CFB analyst says Michigan State should panic about Michigan football

Mel Tucker took over a struggling Michigan State football program following the Spartans’ back-to-back 7-6 seasons in 2018 and 2019. Right off the bat, he found himself up 2-0 against his in-state rival, the Michigan Wolverines. That said, he is now coming off the heels of a 5-7 season, and it appears that MSU is poised for their third losing season in four years of Tucker’s tenure. According to 247 Sports analyst Andrew Ivins, Michigan State should be in panic mode about what Jim Harbaugh and his Wolverines are doing in Ann Arbor.

Analyst says Michigan football should have Michigan State in panic mode

The Michigan-Michigan State rivalry has gained a lot of momentum and been fairly even over the past two decades. However, right now, these two major in-state programs are in very different spots. Mel Tucker and Michigan State football are struggling on the recruiting trail and have failed to deliver on the football field, aside from Tucker’s impressive Peach Bowl-winning season in 2021.

On the other hand, Jim Harbaugh and Michigan football have won back-to-back Big Ten titles, finished with 12 or more wins twice in a row, and are expected to make their third-straight College Football Playoff run this fall. The Wolverines will enter this season among the nation’s top 3, while the Spartans will be unranked once again.

Still, Jim Harbaugh remains 1-2 thus far in his head-to-head series against Mel Tucker. Last year, Harbaugh got his first-ever win over Tucker, claiming a dominant 29-7 victory over MSU in the Big House. With Michigan among this year’s national title contenders and Michigan State hoping to find itself in bowl contention of any kind, these two programs are in very different spots right now. According to a national analyst at 247 Sports, MSU should be in panic mode about what their in-state rival is doing on the field and on the recruiting trail.

“If you’re a Michigan State fan, your panic meter should be high because of what your in-state rival (Michigan football) is doing,” said Andrew Ivins.

In 2023, Michigan football could make it two-straight victories over Michigan State, though it will be no small task for Jim Harbaugh and his Wolverines. While Michigan is 2-1 against Michigan State in East Lansing, the Spartans emerged victorious in a close battle during the Wolverines’ last road trip north (2021). Nevertheless, these programs are in very different situations right now, with the rivalry turning in Michigan’s favor for the time being.

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