Michigan Football heads to East Lansing to take on its in-state rival, Michigan State. The Wolverines are coming off a huge win against Washington, while Michigan State is riding a four-game losing streak in conference play.
The Wolverines will look to keep the momentum going as their playoff hopes are very much still alive, as they more than likely need to win out to get there. While the schedule gets easier from here, there is no need to look past Michigan State because of the nature of the rivalry.
Head coach Sherrone Moore said earlier this week, "Records don't matter in this game." Michigan football is not losing focus for this game, and they remain as focused on this game as any game because being on the road can be tough in this type of game.
Michigan football traveled to Michigan State in 2021, and they ultimately lost the game despite being arguably the better overall team. That's why this rivalry is so important and unpredictable. College football rivalries are so chaotic and anything can happen in these games. So, what are the factors for Michigan to handle business and not fall into a trap in this game?
Making Michigan State One Dimensional
Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles can be a very dynamic player as he has 1,262 yards passing this year with 10 passing touchdowns and 3 interceptions. He also has 187 yards rushing, which is what makes him so dynamic, but what happens when you can contain him?
Last week, the Wolverines contained one of the best running quarterbacks in the Big Ten Demond Williams. This forced him to throw more, which led to three huge interceptions by the Michigan defense.
Being able to contain Chiles and make him have to throw will be best for Michigan's defense. Chiles also does not throw well under pressure, which leads to him making these bad decisions. Michigan's defense has the highest blitz rate in the country, as it blitzes 50% of the time. I would expect defensive coordinator Wink Martindale to dial up these blitzes and pressure this young quarterback.