The only thing that Jim Harbaugh and the No. 6 Michigan Wolverines couldn't control in a 21-7 statement win at No. 24 Michigan State was the weather. However, nearby lightning strikes merely delayed the inevitable for 80 minutes, as the maize and blue cruised to a second consecutive beatdown of a ranked conference foe.
The final margin on the scoreboard doesn't scream "blowout," but it never seemed like the Spartans had a realistic shot at upsetting their in-state rivals. They didn't take a single snap in Michigan territory in the entire first half. Were it not for a Chris Evans fumble at his own 7 early in the second half, Michigan State never would have sniffed the end zone.