Michigan State has been in a free fall since the start of Big Ten play, losing four straight conference games by a combined 75 points.
So it might seem like a good time for No. 25 Michigan to sharpen up its resume.
Coach Sherrone Moore, however, made it clear that his Wolverines must ignore the Spartans’ troubles when the fierce in-state rivals meet Saturday night at East Lansing, Mich.
“Records don’t matter in this game,” Moore said Monday. “We’re going to get their best and they’re going to get our best, so it will be a great physical game in a great atmosphere.
“Urgency is the key word right now — urgency in everything we do, urgency in details and making sure everything is aligned for us to win this game. We can’t worry about the past.”
The Wolverines (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) are part of a seven-team tie for third in the conference race and losing to the struggling Spartans would rate as a huge blow.
Michigan lost to Southern California 31-13 on the road on Oct. 11 and bounced back last weekend with a 24-7 home win over Washington.
The Wolverines play three of their next four on the road, beginning with the trip to a raucous atmosphere with the “Sparty” mascot roaming the field.
“We talk about the history of the rivalry and the implications, so we’ll definitely educate our younger guys and let them know that this is a game that we put everything into,” Moore said.
Michigan State (3-4, 0-4) was drubbed 38-13 by then-No. 3 Indiana last weekend, the second straight week the Spartans lost by that score. The other was in a home game against UCLA.
Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith said the rivalry game could change the trajectory of the season.
“It’s a very important, meaningful game so that creates a huge opportunity for us, especially kind of where we’re at with things,” Smith said on Monday. “This season hasn’t gone our way, all those things, I think it comes at a good time to galvanize this group and have a great week of work getting ready for Saturday.”
This is Smith’s second bite at the rivalry. Last season, Michigan recorded a 24-17 home victory to retain the Paul Bunyan Trophy while notching its third straight win and fifth of the past seven in the series.
“The way I message it to the team and organize it as a team,” Smith said, “(is) this particular Saturday is going to be different in the messaging approach than any other Saturday we play with.”
Michigan State has allowed 38 or more points in each game of its current losing streak.
Meanwhile, the Wolverines hope to have standout running back Justice Haynes back on the field. He topped 100 rushing yards in each of the first five games of the season before sustaining an abdominal injury against USC. The ailment forced him to miss the win over the Huskies.
Haynes has rushed for 705 yards and eight touchdowns. Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood has thrown for 1,440 yards and seven touchdowns while being intercepted twice.
Defensively, Wolverines backup linebacker Cole Sullivan has been opportunistic with four takeaways (three interceptions, one fumble recovery) and edge rusher Derrick Moore has compiled 4 1/2 sacks.
Spartans quarterback Aidan Chiles has passed for 1,262 yards and 10 touchdowns against three interceptions. Linebacker Jordan Hall has a team-high 51 stops.
Michigan has won three of the last four meetings in East Lansing.
