MSU’s Shaky Recruiting Take on Michigan Comes Back to Bite Michigan State University (MSU) has long positioned itself as a scrappy underdog in its rivalry with the University of Michigan, embracing an “chip on the shoulder” mentality. However, its approach to recruiting—particularly how it has downplayed the Wolverines’ success and their own shortcomings—has started to backfire in a major way.For years, MSU coaches and fans have taken pride in “finding gems” and “developing talent” rather than chasing the same blue-chip recruits as Michigan. This attitude intensified during the Mark Dantonio era, when MSU found success with lower-ranked recruits who bought into the program’s tough, gritty identity. Dantonio’s teams won with players who felt overlooked and disrespected, and for a time, it worked.But college football has changed. Recruiting rankings and elite talent matter more than ever in today’s landscape, where depth and skill development go hand in hand with high-caliber athletes. Under Mel Tucker, MSU tried to pivot to a more national recruiting strategy, attempting to compete with Michigan and other Big Ten powers for top talent. The results, however, were inconsistent at best. Now, under new head coach Jonathan Smith, the Spartans are again looking to rebuild their identity, but they are paying the price for previous missteps.Recruiting Missteps and the Impact one of MSU’s biggest miscalculations has been its dismissive attitude toward Michigan’s recruiting approach. While the Wolverines have consistently pulled in top-tier talent, especially in the trenches, MSU has often downplayed the importance of stars and rankings. This stance might have worked in the past, but in an era where Michigan is dominating on the field and winning national championships, it rings hollow.MSU’s inability to land elite recruits has led to a significant talent gap between the two programs. While Michigan has stacked up deep, athletic rosters capable of competing for College Football Playoff spots, MSU has struggled to stay competitive even in the Big Ten. The Wolverines’ recruiting success, particularly on the offensive and defensive lines, has been a key factor in their recent dominance over the Spartans.Meanwhile, MSU’s recent recruiting classes have lacked the depth and consistency needed to compete at the highest level. While there have been some individual successes, the overall trajectory has been clear: Michigan is winning recruiting battles, and it’s showing on the field.The Fallout MSU’s struggles have been magnified in recent years, with blowout losses to Michigan highlighting the gap between the two programs. The Spartans’ previous bravado about “doing more with less” now seems outdated, especially as Michigan continues to steamroll them with superior talent and coaching.For MSU, the lesson is clear: Recruiting matters, and dismissing the significance of rankings and elite talent is a losing strategy. If the Spartans want to be competitive in this rivalry again, they need to rethink their approach and start winning recruiting battles—rather than making excuses for losing them.Until then, Michigan’s dominance is likely to continue, and MSU’s shaky recruiting stance will remain one of the biggest reasons why.
