3 reasons why an MSU win is crucial for Michigan football

Michigan football comes into its matchup against Michigan State with playoff and Big Ten hopes on the line. The Wolverines’ season has been perfect thus far, and could continue down that path with a win. Here are three reasons a win over Michigan State is so important for Michigan.

Jim Harbaugh needs a win over Tucker

Since being hired in late 2014, Jim Harbaugh has brought Michigan back to national prominence. The Wolverines have four 10-win seasons in six full seasons as head coach (looking to make it five in seven full years), Harbaugh has done his fair share with the Wolverines from an accomplishment aspect.

Michigan has won some big games with Harbaugh at the helm, finally got over the Ohio State hump, won a Big Ten title, went to the College Football Playoff, and has appeared in many New Year’s Six bowls. Despite all of this, one accomplishment has eluded him: beating Mel Tucker.

After Mark Dantionio retired following the 2019 season, Mel Tucker was brought to Michigan State from Colorado. Tucker is a solid head coach and fantastic recruiter, and brought MSU some immediate success. In 2020’s “battle for the bottom” game between two horrible in-state teams, Michigan State beat Michigan 27-24 in Tucker’s first year. In 2021, Tucker somehow did it again with a 37-33 win over the eventual Big Ten champions. The Spartans went on to win the Peach Bowl and finish the season 11-2.

This year will be the two head coaches’ third meeting, and Jim Harbaugh needs to break his trend of losing to MSU. More than anything, Harbaugh needs his win over Mel Tucker.

Michigan must stop the upset losses

The Wolverines are favored by four scores this weekend, which means Jim Harbaugh has been favored in all eight of his matchups with Michigan State. That being said, the Wolverines are an underwhelming 3-4 against the Spartans thus far, and cannot seem to constantly beat Michigan State even when Michigan is the better team.

The Spartans come into the game with a 3-4 overall record and a 1-3 Big Ten record. Michigan is 7-0 and in the playoff conversation. It is clear who should take home the win, but all Michigan fans know not to count out Michigan State just because of the records. Harbaugh has a losing record (1-3) to MSU in his own building — Michigan Stadium — which is another trend that will need to snap.

If Michigan wants to compete nationally year in and year out, the Wolverines must first figure out how to overcome the Spartans and Mel Tucker on a yearly basis, and that starts this weekend.

Big Ten and CFP implications

This one is the most obvious of the bunch but is important enough that it is still worth mentioning. The Wolverines’ 2021 campaign saw the program finish with a 12-2 record, a win over Ohio State, and win its 43rd Big Ten title. On top of that, Michigan football headed to the College Football Playoff and finished the season ranked No. 3 in the CFP poll.

After an amazing year in 2021, Michigan could be looking at a repeat performance in 2022. The Wolverines are 7-0 and ranked No. 4, with only two ranked opponents left on the schedule (Illinois and Ohio State).

If the Wolverines expect to head into ‘The Game’ with an 11-0 record and the Big Ten East on the line, it must win out. Michigan football cannot choke away another title as it seemingly did in 2016 when the Wolverines started 9-0 but finished 10-3.

Michigan State is going to give Michigan football its best game of the year — the Wolverines are MSU’s Super Bowl and the Spartans want to win this game more than any game on its schedule. Michigan football needs to avoid the upset, and come out of Halloween weekend with an 8-0 record to stay in the race for the Big Ten and National Championship.