2 record and showdown with Ohio State for all the marbles (at least in the Big Ten, and at least for Michigan and its playoff chances). But make no mistake — this U-M team isn’t good enough to take any team on the granted in a road game, especially a rival that would like nothing more than to ruin your season (and save theirs. Because let’s be honest — this is everything for them at this point).

Moore built up some good will in handling the rivals last year and finishing with two huge upsets, including Ohio State in Columbus. Much of that disappears if his team loses to at bad MSU team to knock the Wolverines out of the Big Ten and playoff pictures in October.

“Every game we go into, complacency will take away your edge,” the Michigan coach said. “If you get complacent, you get happy. You can be happy about a win, but you can’t be complacent about it. You can’t be satisfied.

“So, we’ve got to stay hungry. We’ve got to stay starving throughout this process, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

If they accomplish that Saturday night, they should be just fine.