Angelique S. Chengelis and Tony Paul of The Detroit News take a look at three players to watch from Michigan, and three players to watch from Michigan State, ahead of Saturday’s showdown in Ann Arbor.

Three Spartans to watch

Jonathan Kim, kicker >> When Michigan State wins this rivalry game, it tends to be close — at least, lately. In the Spartans’ last four wins over the Wolverines, the margin of victory has been four points or fewer. So don’t be surprised if this game comes down to the leg — the strong leg — of Kim, a graduate student who is coming off a historic performance, in which he set MSU’s single-game record with six made field goals against Iowa. His long this season is 55, and for his career, it’s 58. MSU would prefer not to have to rely on him so often when it gets in the red zone, but Kim (15-for-16 on FGs this season) is quite the security blanket, and little seems to faze him.Aidan Chiles, quarterback >> A transfer from Oregon State, there is a steep learning curve for the sophomore, and he’s had his bumps in the road — with some untimely fumbles and nine interceptions on the season. But you can see his confidence and poise growing each week, and just in time for the biggest game of his college career, against a heated rival, under the lights, in a hostile environment. He threw one pick last week, but it wasn’t the worst one, on third-and-long, the end result not much different than a punt. He’s seemingly found his connection with senior receiver Montorie Foster Jr., too, giving MSU multiple weapons.

Charles Brantley, defensive back >> Michigan doesn’t have much of a passing game, if any at all. But if the Wolverines are going to try to run the ball all day long, that’s going to be a problem — as MSU showed Iowa last week. Eventually, and especially if it gets behind, UM is going to have to try throwing the ball, which will be music to the ears of Brantley, a redshirt junior who leads the Spartans with three interceptions this season (MSU has eight), to go with five pass breakups. He had a season-high nine tackles against Oregon two games ago. He’s the ying to the yang of junior defensive back Nikai Martinez, who has two interceptions, including one in a big win in the win over Iowa.

Three Wolverines to watch

Kalel Mullings, running back >> Mullings has 676 yards on 110 carries, averages 6.1 yards a carry and has seven rushing touchdowns this season. He had three straight 100-yard rushing games this season before the last two road games and had a career-high 159 yards rushing with two touchdowns against USC. On the game-winning scoring drive against the Trojans, Mullings had a 63-yard run, a career long. He has made two starts for the Wolverines and during his career, he also has made a start at linebacker.

Josaiah Stewart, edge rusher >> Stewart was recently elevated from alternate captain to captain. He leads the Big Ten with 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks and accumulated those number in six games (he did not play against Minnesota). He is fourth nationally in TFL and 10th in sacks. Stewart was All-Big Ten honorable mention last season.

Colston Loveland, tight end >> Loveland made the Big Ten Preseason Player to Watch list, was a preseason All-American and is considered one of the nation’s top college football tight ends. Loveland also leads the team in receiving with 36 catches for 344 yards and two touchdowns, and that includes a game that he missed because of injury. During his Michigan career, the junior has played in 35 games with 21 starts and had 97 catches for 1,228 yards and eight touchdowns. Last season he was Michigan’s co-offensive Skill Player of the Year.