Michigan Football needs to take Michigan State more seriously

During Jim Harbaugh’s tenure, one of his most consistent frustrating losses has been to Michigan State. It’s just mind-boggling why Michigan football continues to botch this rivalry game.

Just to put into perspective the difference in talent the last 3-4 years between both schools recruiting classes. From 2017-2020, MSU has had the #36, #31, #33, and #44 ranked recruiting classes. If we count the 2021 recruiting class as well, MSU is again ranked #44. So, the theme? MSU has never had a top-30 recruiting class in all of its past five recruiting cycles.

Now, let’s look at U-M’s past five recruiting cycles. Since 2017, U-M has had the #5, #22, #8, #14, and in 2021, the #13 ranked recruiting classes. Now, I want to be clear. It’s not like Michigan football has had elite recruiting classes every year. In fact, it seems like U-M has hovered around the top 10-15 for the last four cycles.

Not all of these classes will blow fan’s minds, and frankly, with the brand that U-M has, some of these mid-teens classes are unacceptable. Michigan football should have a top-10 class in football every season. And that’s part of the problem. Recruits want to go to a place where they can play AND win.

Michigan hasn’t been a winning factory lately. Losing to inferior little brother all the time will get you a mid-teens ranked recruiting class.

Harbaugh has to be better against Michigan State

Harbaugh has a 3-3 record against MSU when he really should have a 5-1 record (with the only loss coming in the botched punt game, and even then, I still think that was a U-M win).

The difference in talent level is very large. It shouldn’t matter whether U-M always blows out MSU or not. Realistically, the Wolverines should always blow out MSU, but it is a rivalry game after all. They just need to freakin consistently win the game, no matter the final score.

The Spartans mainly get three-star QBs, with an occasional low-four star every 5-6 recruiting cycles. Michigan football consistently gets high four-star QBs with the occasional five-star as well (whether it be through recruiting or the transfer portal a.ka. Shea Patterson). U-M needs to rattle off 6-7 straight wins over MSU as MSU did to the Wolverines in the late 2000s to early 2010s.

Pretty much every player on U-M’s roster would be a starter on little brother’s roster. That’s how big the talent difference is. And yet, when it comes to the rivalry, U-M doesn’t play like it.

The Wolverines seem like they are uninterested. That needs to stop. The 2019 game should be repeated every season. It shouldn’t be close. You put your foot on their throat and don’t let up.

No, I’m not saying Michigan should treat MSU like Ohio State. No, not at all. MSU is nowhere near Ohio State’s level. Michigan should always try its hardest against OSU every season.

But treating MSU like Chris Ash-led Rutgers and overlooking them definitely isn’t the way to go either.

Michigan State only beats Michigan the majority of the time because Michigan shoots itself in the foot constantly in the game. MSU is opportunistic and if you give the Spartans any confidence, they will pounce. If Michigan just plays a clean game, they’d blow out MSU pretty much every season.

Michigan needs to prepare for MSU as a rival should. They should play like they truly hate MSU, like what Devin Bush did to MSU’s field a few years back.

From here on out, Harbaugh needs to take care of his business. I don’t care about Penn State, Wisconsin, or OSU. Depending on the year, those losses are understandable. But U-M should never lose to MSU.

Because eventually, MSU will actually be good again. And if Michigan can’t even beat the Spartans when they are bad, then no U-M fan wants to see what would happen when MSU is actually good again.