The annual showdown between the Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans ended this year as Michigan emerged victorious with a 24-17 score on Saturday. The game further intensified one of college football’s oldest rivalries. Dating back to 1898 and uninterrupted since 1945, the rivalry game has consistently been heated.
In the final seconds, Michigan State defensive lineman Anthony Jones engaged Michigan tight end Colston Loveland. After the game, Loveland didn’t hold back in his comments.
“Lil bro stay doing lil bro things,” he said.
The player delivered a thinly veiled jab at the Spartans, which immediately went viral on social media.
He continued:
“They can do whatever they want. We knew it was going to get chippy. Everything within the confines of the game we do right, and, after, they want to get busy? We'll get busy."
The scoring opened with Michigan leading 9-7 at halftime. Both teams struggled to break open the game in the first half. They exchanged scores but stayed within reach of one another.
How Michigan Wolverines played during the matchup
Michigan pulled ahead in the third quarter. It was due to a touchdown run from Alex Orji, pushing the lead to 16-7. Michigan State kept within reach, cutting the deficit with a field goal that brought the score to 16-10.
Michigan’s offense increased in the fourth quarter when Loveland caught a crucial 23-yard touchdown pass. It was followed by a successful two-point conversion, widening Michigan’s lead to 24-10.
With Michigan State’s late touchdown drive, it brought the score to 24-17 with about six minutes left. However, Michigan’s defense held steady and shut down the Spartans’ final drive, securing the win. With this latest victory, Michigan extended its winning streak in the series to three games.
Looking ahead, Michigan (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) has an upcoming game against the top-ranked Oregon Ducks (8-0, 5-0) on Nov. 2, with kickoff set for 3:30 pm ET on CBS. Meanwhile, Michigan State (4-4, 2-3) will face the No. 13 Indiana Hoosiers (8-0, 5-0) in another high-stakes conference game.
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