Huddle up! Here’s a look back at this weekend on the gridiron, with three key takeaways from the state’s football scene.
Recommended Videos
U-M will be pulling for Ohio State to set up a showdown.
Many U-M fans would probably rather get a root canal for a week straight than to pull for Ohio State, but any U-M player or supporter will rightfully be rooting for Ohio State to do what it is expected to do and beat Michigan State at home on Saturday.
Ohio State enters as a 22 1/2 point favorite.
An Ohio State win and a Michigan win at 5-5 Maryland means the Buckeyes and Wolverines will meet in Ann Arbor the following week with everything on the line, from an appearance in the Big Ten title game to a possible playoff berth.
If MSU stuns the world again in Columbus -- keep in mind MSU has done that twice to OSU in 1998 and 2015 -- then the Spartans would be in control of their destiny for a Big Ten title game appearance, in their final game at home against Penn State.
The good news for U-M is that one rival will lose this week, and as hard as it will be to stomach, the Wolverines are better off having the Buckeyes win.
Ferris State enters the playoffs No. 1 in Division II.
Ferris State completed an unbeaten regular season with a 35-13 win over Wayne State on Saturday, and now the postseason has arrived for a Ferris State team that is ranked No. 1 in the nation entering the Division II playoffs.
Ferris State will have a bye during this weekend’s first round of action as it shoots for its first national title in school history.
The Bulldogs lost in the Division II championship game in 2018, 49-47, to Valdosta State.
Prep state semifinals to take place Saturday.
There is only one more step until Ford Field and the state finals for prep football teams, and that will be Saturday’s semifinals.
Here are the matchups involving Metro Detroit teams.
- Rochester Adams (12-0) vs. Grand Blanc (12-0) at Howell. This Division 1 semifinal features an Adams team that is looking for its first state title since 2003 (Division 2), while Grand Blanc is looking for its first title ever. Grand Blanc is also looking to complete an incredible trifecta as an athletic program. Grand Blanc won the Class A state basketball championship in March and the Division 1 state baseball title in June.
- Sterling Heights Stevenson (10-2) vs. Belleville (11-1) at Troy Athens. Another Division 1 semifinal, each is looking for its first state title. Belleville has lost in the semifinals each of the past three years. Stevenson lost in the semifinals two years ago.
- Traverse City Central (11-1) vs. South Lyon (12-0) at Greenville. A Division 2 semifinal, South Lyon is in the semifinals for the first time since 2004.
- Livonia Franklin (7-5) vs. Warren De La Salle (11-0) at Hazel Park. De La Salle is an overwhelming favorite in this Division 2 semifinal.
- Mason (10-2) vs. Detroit Martin Luther King (11-1) at Wayne Memorial. Many thought it would Martin Luther King vs. Brother Rice in this Division 3 semifinal, but Mason upset Brother Rice in a regional final.
- Michigan Center (11-1) vs. Warren Michigan Collegiate (10-2) at Ypsilanti Lincoln. Making its third semifinal appearance in Division 6, Michigan Collegiate is looking for its first trip to the final.