Jim Harbaugh: Things get turned up a notch when preparing for Michigan State

Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines are attempting to keep the same practice habits that have them sitting at (7-0) heading into the biggest test of the 2021 campaign.

When asked about his team’s preparation this week, Harbaugh said there’s a fine balance between keeping the usual focus and also understanding the significance of the Michigan State rivalry up next.

“There’s definitely the approach of one game at a time, which you need to do, Harbaugh said. “You have to practice that, it has to be implemented or a team be humbled.”

Still, Harbaugh acknowledged that while many things have stayed the same preparing for the Spartans, there’s an extra sense of urgency.

“But now we are in a situation. Huge game, in some ways that mindset is similar, but in other ways it definitely gets turned up a notch,” the Wolverines front man added.

Jim Harbaugh and Mel Tucker both unbeaten in 2021

There will be similarly high stakes on Saturday as both the Wolverines and the Spartans are undefeated. The game is undoubtedly the best game of Week 9, as is evidenced by both ESPN’s College GameDay and Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff electing to be on-site in East Lansing. 

Saturday’s game pits two of the nation’s best run games against each other. On the Spartan side, Kenneth Walker III has 997 yards on the ground this year, which is second in the country and leads the Big Ten. Just behind him in the conference is Michigan’s Blake Corum with 729 yards. Corum’s teammate and running back Hassan Haskins has 602 yards on the season. Together they have 20 rushing touchdowns.

Both teams are averaging more than 200 yards per game on the ground. Michigan is fifth in the nation in total rushing yards per game.

The Spartans and the Wolverines have similarly matched run defenses, but Michigan State has the worst passing defense in the Big Ten. Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is still trying to figure out the best way to balance his two quarterbacks, starter Cade McNamara and true freshman J.J. McCarthy. The two could be poised to have a big day on Saturday given Michigan State’s weaknesses.

The winner of the contest controls their own destiny, while the loser will likely need some help to reach the Big Ten title game. Both teams still have games against Ohio State and Penn State on the calendar.

Michigan leads the series 71-37-5 all-time, but Michigan State has won six of the last 10 meetings. The game kicks off at noon ET on Fox. Michigan is a 4-point favorite as of Wednesday morning.

If Jim Harbaugh wants to take Michigan to the promised land, it all begins with Michigan State on Saturday.