While Big Ten East rivals Ohio State and Penn State battled in Columbus, the reigning conference champion hammered rival Michigan State on Saturday night in East Lansing. Michigan dispatched the Spartans by a score of 49-0 to improve to 8-0.
What did we learn about the Michigan Wolverines on Saturday?
Michigan Was Flawless
The most consistent and dominant team in this college football season has been the Michigan Wolverines, and they laid another piece of evidence in front of everyone on Saturday night. Michigan outgained the Michigan State Spartans 477 to 182 and racked up 28 first downs to only ten for the home team. The Wolverines starters were out of the game by the midpoint of the third quarter, but J.J. McCarthy completed 21 of 27 passes for 287 yards with four scores before heading to the bench. This was the first shutout victory over Michigan State for the Wolverines in 23 years, and the 49-0 loss was the most significant home defeat in history for the Spartans.
Tight Ends Stepping Up
Michigan likely could have succeeded with any attack plan, but they chose to pick on Michigan State’s linebackers and target tight ends, Colston Loveland and AJ Barner. Barner had a career-high 99 yards and a touchdown on nine catches, and Loveland had four catches for 79 yards with two touchdowns. Loveland now has 23 catches (second-most on the team) and 364 yards, along with four touchdowns on the season. He is quickly becoming the second-favorite of McCarthy, right behind Roman Wilson. The emergence of Loveland and Barner gives the Wolverines another way to hurt opposing defenses and is helping McCarthy play at a Heisman Trophy level.
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Historic DefenseMichigan State only had ten first downs on the night, and four came against the third-string defense after the regular rotation players had been pulled. Through eight games, opponents are averaging just 5.9 points per game and only 4.18 yards per play. For context, the 2022 Wolverines allowed 16.1 points per game. The loaded 2022 Georgia Bulldogs defense only gave up 14 points per game, a terrific mark but one that is more than eight points higher than what Michigan is currently allowing. Despite speculation about another NCAA rules investigation and doubts about the quality of Michigan’s schedule thus far, the Wolverines are handling all comers businesslike and suffocating every offense they face.
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