44 out of 49.
It’s the stat that emerges every year around the time Michigan plays Michigan State. It’s the amount of times the victor in the series has rushed for more yardage the last 49 games.
On the back of Karan Higdon, the Wolverines tallied 183 to the Spartans’ 15. The 168-yard difference between the rivals is the most in the series since 2013 — the year Brady Hoke’s team managed negative-48.
There’s a problem with solely hyper-focusing on yards on the ground, especially since Jim Harbaugh came to town. The more productive run game has decided the winner twice in the last four contests.