What they're saying after Michigan's 31-20 win at Michigan State

The Michigan Wolverines moved to 6-2 on the season and 4-1 in Big Ten play with a 31-20 win over rival Michigan State on Saturday in East Lansing. Naturally, the performance drew plenty of reactions on both sides of the rivalry.

Here were some of the takeaways from the Michigan and MSU sides, along with a few national perspectives for good measure.

Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore

“It means everything. We talked ad nauseam about how important this game was throughout the week. We talked about it after the game against Washington, and then on Tuesday, we talked about the history of the rivalry, what it means to win this game for the state, for the city, you know, the records. So, it means everything for us to have won this game and have Paul back at home again.”

Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith

“OK, obviously, it’s just not good enough. I thought these guys prepared throughout the week, energized for this one, and came down to sloppy play. I look at the first half offensively, penalties, lack of execution, was pleased defensively bowing up. We give them the ball. First drive, bowing up, holding up to a field goal. Defensively, I thought in the first half, they kept us in that one, and then you get into the start of the second half, a couple tough drives in the third quarter, but finally get an answer offensively, and we got opportunities twice. Their side of the field, fourth down, don’t get it done, and just was not good enough to overcome some of the penalties we inflicted on ourselves, a couple tough calls, not good enough tonight.”

Ryan Van Bergen, The Wolverine Postgame Show

Podcast: Michigan leans on run game, defense in win over Michigan State
“It is a win in the Big Ten against a rival opponent, and you can never knock that. That’s going to be something that is not easily achieved by a lot of teams. That being said, I feel like that was… we’ve talked a lot about on this podcast about this team being young and needing to mature and needing to progress. To me, that wasn’t that much better. I don’t think it was any better than the Oklahoma game, a better result, but offensively, a lot was left to be desired outside of the running backs.

“Defensively. We played really well, but I also think the challenge of an offense that is dynamic, that’s just not what Michigan State offers. So happy to have a win. It’s just a bit of a cloudy day on a win.”

Chris Balas, The Wolverine

Michigan 31, MSU 20: Notes, quotes, and observations — that old familiar feeling 
“Michigan handled Michigan State in East Lansing, 31-20, for a fourth straight win in the series, pulling away in the second half. The Wolverines made it harder on themselves than they had to, probably, the MSU fan base was somewhat relieved it wasn’t worse and that a garbage time touchdown beat the spread (dare we say, “defeated with dignity”), and many Michigan fans were disappointed overall. 

“Welcome back to the old days of this rivalry, when even the MSU coach’s name was the same. From 2003-06, another John Smith (fitting ‘L’ in the middle) lost four in a row, coming close twice but losing in overtime both times, once to a very good Michigan team in Ann Arbor.

“Some U-M fans took those wins but grumbled … fast forward 20 years, and you’re going to hear a lot of it after this one, too. And yeah, some of it is kind of understandable. The cliché goes you’re either getting better or getting worse, and it was hard to say Sherrone Moore’s team improved a lot over last week’s win against Washington. 

“Yes, it was a rivalry game, and on the road. At the same time, that this was even a game at halftime (10-7) was somewhat disappointing. We’ll go back as far as the early 1980s to compare this MSU team to some of the talent-deficient squads back then, simply overmatched at just about every position. “

Clayton Sayfie, The Wolverine

Best and worst from Michigan’s win over Michigan State
“MSU quarterback Aidan Chiles has had well-documented issues with turnovers throughout his career, and that popped up almost immediately after the game started — 46 seconds in.

“On the third play of the game, a third-and-2 designed quarterback run, Chiles lost the ball, which was forced out by junior safety Brandyn Hillman and recovered by senior linebacker Jimmy Rolder. Michigan took the lead with a field goal shortly thereafter.

“That helped set the tone for the contest. Michigan held MSU to 305 total yards on 72 plays from scrimmage, an average of 4.2 yards per play. The Spartans gained 75 of those yards on a meaningless (except for those who had the Wolverines covering) nine-play drive that ended up in a garbage-time touchdown with 7 seconds remaining.”

Austin Meek, The Athletic

Michigan-Michigan State has become too lopsided to be toxic: Wolverines final thoughts
“It’s time to retire the narratives that have surrounded this game for the past few years. Jim Harbaugh, Mark Dantonio and Mel Tucker are long gone from the sidelines, and this rivalry is no longer the toxic mess it was in 2022. It’s not as though these teams have suddenly started getting along — there’s still plenty of hate to go around — but it’s hard for a rivalry to burn too hot when the stakes are this low.

“Nobody will be talking about this game a week from now, let alone next year. The Wolverines celebrated with the Paul Bunyan Trophy and cranked the music in their locker room, but it was a one-night deal. For a rivalry to be toxic, the teams have to be able to hit each other where it hurts. The past three years, Michigan State hasn’t been able to do that. The Spartans couldn’t do it Saturday night, even though Michigan gave them chances.”

Joe Rexrode, The Athletic

Michigan State’s Jonathan Smith era is just starting, and probably soon ending
“Saturday’s uninspired 31-20 loss to rival Michigan at Spartan Stadium drops Smith to 8-12, which isn’t fireable on its own, even in today’s accelerated environment for judging coaching tenures. He took over a mess. He didn’t have as much money for his first roster as he expected. He got this job by winning 25 games in his last three seasons at Oregon State, of all places. His buyout is north of $30 million.

“Yet amid a coaching carousel that’s hurtling toward standing room only, do not forget about Michigan State (3-5) and its five losses in a row and counting.

“It’s easy to find people who like Smith personally at Michigan State, but it’s hard to find anyone who thinks he can get this done. And if a coach isn’t supported by the people who matter in today’s environment — while Curt Cignetti can go to a place that never had good football and create instant national title contention — then the cost of a pointless lame-duck year far exceeds the benefit of the corresponding buyout trim.”

Stewart Mandel, The Athletic

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“No. 25 Michigan (6-2, 4-1) technically remains in the CFP picture as well, but the Wolverines will need more consistency from QB Bryce Underwood. The freshman was a nonfactor (8 of 17 for 86 yards) in Saturday’s 31-20 win against struggling Michigan State (3-5, 0-5), but Michigan rode its tailback tandem of Justice Haynes (26 carries, 152 yards, two TDs) and Jordan Marshall (15 carries, 110 yards, one TD).

“It’s not looking good for second-year Spartans coach Jonathan Smith, now 3-11 in Big Ten play. His Oregon State success came as part of a slow rebuild, and no one in college football has patience for rebuilds anymore. Thanks, Curt Cignetti.”

David Hale, ESPN.com

College football Week 9 highlights: Top games, plays, stats
“Michigan threw for just 86 yards, but Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall racked up 262 yards on the ground and three touchdowns to knock off Michigan State 31-20.

“The Wolverines have now won eight straight against hated rivals Michigan State and Ohio State. Of course, as Michigan fans are always quick to note, there are no losers in this rivalry. Michigan alums get their football success, and Michigan State alums get a free sub with every 10 purchases at Blimpie.”