MSU & Michigan: Two Sides of the Same Coin After Week 3
Setting the Stage
Week 3 of the college football season offered two very different stories in the state of Michigan. Both the Spartans and the Wolverines walked away with comfortable wins on paper, but the feel of those victories couldn’t have been more different.
For Michigan State, a 41–24 result over Youngstown State kept them unbeaten but left lingering questions. For Michigan, a 63–3 demolition of Central Michigan reminded everyone of the gap between a true Big Ten power and a visiting MAC opponent.
Both teams are 3–0. Both will enter conference play undefeated. But the paths they took on Saturday highlight two sides of the same coin: one program grinding through a “closer than expected” contest, the other steamrolling in a way fans demand.
Michigan State: A Win That Felt Uneasy
The Spartans started quickly but failed to put Youngstown State away.
- The stat line looked fine: Aidan Chiles threw for 270 yards and a touchdown, adding another 76 yards on the ground. The Spartans outgained YSU 444–339, picked up 23 first downs, and held the lead from the second quarter onward.
- Nick Marsh was electric in the first half with six catches for 94 yards before leaving with a knee issue. His absence in the second half slowed down MSU’s offense noticeably.
- Defensively, MSU gave up 242 passing yards and a 66-yard rushing touchdown. Those breakdowns weren’t catastrophic, but they kept YSU in striking distance into the fourth quarter.
A Game Fans Wanted to Coast Through
When a Big Ten school schedules an FCS opponent like Youngstown State, the expectation is a stress-free Saturday. These games are meant to give the program a confidence boost, let backups get reps, and give fans a “day off” from nail-biting football.
Instead, this one had uncomfortable moments. The Penguins refused to fold, and Spartan fans couldn’t relax until late in the fourth. That undermines the purpose of games like this: to leave no doubt.
What MSU Must Fix
- Health and depth: Losing Marsh, plus injuries to Luka Vincic, Makhi Frazier, and Brady Pretzlaff, exposed the thin margin MSU has if starters go down.
- Edge rush and pass pressure: The defense continues to give opposing quarterbacks too much time and space. Without improvement here, Big Ten offenses will exploit them.
- Killer instinct: The Spartans had opportunities to bury YSU but didn’t. A true contender doesn’t let an FCS team linger in the fourth quarter.
Michigan: No Doubt, No Drama
If MSU left fans uneasy, Michigan did the opposite. The Wolverines’ 63–3 rout of Central Michigan was the blueprint for how a Big Ten program should handle a MAC visitor.
- Total dominance: Michigan outgained CMU 616–139.
- Freshman QB Bryce Underwood stole the show with 235 passing yards, 114 rushing yards, and three total touchdowns.
- Justice Haynes added 104 rushing yards and a score; Jordan Marshall chipped in with two rushing TDs.
- The defense suffocated: CMU managed only 2.6 yards per play, had no offensive rhythm, and turned the ball over twice.
Execution Without Their Head Coach
What made this win more impressive is that Michigan did it without head coach Sherrone Moore, who was suspended. Interim staff kept everything on schedule. Preparation was evident. From the first possession, Michigan looked sharp, aggressive, and intent on proving a point.
The Fan Experience of Blowouts
Of course, these games don’t provide drama. When Michigan plays CMU at home, everyone knows the likely outcome. Fans who prefer close games won’t find much suspense in a matchup like this.
But these contests serve two clear purposes:
- For Michigan — to sharpen execution, build confidence, and get younger players on the field.
- For CMU — to collect a paycheck that helps sustain their athletic program.
The value isn’t in suspense; it’s in precision. And Michigan showed plenty of that, giving fans reason to believe the team can translate sharp execution into conference play.
Two Programs, Two Messages
Put side by side, the outcomes tell you a lot about where each program stands:
- Michigan State: Undefeated, yes, but shaky. The Spartans need more depth, more consistent defense, and a better ability to close games. Their fans were denied the “easy win” experience that games like this are supposed to deliver.
- Michigan: Undefeated, and convincing. The Wolverines used this game to re-establish dominance and show that even without their head coach, they can execute at a high level. Fans left the Big House without a shred of doubt.
Both programs are 3–0, but the feel is different. MSU’s record comes with hesitation. Michigan’s comes with validation.
What It Means Going Into Big Ten Play
- For Michigan State: The next few weeks will reveal whether this team can evolve beyond a fragile 3–0 start. If they don’t fix their defensive issues, they could follow the same script as last year: early optimism, then a rude awakening in conference play.
- For Michigan: The Wolverines showed resilience after losing to Oklahoma. They reasserted control, proved they can dominate even without Moore, and gave their fan base reason to believe the season is still firmly on track.
Bottom Line
Saturday highlighted two sides of the same coin in Michigan football:
- The Spartans, who won but didn’t convince, leaving fans to wonder whether depth and defensive flaws will come back to haunt them.
- The Wolverines, who played exactly the way a Big Ten heavyweight should against a smaller program, dominating in every phase.
Both are 3–0. Both have work ahead. But heading into the meat of the season, only one fan base left the weekend feeling fully satisfied.
I attended the MSU game Saturday, and a phrase commonly uttered by a friend of mine kept echoing in my head. ‘Average. Very average…’
I was surprised at the score of the UM game. They typically don’t blow teams out like that. Maybe exhibiting the ‘let’s step on their throats’ mentality is a good sign of things to come.
Neither team looks like a contender to be a playoff team to this point.
Unfortunately that’s been the sentiment at Spartan Stadium for far too long! Coach Smith needs to change that thinking.