Michigan
8-0 , 5-0
Michigan State
2-5 , 0-4
Wolverines Overwhelm, Shut Out Spartans to Retain Paul Bunyan Trophy
10/21/2023 11:22:00 PM | Football
Site: East Lansing, Mich. (Spartan Stadium)
Score: #2 Michigan 49, Michigan State 0
Records: U-M (8-0, 5-0 B1G), Michigan State (2-5, 0-4 B1G)
Attendance: 74,206
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 4 -- vs. Purdue (Michigan Stadium), Time, TV TBD
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan football team retained the Paul Bunyan Trophy for the second straight year with a 49-0 victory of in-state rival Michigan State on Saturday night (Oct. 21) at Spartan Stadium.
U-M improved to 73-38-5 all-time in the 116th meeting between the two programs and 40-29-2 since 1953, when the Paul Bunyan Trophy was first at stake. Michigan's 49-point margin of victory was the largest in the trophy's history and the widest in the series since 1947 when the Wolverines bested the Spartans by 55 points.
In their first shutout effort in more than a year, the Maize and Blue defenders held Michigan State to only 190 total yards and 10 first downs -- just two in the first half. The defense also found the end zone when defensive back Mike Sainristil recorded his second pick six (third interception) of the season, snagging an MSU pass and taking it 72 yards along the home sideline for an early second-half score. It marks the fourth time this season the Wolverines have returned an interception for a touchdown.
U-M scored 28 points in the first half to take control of the game. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy accounted for three of those scores using his arm and racked up 276 first-half passing yards. He finished the game having completed 21 of 27 passes for 287 yards and added a career-high four touchdown passes.
A pair of tight ends, Colston Loveland and AJ Barner, were key contributors to the Wolverines' total offensive output of 477 total yards. Loveland caught four passes for 79 yards and scored twice in the effort, while Barner contributed career highs in both receptions (eight) and receiving yards (99) with a touchdown of his own.
The Wolverines' two leading scorers this season, Blake Corum and Roman Wilson, each struck paydirt in the first quarter with their 13th and 10th touchdowns, respectively. Corum's score came on a one-yard rush, while Wilson caught a 25-yard touchdown on a McCarthy rollout pass. The Michigan signal-caller threw for 144 yards in the first 15 minutes, while U-M converted on all five of its third-down tries en route to an early 14-0 lead.
Michigan scored twice more in a half in which they outplayed the Spartans to the tune of 339 to 51 yards. McCarthy connected with Barner and Loveland on more than half of his completions (11 of 20) for 276 yards in the first half, including a pair of 22-yard second quarter touchdown passes to Loveland which gave him the first multi-touchdown performance of his career.
The Wolverines maintained control of the game as it moved into the second half, recording touchdowns in the third quarter. Along with Sainristil's 72-yard pick six on the first MSU drive of the half, Barner added to his career day with a receiving score on an 11-yard pass over the middle from McCarthy midway through the third quarter to put U-M up 42-0.
The Michigan defense secured the shutout victory with an interception by defensive back Ja'Den McBurrows -- the first of his career -- with just over three minutes remaining in the second half. The pick led to the Wolverines' final score, a six-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Alex Orji with eight seconds left in regulation.
Michigan will be on its bye next week and will prepare for its next game, Saturday, Nov 4. against Purdue at Michigan Stadium. Kickoff time and television network are to be announced.
Team Stats
UM 7, MSU 0
UM - Corum,Blake 1 yd run (Turner,James kick), 12 plays, 84 yards, TOP 06:05
UM 14, MSU 0
UM - Wilson,Roman 25 yd pass from McCarthy,J.J. (Turner,James kick) 5 plays, 51 yards, TOP 02:52
UM 21, MSU 0
UM - Loveland,Colston 22 yd pass from McCarthy,J.J. (Turner,James kick) 11 plays, 66 yards, TOP 05:10
UM 28, MSU 0
UM - Loveland,Colston 22 yd pass from McCarthy,J.J. (Turner,James kick) 7 plays, 48 yards, TOP 03:59
UM 35, MSU 0
UM - Sainristil,Mike 72 yd interception (Turner,James kick)
UM 42, MSU 0
UM - Barner,AJ 11 yd pass from McCarthy,J.J. (Turner,James kick) 3 plays, 65 yards, TOP 01:06
UM 49, MSU 0
UM - Orji,Alex 6 yd run (Turner,James kick), 5 plays, 33 yards, TOP 03:02
