Jim Harbaugh, Michigan keeping a 'November mindset' going into Michigan State game

The Michigan Wolverines have been rolling this year, currently boasting a 7-0 record as the No. 2 ranked team in the country and doing so in dominant fashion. They lead the nation in point differential so far this season defeating their opponents by an average of 32.7 points per game, with Indiana being their latest victim following a 52-7 win over the Hoosiers on Saturday.

The Wolverines now look ahead to their rivalry game against Michigan State this weekend, and ahead of the matchup Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh pulled back the curtain on the mindset of his team for this game that’s been working well for them all season long.

“There are huge games every single week,” Harbaugh said. “There’s definitely a November mentality, you’re in a chase for the championship, you’re in a run for a championship. They’re decided in November if you’ve put yourself in position to be in position.”

They remember November in college football, the month that represents the last full month of the regular season where the conference championship and postseason slate is determined. The nation’s top teams strive to play their best brand of football in November to set themselves up for the postseason, but the Wolverines have had that mentality from the start of the season, and it’s definitely showing.

Michigan has had the most dominant defense in all of college football this season, holding opponents to a nation’s nation-best 6.7 points per game and just 233.1 yards per game which ranks second in the country.

Their disciplined and physical style on defense represents their offense as well, led by dual-threat quarterback JJ McCarthy who’s established himself as one of the most efficient passers in the country ranking second in the nation in completion percentage at 78.2% to go along with his 1,512 yards and 17 total touchdowns this season.

“When all the leaves are brown and the skies are gray, that’s when the championships get decided,” Harbaugh said. “But November’s here for us, it’s here for us now. Playing in this big game, this big rivalry game, this in-state game, this Big Ten game, then we’ll have a bye and then the rest of our games will be in November. The time is now.”

Michigan State has had its fair share of distractions off the field this season, but the Wolverines seem more focused than ever, as the in-state rivals will face off this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET in East Lansing.