Michigan football needs to look past the MSU incident

Following Michigan football’s 29-7 win over Michigan State last weekend, there was an incident in the Michigan Stadium tunnel. As we all have seen by now, multiple Michigan State football players are seen on video assaulting two Wolverines — so far eight Spartans have been suspended as investigations continue. With all of this going on this week, Michigan needs to forget that last weekend even happened.

Looking past and looking forward

Just as it has been for the nine weeks prior to this one, Michigan football has a perfect record. The Wolverines improved to 8-0 (5-0 Big Ten) after a convincing 29-7-win over Michigan State, and will likely keep that streak alive this weekend at Rutgers.

That being said, Michigan football needs to tune everything going on around the program out. The Wolverines are getting hot right now, and this much media attention could be a distraction from what is really important: winning every game remaining on the schedule and beyond.

Michigan is yet to play Rutgers (this weekend), a talented Nebraska team, No. 16 Illinois, and No. 2 Ohio State. While only the Illinois and Ohio State games seem daunting, any team can beat any other team on any given night — especially in the Big Ten.

Just ask the 2016 Michigan football team, which started the year 9-0 before an upset loss at Iowa sent the team spiraling into a 10-3 record. Rutgers may not be a “good” team, but they are well-coached and almost upset the Wolverines twice this decade — a 3OT game in 2020, and then a 20-13 nailbiter in the Big House last year. Greg Schiano is a good coach, and if given the opportunity, will sneak up on any team that lets him.

The same could be said for Nebraska and Illinois. Although Michigan should win both games, the Wolverines need to be as focused as ever if they want to close out the season strong. There is no excuse for this year’s Wolverines to finish worse than 11-1 with a trip to the Rose Bowl.

All I can really say about the Michigan-MSU situation is this: the Wolverines already beat the Spartans on the field in week 9, don’t let Michigan State mentally beat you in week 10 and beyond.