Michigan State held off Michigan 15-5 Friday night in Ann Arbor to essentially secure 4th place in the Big Ten and a spot in the 3rd-4th Game on November 13 in Chicago.

MSU has played five games in conference play—their game vs Purdue was called off but will be played November 6. Michigan, at 2-3, will be playing undefeated Indiana, and are not favored to win.

As for Friday's game, Michigan State started very well, recycling well in wet conditions and finally Josh Kipp found a gap and charged on for the first try of the night. Midway through the second half wing Samy Shelbaya broke through for a 10-0 lead, and then late in the first half Kevin Roche was over after a long period of pressure.

Roche's try on a short ball after a couple of players rescued possession after being in danger of dropping the ball, was key.

In the second half Michigan started to gain the run of play, and with some better continuity and some MSU penalties got them into the Spartan 22. Michigan State defended doggedly but finally the Wolverines decided to forget about bashing it over in tight and went wide, where they bashed it over in the corner. That made it 15-5.

Michigan remained on the front foot, but then an interception turned that around and eventually MSU put Lucas Hendershot over, and in the closing minutes Jacob Lafavre scored to put it away.

"We came into this weekend with a huge chip on our shoulders," said Shelbaya. "Losing our last encounter with UofM, then COVID hitting and being unable to play, the boys were more determined then ever to leave their mark. From practice to game film, the mentality leading into the week was to execute. Going into the game we were all locked in and from the first whistle we came out to hit pushing them back every hit, not allowing them to make any meters and distributing their set plays."

That worked out in the first half, but Michigan has MSU worried in the second period, said Shelbaya. 

"The start of second half scared me, honestly," he said. "Michigan came out firing on all cylinders bullying out scrums beating us to the break down and we just committed penalties that allowed them back into the game."

The key was MSU's defense in their own 22 made Michigan work for every meter. Eventually they turned the momentum around and the last 20 minutes saw the Spartans raise their level.

"As a senior this is absolute best way to end it," said Shelbaya. "I could not think of a better way beating Michigan."

Also this weekend in the Big Ten, Indiana plays Purdue and Ohio State is at Illinois. It's possible that Illinois could beat OSU to move into 2nd, but Ohio State has one additional game left (and Illinois doesn't), and the Buckeyes are favored in that last one.