But there always has been something big for the Spartans to gain from beating Michigan. There has not been a situation where a loss would be more of a negative than a win would be a positive since — well, you know. Flower children, Lyndon B. Johnson, Adam West playing "Batman," etc.
Bragging rights and the in-state recruiting scene always will matter. Still, with so much focus on the College Football Playoff and Ohio State, you wonder how that will affect the Spartans.
Getting up for game day is one thing. But games are won during the week, when players put everything into practice and spend hours on their own with game film.
I believe that has been a key to MSU's recent dominance. I would think Michigan players, armed with an extra week of prep, would dump the ridiculous "just another game" stuff and take advantage.
And, yeah, I wonder about these Spartans. MSU is clearly the better team here, with much bigger things to worry about than the Wolverines. That was true of U-M in 1990 (unranked MSU 28, No. 1 U-M 27). And in 1993 (unranked MSU 17, No. 9 U-M 7). And in 1995 (unranked MSU 28, No. 7 U-M 25). And in 2001 (unranked MSU 26, No. 6 Michigan 24).
Those Michigan teams all fell to the desperate, overlooked rival, playing to make a season. Stop me when this sounds familiar.
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