The Spartans hold the top spot in the country as they prepare to take on the Wolverines in a consistently competitive fixture. Hosler said the recognition is great, but it means little in terms of how it affects his team on Sunday.

“We were ranked last week,” Hosler said. “That didn’t win us any games. We were ranked the week before; that didn’t win us any games. We’re still ranked — it’s just a different number. We’ve got to focus on today and get better.”

MSU takes on Michigan at 1 p.m. on Sept. 20 at DeMartin Stadium.

While Hosler said last week's wins in Los Angeles have helped players gain confidence, the Spartans aren’t concentrating on the string of results that have propelled them to No. 1. senior midfielder Kayla Briggs said their only concern is “winning the day,” whether it’s game day, practice or recovery. ​

To win the day against Michigan, the Spartans will have to be at their best, Hosler said.

“They’ll be really well-organized and really tough to beat,” Hosler said.

Under new head coach Dave Dilanni, Michigan has transformed into a direct attacking team. The Wolverines are effective playing to the strengths of Elle Ervin, whose height makes her an aerial threat in the penalty area. The Spartans have junior defender Julia Belli who can match Ervin physically and a communicative defensive unit to keep Michigan’s threats at bay.

The Spartans haven’t lost to the Wolverines since 2021, and Michigan hasn't scored in the rivalry since 2023. MSU has won each of the past three games by one goal. All time, the Spartans edge out Michigan with 17 wins, 16 losses and seven ties. At home, the Spartans own a record of 11-4-4.

“I got a quick understanding of what the rivalry is like, and after last year, it’s exciting,” Briggs said. “Those are the most fun games; I obviously want to play them again. We’re all really looking forward to it.”

Briggs is in top form as she prepares to play in her second rivalry game against Michigan. Briggs scored two and assisted two in the opening weekend of conference play, earning the most points in the Big Ten and the title of Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.

“It’s a testament to my teammates; obviously, I’m not gonna score a goal or get an assist unless my teammates do the other part,” Briggs said.

“You ask your stars to be superstars in big games,” Hosler said. “They’ve certainly done that. Kennedy (Bell) and Kayla (Briggs) were both incredible this weekend. They’re in top form, Kayla especially, with her playmaking and her goalscoring, but also the work she’s doing out of possession in terms of ground coverage, back tackling and winning some balls for us that get us going forward.”​

As confidence-building and important as the Spartans’ first two results of Big Ten play were, the away stretch tested them. Hosler said the heat, the time zone change and the travel wore on his players.

Hosler said the schedule allowing his team a full week of preparations as they recover from their trip to the West Coast is a “blessing.”

“College soccer has been doing a great job of changing how our calendar works,” Hosler said. “It’s giving our players more time for rest and recovery. Trips like this take so much out of you.”

Briggs said she and her teammates are looking at the long week not as one of rest, but as one full of anticipation.

“The people I’ve talked to have been like, ‘oh my gosh, we have to wait until Sunday for the game,’” Briggs said. “We’re all fired up and ready to go.”