I am a Michigan fan and this is the question that I get from both sets of fans that are coworkers of mine. This was my explanation to them: Last year, I did not expect Michigan to be even close to OSU and they were not even with Harbaugh as the coach. Why? Because on paper, they were the best team in the nation sending 12 players to the NFL. They choked last year in their attempt to repeat as national champions. They should have blasted UM and they did. Their biggest choke coming the week before against MSU and the two best games they played all year was against UM and ND. The Bucks have been the better program since Tressel's arrival. Meyer inherited a robust program much like he did at Florida. They have recruited much better than UM for 15 years now, however, that will change now with Harbaugh. OSU will still pull the great players BUT Michigan will be right there with them under Harbaugh. Carr's final years, Rich Rod and Hoke put a huge gap between UM and OSU in recruiting. The Bucks lost a ton of experienced talent that played together for three years and went 50-4. Incredible and THAT will be very difficult to maintain with 6 returning starters this year. UM was horrible in 2014 and Harbaugh went 10-3 last year with the same players that were 5-7 the year before. Most of these players are back in 2016 and that's why they are ranked higher in the preseason.
Michigan State-Dantonio has been fantastic in EL and has really enjoyed the end of the Carr yeras, RR and Hoke years at Michigan. Along the way he built the program in the midst of a weak UM program by claiming "no respect" in the state of Michigan and nationally. MSU won some big games and slapped Michigan around physically for years, slipping one time against Hoke in the process. The arrival of Harbaugh in Ann Arbor has immediately changed this and the "fluke win" easily proves this. BUT that game does not define MSU nor does their win in Columbus or against Iowa last year. The game that defines the program and will resonate in a negative fashion this season will be the embarrassment of the 38-0 ass whipping against Alabama. Dantonio cried for "respect" for years and when it came to putting it on the line, the program was crushed in front of a national audience. That mantra is now gone and the Spartans also have a ton to replace this year. That's why UM is ranked higher in the preseason.
Michigan State-Dantonio has been fantastic in EL and has really enjoyed the end of the Carr yeras, RR and Hoke years at Michigan. Along the way he built the program in the midst of a weak UM program by claiming "no respect" in the state of Michigan and nationally. MSU won some big games and slapped Michigan around physically for years, slipping one time against Hoke in the process. The arrival of Harbaugh in Ann Arbor has immediately changed this and the "fluke win" easily proves this. BUT that game does not define MSU nor does their win in Columbus or against Iowa last year. The game that defines the program and will resonate in a negative fashion this season will be the embarrassment of the 38-0 ass whipping against Alabama. Dantonio cried for "respect" for years and when it came to putting it on the line, the program was crushed in front of a national audience. That mantra is now gone and the Spartans also have a ton to replace this year. That's why UM is ranked higher in the preseason.