Michigan State's Harlon Barnett on Michigan: 'A good football team'

Michigan State interim head coach Harlon Barnett knows all about the in-state series between Michigan and his Spartans, having played in East Lansing in the 1980s and been on staff with the program for 14-plus seasons. He took over Sept. 10 for the fired Mel Tucker, who’s been accused of sexually harassing anti-sexual assault and rape advocate Brenda Tracy.

The Spartans have lost their last four games — to Washington, Maryland, Iowa and Rutgers — but while the results have been frustrating, the energy at the team’s Monday morning practice was more upbeat, per Barnett, with Michigan coming to town for a Saturday night clash.

“They know what it is, they know what it’s about, and the importance of this game to us here at Michigan State,” Barnett said of his players.

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Michigan State blew a 24-6 fourth-quarter lead to Rutgers in Piscataway last weekend. Having their most important rivalry game has made it easier for the Spartans to move forward.

“I told them, let’s be honest about it, they don’t care that we lost the last four games. They’re going to come after us no matter what, right? And we would do the same thing,” Barnett said. “So, we’ve gotta get ourselves together.

“You always are just trying to get better no matter, rivalry game or not. Definitely, it can bring some more focus to it, though. And we talk about having great attention to detail. But as far as if it’s Michigan or not Michigan or what have you, we just need to start playing better, and now it’s about finishing. That’s our next step. We gotta finish, and we’re looking forward to doing that this weekend.”

Michigan is the No. 2 team in the country, undefeated at 7-0 and the sole favorite to win the national championship, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. The Wolverines beat down the Spartans last season, 29-7, and have won three of the last five in the series.

“They’re very disciplined in what they do — offense, defense and special teams,” Barnett said of the Maize and Blue. “They play hard. They have a good passing game, as well as running game. They’ve got a good balance. They just do a good job. They do a good job of coaching those guys up and putting them in position to make plays. A good football team.”

Answering a number of different questions during his Monday press conference, Barnett used the word ‘disciplined’ to describe Michigan. For the most part, the Wolverines’ offensive personnel is the same as it was last season. Barnett has seen them take a step forward.

“They’re more experienced,” he noted. “They’ve got those same guys, but they’re more experienced. They’ve got another year under their belt, and they’re playing like that. They understand the offense and their assignments and where they need to be.”

Unprovoked after an embarrassing defeat at The Big House last October, a slew of Michigan State players attacked U-M players in the Lloyd Carr Tunnel at Michigan Stadium. Seven were charged with assault after the one-sided ambush on Michigan cornerbacks Gemon Green and Ja’Den McBurrows, who were attempting to return to the U-M locker room after the blowout win.

Barnett said that the Spartans aren’t looking back at his team’s past sins, but are focused on attempting to pull off an upset against Michigan during the 60 minutes in which the game is played.

“We’re focused on this year and just playing the game, 11 on 11, on the football field, because that’s all that matters,” Barnett said. “That’s where our focus is — 11 on 11, on the football field. You get plenty of chances to get out there and get after them and play hard, and all the other stuff; we’re moving forward past that.”

Michigan is a 24.5-point favorite over the Spartans. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday night in East Lansing, with the game broadcast on NBC.