Paul Bunyan will be in Ann Arbor for the next year as Michigan took care of business against Michigan State, 29-7.
MSU couldn't get anything going offensively in the second half. Michigan's defense definitely played well, but it looked like it had more to do with MSU's offensive playcalling, like lining up in the shotgun on a 4th and 1.
Michigan's ground game was great once again, racking up 276 yards rushing. It is now 8-0 and looking like it'll be in the top four of next week's College Football Playoff rankings.
Final: Michigan 29, Michigan State 7
Michigan picks off Thorne
-Q4 4:04: Thorne is picked off over the middle. Can this game end now?
-Q4 5:52: Michigan is punting for the first time tonight after an oustanding catch by Ronnie Bell is overturned on replay.
-Q4 11:09: Michigan State got a first down, but they punted shortly after. Progress?
Michigan gets in the end zone
-Q4 12:47: That'll probably do it for this one. Corum scores from four yards out. It's 29-7.
-Q4 13:31: You'll never guess what MSU just did on offense. That's right, they went three-and-out. And then they had trouble with the snap...
Moody hits FG No. 5
-Q4 14:45: Moody hits his fifth field goal. He's the MVP tonight. 22-7.
End of third quarter: Michigan leads 19-7
-Q3 2:30: MSU can't get anything going offensively. Another three-and-out.
Michigan settles for three again
-Q3 3:58: Pretty conservative play call on 3rd and 11. Michigan settles for another field goal. Moody is 4-4. 19-7.
-Q3 8:33: MSU goes three-and-out. Michigan is starting get some safety help over the top to help with those deep balls to Coleman and Reed.
Michigan adds another FG
-Q3 9:15: Michigan settles for three again. Moody's third FG makes it 16-7.
Second half underway
Michigan gets the ball to start the third quarter.
First half stats
MSU
Thorne: 10-13, 134 yards, TD
Collins: 6 rushes, 17 yards
Coleman: 4 catches, 104 yards, TD
Michigan
McCarthy: 9-14, 110 yards, TD
Corum: 13 rushes, 76 yards, 1 catch, 2 yards, TD
Schoonmaker: 4 catches, 57 yards
Halftime: Michigan 13, Michigan State 7
-Q2 0:45: Tre Mosely stepped out of bounds before he had the first down on second down. That could be a huge play. But, Michigan jumps offsides on the punt. First down MSU.
Michigan adds a field goal
-Q2 1:08: Michigan has to settle for three again. MSU is lucky this is still a one score game. 13-7.
-Q2 7:31: MSU turns it over on downs. Michigan stuffs them on 4th and 1.
Michigan retakes the lead
-Q2 11:58: Touchdown Michigan. McCarthy with a shovel pass to Corum for the TD. Michigan retakes the lead 10-7.
End of first quarter: Michigan State leads Michigan 7-3
Michigan State scores first TD
-Q1 0:23: Touchdown MSU. Thorne to Keon Coleman. He made two great contested catches on that drive. MSU up 7-3.
Michigan scores first
-Q1 2:20: Michigan settles for three after getting inside the 10. They lead 3-0.
-Q1 7:01: After two bad spots, a review determines MSU was short of the line to gain on fourth down. Michigan ball.
MSU recovers a fumble
-Q1 9:03: Cornelius Johnson fumbles, and MSU recovers.
-Q1 12:41: Some self-inflicted wounds kill what looked like a promising drive for MSU, but they're punting.
Kickoff
Michigan won the toss and deferred to the second half. Michigan State is up first on offense.
Injury designations
Michigan State—Safeties Kendell Brooks and Jaden Mangham will play, as will DEs Jeff Pietrowski and Avery Dunn. Long snapper Hank Pepper and LB Ben VanSumeren appear to be out.
Michigan—QB Cade McNamara is out once again, as is TE Erick All.
Pregame
Well, it's that time of year. The Michigan-Michigan State game is finally here. This time around, it will be preceded by two weeks of trash talk from both sides.
Michigan is heavily favored at home, but history tells us that doesn't necessarily mean anything. Two of the last three times Michigan was the home favorite against MSU (2020, 2017), MSU won. Rivalry games are weird like that.
However, Michigan *is* the far better team on paper. It has the better offensive line, better pass rush, and much better run game and defense overall. It should win this game easily, but that's why they play the games.
Follow along for live updates from Detroit News contributor Matthew Scheidel.
Michigan State at Michigan
▶ Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor
▶ TV/radio: ABC/760, 950 AM
▶ Records: Michigan State 3-4, 1-3 Big Ten; Michigan 7-0, 4-0
▶ Line: Michigan by 22½
▶ Series: Michigan leads 71-38-5
