When it comes to Michigan football against Michigan State, you can't get wrapped up in style points. It's always ugly.
There was that 49-0 domination by the 2023 team, but that was one of the best teams in Michigan history. This 2025 Michigan football team is still finding itself.
The Wolverines haven't reached their ceiling. With four games to go, that's an exciting thought. They are finding ways to win, though.
At the start of the season, it was obvious that Michigan would need to win on the road to have a chance at the College Football Playoff. The Wolverines lost at USC and Oklahoma, but won at Nebraska and Michigan State, with a true freshman quarterback.
The Wolverines are 6-2. They clinched a bowl game three weeks earlier than in 2024. Everything is on the table heading into November, and here are five things we learned from their 31-20 win.
Michigan can still impose its will on Sparty
This was the difference in the game. Michigan started strong and grabbed an early 10-0 lead. However, the offense struggled in the first half after that. The running game wasn't getting much traction, and the Spartans ripped off a 49-yard run that allowed them to score a touchdown.
At halftime, Michigan State had more rushing yards. It was disconcerting. You knew that needed to change in the second half for Michigan to win the game.
So the Wolverines changed it. Justice Haynes had two chunk plays on the opening drive of the third quarter, before finishing the drive with a touchdown run. Soon enough, another explosive run by Haynes had Michigan in business again.
The Wolverines picked up a few short-yardage runs in the second half and scored three rushing touchdowns. They had nearly 200 yards on the ground in one half, while MSU finished with 115 for the game compared to 276 for Michigan.
Michigan football allowed one sack compared to four allowed by MSU. This game usually comes down to the team that wins in the trenches. Saturday, that was that U-M.