For the first time in nearly two decades, both Michigan State and Michigan welcome new head football coaches for the start of a college season. The Big 10 in-state rivals will once again try to establish a heated contest for supremacy in the Great Lakes State.
Jonathan Smith's Rebuild of the Spartans
Jonathan Smith will try to orchestrate a rebuild of the Spartan program, while in Ann Arbor the Wolverines are grappling with the first year of the posy-Jim Harbaugh Era.
It will be Sherrone Moore with the headphones and clipboard. Moore was hand-chosen by Harbaugh to be his replacement. Big shoes he will need to fill, as U of M is coming off a national title and an undefeated season.
Key Questions:
- Can Michigan State revive its football success under Jonathan Smith?
- Will Sherrone Moore continue Michigan's dominance after Harbaugh's departure?
For many in Michigan who love college football, it would be wonderful if the Wolverines and Spartans were both powerhouse teams at the same time. Could those changes happen in East Lansing under Smith?
MSU’s recent years as second fiddle to Wolverines
The Michigan-Michigan State rivalry, a clash that has never needed much stoking, finds itself in a particularly intriguing phase in 2024. With both programs under new leadership, the Wolverines and Spartans are set to add fresh chapters to their storied battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy.
Michigan, now led by a head coach who understands the pressure cooker that is Ann Arbor, and Michigan State, under a new regime looking to restore Spartan pride, will continue a rivalry that has been anything but predictable in recent years.
Recent results have swung like a pendulum.
- Michigan took the upper hand with a dominant win in 2023, making two wins in a row against MSU.
- Prior to that, Spartan fans were grinning like they’d found gold in the Red Cedar River when their school ran off three straight wins over Michigan from 2020-22.
But in the Big Ten’s new world order, which now includes West Coast heavyweights like Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington, every conference game has gained a new layer of importance—and perhaps a hint of jet lag.
The rivalry, already intense, may find even more fuel as both teams adapt to their new coaches and a reshuffled conference landscape. The Paul Bunyan Trophy has seen some miles, but 2024 promises to test its durability in ways not even a lumberjack could have predicted.
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The key to beating Michigan
For Michigan State to pull off an upset against Michigan in 2024 at The Big House, the Spartans will need to exploit the rare vulnerabilities in the Wolverines' otherwise stellar defense. Michigan has prided itself on defensive efficiency, consistently smothering opponents and forcing them into mistakes.
However, MSU has historically thrived on capitalizing on even the slightest of Michigan missteps, turning them into game-changing moments.
- Enter Aidan Chiles, the transfer quarterback who brings a new dynamic to the Spartans' offense.
Chiles, with a skill set that has drawn comparisons to Michigan’s own J.J. McCarthy, possesses a similar blend of athleticism, arm strength, and the kind of determination that makes for special performances.
- If Chiles can stay poised in the pocket and make quick, accurate throws, he could exploit Michigan’s aggressive pass rush, hitting receivers in stride for big gains.
Additionally, his ability to extend plays with his legs could prove critical in keeping Michigan’s defense on its heels. The Spartans' chances hinge on Chiles' ability to rise to the occasion and turn pressure into opportunity.
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