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Preview: Michigan vs. Michigan State

RUSH OFFENSE vs. MICHIGAN STATE RUSH DEFENSE
Michigan is #22 in rushing offense (212.1 yards/game) and #10 in yards per carry (5.78). The team took a little bit of a hit over the past six quarters without star running back Justice Haynes (95 carries, 705 yards, 7 TD), who missed last week’s game after getting hurt against USC. Haynes could possibly return, but the running back position is still in solid hands with Jordan Marshall (25 carries, 133 yards, 1 TD last week). It’s just not very deep since the next two guys are true freshman Jasper Parker (15 carries, 65 yards, 1 TD) and walk-on Bryson Kudzdal (6 carries, 30 yards, 1 TD). Starting LT Evan Link will also be out after suffering a leg injury last week, so Michigan will be starting three redshirt freshmen on the offensive line: LT Blake Frazier, RG Jake Guarnera, and RT Andrew Sprague. Michigan State is #52 in rush defense (131.3 yards allowed/game) and #81 in yards allowed per carry (4.24). Against other Big Ten teams, they’re giving up over 39 points per game, 5.1 yards/carry, and 181 rushing yards/game. Junior LB Jordan Hall (6’3″, 238) leads the team with 51 tackles, followed by senior LB Wayne Matthews III (6’2″, 230), a former Old Dominion Monarch with 41 stops. Former Michigan DT commit Alex VanSumeren (6’3″, 295) ranks third on the team with 29 tackles. The only Big Ten team the Spartans have “stopped” on the ground is Nebraska (31 attempts, 67 yards, 3 TD), but that game included 5 sacks for 35 yards, so the true rushing numbers were more like 26 carries for 102 yards. In other words, Michigan should be able to run the ball pretty consistently even if Haynes is out.
Advantage: Michigan

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Michigan’s 10 Longest Plays vs. Michigan State

If you’re like me and you enjoy big plays, here are some great ones against the Spartans over the years:

1. Dennis Fitzgerald 99-yard kickoff return touchdown (1960)
2. Desmond Howard 95-yard kickoff return touchdown (1990)
3. Cade McNamara 93-yard touchdown pass to Andrel Anthony, Jr. (2021)
4. Drew Henson 81-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Knight (1999)
5. Derrick Alexander 80-yard punt return touchdown (1992)
6. Shea Patterson 79-yard touchdown pass to Donovan Peoples-Jones (2018)
7. Rob Lytle 75-yard touchdown run (1976)
8. Mike Sainristil 72-yard interception return touchdown (2023)
9. Anthony Thomas 69-yard touchdown run (1998)
10. Tom Hendricks 67-yard punt return touchdown (1954)

Hit the jump for some clips.

Michigan 24, Washington 7

NOTE: Again, I apologize for the inconsistent posting schedule lately. Too many things going on right now. I’ve started preview posts the past two weeks and just haven’t been able to finish.

Bryce Underwood is a dude. The talent of Bryce Underwood is off the charts. Michigan has never seen anything like him on their roster. The closest is Drew Henson or Devin Gardner, but Underwood is a twitchier athlete than Henson and a better thrower than Gardner. Underwood completed 21/27 passes for 230 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions, and he looked to be in control the entire game. There were a few drops, but I don’t love taking away the drops and making pronouncements about what his completion percentage should be, because then you’re not comparing apples to apples when it comes to other quarterbacks or general expectations. It’s sufficient enough to describe his accuracy by saying he completed 21/27 passes.

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2025 Ex-Wolverine Updates: Week 6

FORMER PLAYERS

Raheem Anderson, C (Western Michigan): Anderson is a backup lineman for Western Michigan.

Andrel Anthony, WR (Duke): Anthony had 4 catches for 29 yards in a 45-21 win over Cal.

Jeremiah Beasley, LB (Missouri): Missouri (5-0) had a bye. Beasley has 12 tackles and 1 forced fumble this season.

Kechaun Bennett, DE (UCLA): Bennett did not play in a 42-37 win over Penn State.

Tristan Bounds, OT (Arizona): Bounds is a backup offensive tackle for Arizona.

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Michigan 24, Wisconsin 10

We have a new #1. There was talk in the off-season about Michigan wanting to add size at the receiver position, and Donovan McCulley was the guy who came in to add that element. The 6’5″, 215 lb. former quarterback has had some glitches in his understanding of what Bryce Underwood was thinking or where the routes should go, and there was at least one more on Saturday. But McCulley certainly looked the part of a #1 receiver on Saturday, making amazing leaping catches and running after the catch. He made 6 catches for 112 yards and 1 touchdown, including an amazing contortion on the left sideline to get one foot down for a 33-yard gain. His touchdown catch was an RPO where he bounced off a couple tacklers and then beat defenders to the pylon for a 29-yard score. He’s not going to amaze anyone with his speed, but when off-season comparisons to Nico Collins came in, most people rolled their eyes. I think now he’s putting on display where those comparisons came from. He registered the first 100+ yard game for a Michigan wide receiver since Roman Wilson against Purdue on November 4, 2023.

Hit the jump for more.