East Lansing — Jordan Hall and his teammates watched the film back from last year’s 24-17 rivalry loss to Michigan. The whole thing. Including the final 29 seconds, when a headbutt by Michigan tight end Colston Loveland caused a scuffle in front of the Wolverines’ sideline.
At least publicly, Hall and his teammates say they seldom talk about that fracas in particular. What they have talked extensively about is straddling the line between playing up to the intensity of a rivalry without hurting themselves with penalties. It’s that line that could be a difference maker Saturday against Michigan (7:45 p.m., NBC) when two of college football’s least penalized teams square up.