ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Saturday marks one of the biggest rivalries in the Big Ten—Michigan State vs. Michigan. Certain Michigan coaches have labeled it in the past as Big Brother vs. Little Brother. This year, a different vibe is in the air as MSU has momentum with new head coach Jonathan Smith at 4-3. Michigan has won the past two meetings, but Sherrone Moore has an offense that has been struggling lately.
“Our goal is to win every single game we play,” said Michigan senior Donavan Edwards. “It’s not a new goal but how can we get better every single day. How can we be better than we were yesterday.”
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Michigan will have to be better than last week, scoring seven points in their loss to Illinois. The last time the Wolverines scored seven points or less was over a decade ago and their first loss to Illinois since 2009. Three quarterbacks have started this season as Moore figures out who should run the offense against MSU. Defensively, Michigan is still scary, but the offense turned the offense all over three times. Moore says, “You have three turnovers in a Big Ten game; it doesn’t matter who you’re playing, you’re not gonna win.”
The Paul Bunyan Trophy dates back to 1953, when then-Governor G.Mennen Williams donated the four-foot wooden statue to the winner of the game as MSU was accepted into the Big Ten. Michigan has led the series since then, 40-29-2. MSU, though, has won five of the last eight meetings.
“This week is special – a rivalry week in the state,” said MSU’s Smith. “This is what college football is about. A big, meaningful game. It will be a big, tough, physical match up at their place.”
MSU is 2-2 in the Big Ten and coming off a 32-30 win over Iowa. It is their first win since September 14 after starting the season 3-0. After the great start, MSU fell to Boston College, 23-19, no. 3 Ohio State, 38-7, and no. 6 Oregon, 31-10.
“I have felt this game upon arrival to MSU. It was something talked about in my introductory press conference and I have felt it since getting here. I understand it and it is the most important game regular season game we will play,” said Smith.
Michigan’s Edwards says this about the trophy, “This trophy embodies what Michigan is all about – blue collar guy, who is hard working – and that’s what both programs have in common.”
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The two storied programs will play for the Paul Bunyan trophy on the Big Ten Network on Saturday at 7:40 p.m. in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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