What they're saying after Michigan's dominant win, ugly postgame scene in Ann Arbor

Michigan football moved to 8-0 on the season with a 29-7 win over rival Michigan State on Saturday night in Ann Arbor. The Paul Bunyan Trophy victory was a signature moment for the Wolverines that was quickly overshadowed by an unfortunate “assault” in the Michigan Stadium tunnel after the game.

Plenty of reactions came in locally and nationally after the contest was over. Here is a sampling of the reviews that came in from the contest, big-picture narratives and more.

Chris Balas, The Wolverine

Michigan 29, MSU 7: Notes, quotes, and observations from a defeat without dignity

This was a bludgeoning like most of the Wolverines’ other wins over the last few years, and we dare say Jim Harbaugh has gotten back to his roots to accomplish it.

“After suffering through “speed in space,” offenses without rhyme or reason, etc. for a few years, Michigan fans are seeing the Michigan football of old — a big and nasty offensive line, explosive backs, and defense that will bend at times, but doesn’t often break. 

“I feel good,” Harbaugh said of getting the Paul Bunyan trophy back. “Onward to Rutgers. Tremendous win — great to have Paul back. Our players were locked in, focused the entire game. We knew … we pretty much won all the phases in the game and did a great job, too, in the after-the-whistle phase. Our guys committed to that.

“We knew there would be stuff after the whistle. There usually is with them. And I thought our guys did a great job with the discipline after the whistle. We won that phase, as well.”

Michigan State picked up a few unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, and the way Michigan was controlling the lines of scrimmage, they simply couldn’t afford it. The Spartans couldn’t run the ball — there was no Kenneth Walker to save them this year — and after one drive in which receiver Keon Coleman torched the Wolverines for a pair of big plays, the Michigan defense adjusted to stifle the him and his teammates in the second half. 

That’s a story in itself — how well the Michigan coaches adjusted to what they saw early from the Spartans and took complete control of the game, a theme all year. Coleman had 104 yards midway through the second quarter, and the sense of “here we go again — letting one guy beat them” started to creep in. 

Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, however, had other ideas. 

“We made a really good adjustment to double ‘0’ (Coleman). He’d hurt us in the first half,” Harbaugh said. “We were getting man coverage on him with an overlapping safety. That was a great move, a great adjustment, and it was able to take him pretty much out of the game except for the one he caught over the middle in the fourth quarter.”

And that one was a blown coverage. 

John Borton, The Wolverine

Wolverine Watch: Michigan State tucks away loss, shameful reaction

U-M Athletics Director Warde Manuel doesn’t talk in Michigan football post-game sessions. But he did this time. Harbaugh deferred to Manuel, and the AD proved direct.

“What happened after the game is completely unacceptable,” Manuel said. “I’ve talked to the [Big Ten] commissioner. He is looking into it. The police are also looking into it, because they have seen the video. They’re addressing it.

“We will leave it in their hands. But this is not how we should interact after a game. This is not the way another team should grab a player, and do what they did.”

Harbaugh noted one Wolverine may have sustained a broken nose in the incident.

“It’s completely and utterly unacceptable. We will let the Big Ten and law enforcement handle it, but this is not what a rivalry should be about,” Manuel continued. “It’s not how it should be remembered.

“We won on the field. This man, and his team, and those players, went out there and won. For that to happen is unacceptable.”

Nicole Auerbach, The Athletic

Auerbach’s Top 10: Georgia, Ohio State, Tennessee, Michigan flex on Pull-Away Saturday

A weird-but-dominant performance by the Wolverines to snap their losing streak against Michigan State. Weird because of all the drives that stalled out in or near the red zone. Dominant because even with those five field goals, Michigan was in control of the game and seemed content with winning that way. It was quite obvious Jim Harbaugh was not worried about the Spartans’ offense.

Michigan’s defense held its in-state rival to just 63 total yards in the second half while the Wolverines’ offense chewed up clock and extended the lead. Fittingly, Michigan also benefitted from a bad Michigan State snap on a punt to set up the touchdown that put the game out of reach for good. The Wolverines more than doubled up the Spartans in time of possession.

Ultimately, Michigan’s day felt similar to that of some of its peers on this list here on Saturday — a game that was tighter than it probably should have been for too long, but then the better team pulled away late. The Wolverines’ red zone issues are worth keeping an eye on. Michigan has a 61.3 percent touchdown rate in the red zone. Compare that to, say, Ohio State’s 80.5 percent. You’re not going to beat the Buckeyes with field goals.

I’m also wondering why J.J. McCarthy isn’t attempting more deep balls. He’s the nation’s most accurate passer in short yardage but has completed very few passes of more than 20 air yards in Big Ten play (and isn’t even trying that many, compared to his peers). At some point, Michigan is going to need to have him stretch the field vertically. Particularly on Nov. 26 in Columbus.

Austin Meek, The Athletic

Meek: Michigan State-Michigan postgame incident demands a rivalry reset

Michigan certainly has contributed its share of grievances through the years. None of that justifies what happened after the game, but it’s the context of the rivalry. These teams are never going to like each other, but they have to do better than this.

The players involved from Michigan State should be punished appropriately. Tucker should take responsibility as the head coach. Despite Harbaugh’s glib response to concerns from Penn State’s James Franklin, Michigan needs to look at how it handles traffic in the tunnel. The Penn State situation was tame in comparison, even a bit amusing, but you can understand why coaches worry about this stuff. All it takes is one spark to ignite a combustible situation.

Most of all, this needs to be a reset for Michigan and Michigan State. Both teams should think about ways to lower the temperature the next time they meet, because as ugly as Saturday night was, allowing this to escalate would be even worse. It’s fine to be edgy. It’s fine to be intense. But this was something else entirely.

Bob Wojnowski, Detroit News

Wojo: Wolverines hammer away, and Spartans respond with foolish flailing

Michigan soundly beat Michigan State, 29-7, Saturday night at the Big House, and just when you thought the Spartans had no fight left, several opted to embarrass themselves further. In the tunnel after the game, as many as 10 Michigan State players surrounded a Michigan player, shoving and kicking him on the ground until he got up and scrambled away. The UM player was tentatively identified as defensive back Ja’Den McBurrows, who wears jersey No. 1, as does receiver Andrel Anthony.

It’s unclear how the confrontation began, and the videos posted by reporters last no more than a minute. The repercussions should last considerably longer. Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren happened to be at the game, and he will weigh in. We also need to hear from Mel Tucker and MSU AD Alan Haller. UM police said they are actively investigating.

It was a ridiculous conclusion to a resounding victory by the No. 4 Wolverines (8-0), who continue their Big Ten title run. What happens to MSU (3-5) the rest of the season is uncertain. Punishments surely will be levied, from suspensions to possible player dismissals. At the time of his postgame media session, Tucker said he hadn’t seen the video, which is the latest ugly turn in a rocky season.

Jim Harbaugh’s voice quivered as he spoke of it, the joy of regaining the Paul Bunyan Trophy drained from his face. He talked about his team’s physical running game — another 177 yards from Blake Corum — and swarming defense. And then he turned to his left and deferred to AD Warde Manuel.

John Niyo, Detroit News

Niyo: Tunnel incident following Michigan-Michigan State game is unacceptable

It shouldn’t be this hard to hand over a trophy.

It shouldn’t be this difficult to celebrate a win or accept a loss.

But it is, apparently. Or at least it was Saturday night, when a longstanding rivalry reared its ugliest side and reached a new low, as the postgame tunnel at the Big House turned into a crime scene.

“Two of our players were assaulted,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said after Saturday night’s 29-7 victory over Michigan State. “I saw the one video, the 10-on-1 — it’s pretty bad.”

It’s worse than that, really. The video is out there for all to see, authorities included. And even as partisan lines are inevitably drawn here, there has to be a bottom line drawn, too: This can’t happen.

It’s beyond stupid, what took place outside the visitors’ locker room shortly after the Wolverines had reclaimed the Paul Bunyan Trophy and paraded it across the field to the roars of a giddy Michigan Stadium crowd.

And it’s beyond embarrassing, for Michigan State’s football program and head coach Mel Tucker, who wasn’t ready to give any concrete answers Saturday night before he had all the facts but better have some ready soon.

“I know that was a heated game,” Tucker said. “Things were heated. We’re trying to get our guys in the locker room. We’ll have to figure out what happened.”

David M. Hale, ESPN.com

College football Week 9 highlights: Top plays, games and takeaways

Michigan, which has turned winning ugly into an art from, played a familiar role in the first half against rival Michigan State. The Wolverines led 13-7 through two quarters, and if Michigan State had kept it that close the rest of the way, the school likely would’ve added another three years and $30 million to Mel Tucker’s contract. Instead, the Wolverines shifted into overdrive in the second half, scoring on their first four drives — and six straight at one point — to secure an easy 29-7 win. Michigan’s defense has dominated all season, and Michigan State became the fifth opponent it held to just a single touchdown.

Heather Dinich, ESPN.com

Michigan’s case for No. 4 in the CFP rankings

Case for: This isn’t a bonus for Michigan, but fans should know: Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel is entering his first season as a committee member and will be recused when the group is discussing and voting for Michigan. He couldn’t vote for the Wolverines if he wanted to — it’s shaded in gray and impossible to click on his computer screen. When he returns to the room, he will see on the big screen what happened. While he’s gone, the committee will discuss how Michigan has been one of the most consistent teams in the country. The Wolverines entered Saturday’s game against rival Michigan State ranked in the top 13 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. The Wolverines have one of the most productive running games in the FBS and check the star power box with running back Blake Corum. Michigan has also been winning with its pass defense and entered Saturday leading the Big Ten with 24 sacks. Michigan’s best wins are against Maryland and Penn State, which are both 6-2 and could be CFP Top 25 teams on Tuesday.

Case against: When the selection committee is comparing teams with similar records, the strength of schedule becomes a substantive part of the discussion, and the Wolverines entered Week 9 with the No. 82 strength of schedule. It was weighed down by a nonconference lineup that didn’t feature a Power 5 opponent and included Colorado State, Hawaii and UConn — teams that each have at least five losses. The selection committee also compares common opponents, and it will see that Michigan handled Penn State in more convincing fashion than Ohio State did, but that the Nittany Lions were also a tougher out on their home field. In similar fashion, Ohio State had a more convincing win against Iowa, but Michigan faced the Hawkeyes on the road. The committee won’t look ahead, but isn’t naïve — this particular debate will eventually settle itself on the field.

ESPN’s.com staff weighs in the CFP field

Andrea Adelson: 1. Tennessee 2. Georgia 3. Ohio State 4. Michigan
Blake Baumgartner: 1. Georgia 2. Tennessee 3. Ohio State 4. Michigan
Kyle Bonagura: 1. Georgia 2. Tennessee 3. Ohio State. 4. Alabama
Bill Connelly: 1. Ohio State 2. Georgia 3. Tennessee 4. Michigan
Heather Dinich: 1. Ohio State 2. Georgia 3. Tennessee 4. Michigan
David Hale: 1. Ohio State 2. Tennessee 3. Georgia 4. Clemson
Chris Low: 1. Tennessee 2. Georgia 3. Ohio State 4. Michigan
Harry Lyles Jr.: 1. Ohio State 2. Georgia 3. Tennessee 4. Michigan
Ryan McGee: 1. Georgia 2. Tennessee 3. Ohio State 4. Oregon
Adam Rittenberg: 1. Tennessee 2. Ohio State 3. Georgia 4. Michigan
Alex Scarborough: 1. Ohio State 2. Georgia 3. Tennessee 4. Michigan
Mark Schlabach: 1. Tennessee 2. Georgia 3. Ohio State 4. Michigan
Paolo Uggetti: 1. Georgia 2. Ohio State 3. Tennessee 4. Oregon
Tom VanHaaren: 1. Tennessee 2. Georgia 3. Ohio State 4. Michigan
Dave Wilson: 1. Ohio State 2. Georgia 3. Tennessee 4. Michigan

Bill Bender, Sporting News

Michigan should be 4th in initial playoff rankings

4. Michigan (8-0)

Remaining schedule: at Rutgers, vs. Nebraska, vs. No. 17 Illinois, at No. 2 Ohio State  

The Paul Bunyan Trophy will return to Ann Arbor after Michigan beat Michigan State 29-7 in an old-school Big Ten grinder. Blake Corum (33-177, TD) led a rushing attack that piled up 276 yards, and J.J. McCarthy (15 of 25, 167 yards, TD) added 50 yards on the ground. The defense limited the Spartans to 252 yards. The only letdown? Michigan had to settle for five field goals, and that will not be acceptable against Ohio State on Nov. 26. The last two victories against Rutgers have been one-score games, so Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh has more than enough material to avoid a letdown this week ahead of that road trip. The Wolverines will take the No. 4 spot in all the polls.

Chip Patterson, CBS Sports

U-M’s ranking projected ahead of Sunday poll release

4. Michigan (4): Running the ball effectively and playing a suffocating, dominating style of defense has become Michigan’s championship-contending form, and the ruthless efficiency that the Wolverines show on a down-to-down basis is going to lead to more wins like Saturday’s 29-7 victory against Michigan State.