Paul Bunyan Stays in Ann Arbor: Michigan Football Beats MSU 24-17

Michigan football (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) took down rival Michigan State for the third year in a row by a score of 24-17. The Spartans (4-4, 2-3) were deep in Michigan territory with under two minutes left but came up short on fourth down. The Wolverines were able to seal it with two first downs on the ground.

How Michigan Got it Done

Michigan put together its most complete offensive performance of the season Saturday night, and it was their first game without a turnover. With quarterback Jack Tuttle out due to injury, Davis Warren led the way with an occasional dose of Alex Orji. Warren finished with 130 total yards and a touchdown, and Orji had a team-high 64 rushing yards with a score of his own. Warren seemed to have much more command of the offense this time around. 

MSU started the game by driving down to the Michigan two yard-line, but a missed field goal kept it even at zero. Following a Wolverine punt, the Spartans got back to the two yard-line before the end of the quarter, and running back Nate Carter put the Spartans up 7-0. The Michigan defense went on to hold MSU to ten points over the final three quarters. 

Aside from the game-ending drive that took the clock to zeroes, the Wolverines scored all 24 points on their final six possessions. Michigan actually saw success when it got creative too, and running back Donovan Edwards even threw a touchdown to tight end Colston Loveland. Loveland finished with game-highs of 6 catches, 67 yards and 2 touchdowns. 

Michigan hosts Oregon next weekend at 3:30.

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