A rival is said to be a team that “competes for the same object or goal as another ... tries to equal or outdo another ...” according to the dictionary.

The in-state rivalry game that took place this afternoon did not match this definition. The Spartans were lifeless. This is the largest deficit MSU has had against Michigan since 2002; it was one of the worst losses of Dantonio's career.

"Having energy comes from making plays," MSU quarterback Brian Lewerke said. "And when you aren't able to, you have to manufacture it and you can only do that for so long."

The game ignited with a burst of hope for Spartan fans after a confident sack by Raequan Williams followed by a poised offensive effort achieving the first touchdown of the game. 

Lewerke connected on a pass to sophomore Max Rosenthal for his first MSU touchdown. But after that small wave of energy and intensity, MSU seemed disconnected.

The Wolverines, however, fed off of the crowd. The Michigan Stadium was jam-packed with over 111,000 people. MSU had 12 freshmen on the field trying to play through that kind of intensity.

"It’s real," freshman running back Elijah Collins said. "The rivalry is real. Can't hide it. Can't lie about it. It's nothing you can do to go around it."

The MSU scoring sequence lit a fire under the Wolverines, and they responded. Within the first 30 seconds of the second quarter, Hassan Haskins flew to the end zone for a touchdown. The Spartan defense looked lethargic as Michigan went 98 yards in 12 plays to paint the board 17-7. 

Although emotions could've sparked some energy within the Spartans, it seemed they only added to the ugly performance, especially in the second quarter. Two penalties were called on MSU for unsportsmanlike conduct, resulting in a loss of 30 yards.

"Emotions is just part of it," Collins said. "It's part of the game, you love stuff as much as we do here, it can kind of get the best of you sometimes."

Fresh out of halftime, Michigan dominated. 

In the third quarter alone, Wolverine quarterback Shea Patterson completed 6-of-8 passes for 114 yards, while Lewerke completed 6-of-10 for 46 yards and one interception.

"Hung in there initially," Dantonio said. "I think the third quarter hurt us with the first interception."

The Spartans may have kept it close at 17-7, but after four penalties for 35 yards, Michigan took advantage of the free yards.

Unable to recharge and regroup, the Spartans continued to blunder. They ended the game with seven penalties for 93 yards, making it too easy for Michigan to score.

"You've got to be able to make a big play," Dantonio said. "You've got to create explosive plays, and then negate explosive plays."

The Spartans will take their five-game losing streak to Rutgers next Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.

"We just got to keep fighting," junior linebacker Antjuan Simmons said. "We have to. We can’t lay down at all. We got two more games."