ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Regardless of the records thus far, Michigan football has been biding its time, waiting for its rematch against rival Michigan State.
Last year, both the Wolverines and Spartans entered the contest in East Lansing undefeated, but it was the maize and blue who went home with a blemish on their record. They can’t stop thinking about it. And when the teams face each other again in Week 9, these Wolverines are hoping to right the wrong from a year ago.
In fact, it’s all they’ve thought about since walking off that field at Spartan Stadium.
“Ever since we lost last year,” left guard Trevor Keegan said. “That bus ride home, it sucked, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. Yeah, it still pisses me off, and we’re gonna do everything to prepare for this game. We got the bye week to get healthy, and we’re gonna be ready to roll.”
“I remember sitting all the way, back of the bus with Erick, didn’t say one word,” wide receiver Roman Wilson said. “Got to Schem, got home, didn’t say one word. Because we all know like, we all know we did. And we all know what we’ve got to do this year. We’ve just been waiting for that moment.”
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The Spartans have won two in a row, perhaps improbably, given that the Wolverines were big favorites in both games. Michigan is set to be a big favorite once again, ranked No. 3 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll whereas MSU is 3-4 thus far.
Fifth-year cornerback Gemon Green remembers the past two games, and notes Michigan is much more capable of going up against MSU and taking the game, because the Wolverines are much more complete. A lot of that has to do with the run game for either team. Usually the team that rushes for more yards in the rivalry wins, and Michigan is poised to do just that this year, while keeping Jarek Broussard, Jalen Berger, and Elijah Collins from repeating Kenneth Walker III’s success.
“I remember, we was not as good in the run game as we are this year,” Green said. “What’s nine, again? What’s his name again? Whatever. No. 9 for Michigan State last year, he’s in the league. He was a very good back. I don’t think they have that this year. So I feel like we’re gonna do a lot better than what we did in the previous years in the run game, just talking about the run.”
For Michigan’s side, the players know they let a game slip through their fingers.
The Wolverines were dominating, yet only had a 16-point lead. And they squandered it; MSU made an improbable comeback to win. Green said that will not happen again, smelling blood in the water against a down-and-out Spartan squad.
“Just not getting a dub, for real,” Green said. “I feel like we was always in a position because I don’t think that we got beat more than 10 points. Last year, we should have blown them out last year. And for them to come back and beat us that was like really like a big emphasis. That’s not happening again.”
Michigan will host MSU next Saturday in Week 9, with the game kicking off at 7:30 p.m. EDT. It will be nationally broadcast on ABC.
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