Michigan vs. Michigan State football game score: Live updates and highlights

Michigan and Michigan State football teams face off in their annual rivalry game, with Michigan favored to win.

Michigan and Michigan State football are set to face off in their highly anticipated annual in-state rivalry game. This matchup comes after a heated incident last year that resulted in a postgame fight and legal consequences for MSU players. Despite both teams dealing with off-field drama, they are heading in completely opposite directions.

Michigan has been dominating the college football world, even amidst multiple NCAA investigations. On the other hand, MSU has fired their head coach, Mel Tucker, due to a sexual harassment allegation and is currently at the bottom of the Big Ten with four consecutive losses.

The 116th matchup between these two teams will take place at Spartan Stadium, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m. This will be the first-ever night game in East Lansing for this historic series. The game will be televised on NBC and livestreamed on Peacock and Fubo (free trial). Michigan enters the game as a 25½-point favorite.

Now, let's dive into the live updates from Spartan Stadium.

First Quarter: Michigan Strikes First

Michigan wasted no time as they received the opening kickoff and immediately scored on a 12-play, 84-yard drive. Blake Corum finished off the drive with a powerful goal line run, giving Michigan a 7-0 lead. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy had an impressive drive, completing five of six passes for 74 yards, including crucial third-down conversions.

This week, Michigan made headlines for alleged NCAA rule violations. They are being investigated for scouting future opponents in-person, which is against NCAA regulations. While this news added some tension between rival fanbases leading up to the game, it is unlikely to have a significant impact on the outcome.

Michigan has been dominant throughout the season, boasting a perfect 7-0 record. They have been winning games by an average margin of 32.7 points and holding opponents to under seven points per game. Their defense is expected to have another favorable matchup against MSU's struggling offense and inexperienced quarterback Katin Houser, who is making only his second career start.

Reflecting on the Tunnel Fight, One Year Later

The Wolverine offense, led by J.J. McCarthy and Blake Corum, has been the driving force behind their explosive scoring, averaging 39.4 points per game. They hold the advantage over the Spartan defense, which has shown improvement from last year but is still vulnerable to big plays.

Michigan State, on the other hand, is currently on a four-game losing streak. They suffered another fourth-quarter collapse against Rutgers last week. Interim head coach Harlon Barnett, who stepped in for Tucker, is under pressure to find solutions in all aspects of the game as they aim to hand Michigan their first regular season loss since their last visit to East Lansing.

As the game unfolds, it will be interesting to see how these two teams, with their distinct trajectories and recent history, perform on the field. The rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State is always intense, and this matchup promises to be no different. Stay tuned for more updates from Spartan Stadium.