Michigan’s players may not all have the exact numbers memorized, but they know the lesson: in this rivalry, the ground game usually decides who walks away with the Paul Bunyan Trophy.
Junior tight end Hogan Hansen was the one who nailed the stat Tuesday night. The team that has won the rushing battle in Michigan’s matchup with Michigan State has gone on to win 49 of the last 57 meetings, an 87% clip.
Sophomore tight end Eli Owens was close with 36 of the last 49. Senior defensive tackle Trey Pierce guessed 57 of the last 63.
Senior offensive tackle Evan Link didn’t hazard a number at all.
The precise figure mattered less than the point behind it.
“I mean, this game and Ohio State, I don’t know what the statistic is, but whoever wins the rushing game, wins that (game),” Link said. “… Obviously we need to have a good rushing game every week, but this week is even more important because it’s a tough game, right? Everybody’s going to be physical, sometimes the routes aren’t going to be there, and we got to be able to get three, four gritty yards when we need it.”
That kind of dirty work is exactly what Michigan will need Saturday. On paper, the Wolverines and Spartans don’t exactly scream ground-and-pound dominance.
Michigan ranks 98th in rushing offense, while Michigan State sits 122nd. Neither team has shown much of a knack for explosive runs, which makes those short, stubborn gains feel even more important.
Michigan just proved that formula can still win a game. At Rutgers, the Wolverines leaned on a run game that helped them grind out a victory in that style. Freshman running back Savion Hiter drew praise afterward from coach Kyle Whittingham for his “ hot hand ” Saturday, even though the production was modest by the box score: 76 yards on 20 carries, 3.8 yards per attempt.
But those weren’t empty yards. They were the kind that keep a drive breathing. Three here, four there, enough to stay on schedule and keep the chains moving.
“Those are the runs that wear a defense down and give us confidence that ‘Hey, we can continue this drive,’ ” Link said. “We’re getting these conversions when we need it, and so I almost like those runs more than the long ones.
Michigan’s need to win the rushing battle doesn’t stop on offense, either. The defensive front has been just as central to the equation.
The Wolverines have taken the rushing battle in five of eight games this season, and that’s happening even though their own run game has yet to settle in. A big reason is the front seven, which has repeatedly smothered opposing ground attacks.
Only Rutgers has managed more than four yards per carry against Michigan’s front seven this year. Michigan State brings the second-worst rushing attack the Wolverines will have seen, which gives Michigan another edge where this game is likely to be decided.
That may not keep the Spartans from leaning on the run anyway. Plenty of opponents have chosen to test Michigan on the ground rather than throw at its lockdown secondary, and Pierce is fine with that.
“They try and lean on (the run game), and our defense shuts it down,” Pierce said. “So if that’s what they feel like they can get on us, then I say, ‘Keep coming.’ ”
The numbers may blur together for some of Michigan’s players, but the message is clear in Schembechler Hall this week: win the line of scrimmage, win the rivalry. If the Wolverines can keep that trend going, the 49-of-57 mark could become 50.
In Other News...
Michigans Kicking Battle Just Got A Surprise Twist
Michigans search for stability on special teams just picked up an unexpected wrinkle. Ryan Jung, the kicking prospect committed to the Wolverines, is planning to reclassify to the 2027 recruiting class and arrive a year early, according to a report from Hayes Fawcett of On3.com. The move gives Michigan another name to plug into a kicking picture that has already been unsettled, with sophomore Trey Butkowski still working through struggles and the staff keeping the competition wide open.
Kerry Coombs appears to have played a real part in the decision, encouraging Jung to come in early and fight for a roster spot instead of waiting another year. For Michigan, that adds a fresh layer to a battle that already mattered, because kicking has a way of turning into a season-long storyline when it is not settled. Jungs timeline may have changed, but the bigger question is whether the early arrival can help the Wolverines find the kind of consistency they have been chasing. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans Opener Forced An Early Frontcourt Test Before UConn
Michigans season opener against Oakland turned into an early frontcourt test when junior center Moustapha Thiam was held out because of illness shortly before tipoff. Coach Mike Boynton Jr. had to adjust on the fly, turning to redshirt sophomore Oscar Goodman in the starting lineup and mixing in smaller looks as the game unfolded.
For a team that expects Thiam to matter in the middle, the timing was less than ideal with Connecticut next on the schedule. The good news for Michigan is that Thiam is expected back for that one, but the opener still offered a reminder that the Wolverines may need a few different answers inside if the rotation gets stretched again. [Read more 🡒]
Rutgers Watched Michigan Players Turn This Loss Into A Draft Showcase
Rutgers left Ann Arbor with a loss, but it also got a long look at several Michigan players who helped turn the afternoon into a showcase. The Wolverines moved to 5-3, and for scouts in attendance, the appeal was less about the final score than the individual tape. Senior nose tackle Enow Etta continued to build on his starting role with strong work against the run and enough pass-rush production to keep showing up in the backfield, while cornerback Jyaire Hill made his presence felt by limiting the looks Rutgers wanted to throw his way.
Blake Frazier, meanwhile, had a more uneven day, which is part of the reality for a young offensive lineman trying to find consistency. But the broader picture for Michigan was clear: this was the kind of game that can sharpen a draft conversation for some players and raise questions for others, all while the Wolverines keep stacking wins. [Read more 🡒]