If ever there was a time for Michigan to reclaim its spot above Michigan State on the food chain, Saturday night was it. One year after taking down the Spartans in East Lansing, Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines had a chance to post consecutive wins over their in-state rival on prime time television inside the Big House.

This was the time for “big brother” to re-establish the pecking order in conference and the state.

Instead, the Spartans took the fight to Michigan — again. “little brother” embarrassed its older sibling on the national stage — again. Mark Dantonio smiled while holding the Paul Bunyan Trophy — again.

An overuse of the word “again?” Maybe. But it doesn’t come undeservedly. Dantonio improved to 8-3 in games against Michigan after the Spartans claimed a 14-10 decision in a glorified slop-fest that occurred in Ann Arbor on Saturday. But Saturday’s win carried a little more significance than the seven previous victories. One thing became crystal clear when John O’Korn’s final pass bounced off the turf — Dantonio absolutely owns the Wolverines.

Maybe that was obvious before Saturday night’s game, but Michigan State’s win cemented Dantonio’s legacy in that respect.

The Wolverines entered Saturday’s game as a 10.5-point favorite, playing at home with the nation’s top defense statistically. Yeah, they were missing starting quarterback Wilton Speight but O’Korn performed pretty well two weeks earlier when thrust into the spotlight against Purdue. Plus, Harbaugh had a bye week to help his backup get acclimated with the first-team offense.

Labeling this as an “easy” win for the Wolverines might’ve been a stretch, but Michigan was suppose to put a “big brother” type whoopin’ on Michigan State. But once again, the Spartans showed that they’re all grown up.

Michigan turned the ball over five times on Saturday and rushed for just 102 yards, averaging a measly 2.6 yards per carry. The offensive line was devoured by a swarm of white jerseys all night. O’Korn didn’t have many clean pockets to throw from. The Wolverines might’ve had the better talent but the Spartans came ready to fight.

It all circles back to Dantonio and how well-prepared his teams have been for the in-state rivalry bout with Michigan. But what became most apparent was how much we’ve undervalued the Michigan State head coach for the past 11 seasons. Maybe not on a national stage, but when it comes to posting wins over the maize and blue, he’s second to none.

Dantonio has almost been considered somewhat lucky during his tenure with the Spartans. He had the benefit of coming along when Michigan’s program was in shambles. he took advantage of incompetent coaches like Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke. He won the game in 2015, but with that being Harbaugh’s inaugural season and the game ending with such a fluky finish, he wasn’t really given his due credit

This is Harbaugh’s third season in Ann Arbor. He’s brought in a few stacked recruiting classes and his defense is one of the nation’s best. This was the game you’re expected to win at Michigan. And still, Dantonio found a way.

Michigan State got off to a hot start, which almost seems like part of the game plan now, considering the downpour that came in the second half. The Spartans built an early 14-3 lead in the first two quarters, and ironically, was just enough to pull off the upset on Saturday night. When the rain came pounding down, so did Michigan State’s defense.

Michigan had more talent, yet it was Michigan State that looked like he had raked in the five-star recruits year-after-year. And it was the Spartans that appeared to have college football’s top-ranked defense, not the maize and blue. Of the eight wins he’s recorded, this was Dantonio’s most impressive.

And it’s obvious now, he’s not getting lucky against the Wolverines, he’s dominating them.

You don’t get lucky eight times in 11 years. You don’t best one of college football’s head coaches two times in three seasons — both wins on the road — by carrying around a lucky rabbit’s foot. You don’t “just so happen” to embarrass the one referred to as “big brother” in the national spotlight repeatedly.

And you certainly don’t beat Jim Harbaugh twice in three seasons by getting lucky.

Michigan had its chance to re-establish itself as the dominant football figure in the state and fell short. If it didn’t happen on Saturday night, it’s not going to happen for some time.

Not while Dantonio is still on the sideline.