A win is a win, and Michigan left Piscataway with one over Rutgers in the worst game for the Wolverines’ defense so far this season. After not allowing more than 20 points in a game through seven games, it was Rutgers of all teams that broke that streak. And while the offense showed some encouraging signs with freshman quarterback Tommy Carr, there are still plenty of questions heading into one of the most important games of the season against Michigan State — no matter what the Spartans’ record
says.
The Paul Bunyan Trophy is up for grabs this weekend, and Michigan — and its coaching staff, specifically — can’t afford to overlook its in-state rival.
Fact: Jason Beck’s seat is still incredibly hot
One Carr flu game isn’t going to be enough for Michigan fans to shy away from calling for offensive coordinator Jason Beck’s head. The Wolverines scored their most points in a conference game this season last week, but the offense still ranks 127th in total offense and second-last in the Big Ten in passing offense. Much of Michigan’s success came from the creativity of Carr to escape the pocket and take off.
The run game still struggled as a collective, running for a little more than three yards per carry despite Savion Hiter logging 76 yards on 20 carries. The offensive line is still being shuffled around due to injury and can’t seem to find a rhythm. Beck still has much to figure out and not much time to do so.
Michigan State also boasts one of the worst offenses in all of the FBS, but the Spartans’ defense is not nearly as bad as Rutgers. Michigan State is at 50th in yards allowed per game and 66th in points allowed per game. If the Spartans somehow find a way to win a low-scoring slugfest, it could be the end of the line for Beck.
Fiction: Michigan State’s record and rivalry losing streak makes this like any other game
The worst thing Kyle Whittingham and the coaching staff can do is treat Michigan State like any other game. Earlier in the week, Whittingham mentioned the intensity and “nastiness” of the rivalry, referencing the tunnel incident from 2022. He also said the in-state rivalry is “not the biggest one, but it’s a big one.”
All those are exactly the trap Whittingham could fall into that leads the Spartans to win.
Although Michigan has won the last four meetings in the rivalry — as well as Michigan State losing six straight games this season and remaining winless in conference play — there’s still everything to lose for the Wolverines. It’s hard to feel convinced Whittingham understands the pure physicality that takes place in the rivalry, given what he’s said about it.
Michigan State might not be having the season it envisioned, but this game is circled on the calendar for the Spartans despite also having a first-year head coach in Pat Fitzgerald. Michigan has the more talented roster, the better record and the recent history on its side, but none of that matters if the Wolverines come out flat and allow Michigan State to dictate the physicality of the game. Whittingham has emphasized the importance of this rivalry, and now his team needs to show it actually understands that as well.
