ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy is here once again and this year’s matchup promises all the drama of a backyard brawl – if your backyard is a 107,000+-seat stadium called the “Big House” filled with maize, blue, and some green and white thrown in here and there.

On Saturday, October 26th, at 7:30 PM EST, the Michigan Wolverines host the Michigan State Spartans in one of the most storied rivalries in college football. Both teams enter with a 4-3 record, making this game a clash for midseason bragging rights about who is the better Michigan football team.

A history lesson of the rivalry.

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The Michigan-Michigan State rivalry dates back to 1898, and let’s just say there’s no love lost between these two. The Wolverines hold a dominant all-time series lead at 73-38-5, but recent years have seen the pendulum swing back and forth.

The last time the Spartans took down Michigan was in 2021, thanks to Kenneth Walker III’s five- touchdown masterpiece. Since then, Michigan has snagged back-to-back wins, including a humiliating 49-0 victory in East Lansing in 2023.

But this year, neither team is exactly tearing it up – both enter the game unranked for the first time since 2008. Adding a little historical spice, it’s the first time since 1928 that both teams come into the matchup with at least three losses.

New coaches and new faces.

This year’s showdown brings new energy to the rivalry, with Coach Jonathan Smith leading the Spartans and Sherrone Moore coaching the Wolverines. Both teams are also breaking in new quarterbacks: Aidan Chiles for MSU and a rotating cast of three QBs for Michigan, including Jack Tuttle.

Michigan’s season has been a roller coaster after their perfect 2023 campaign and national championship win under Coach Jim Harbaugh. More recently, they stumbled out of the bye week, losing two straight games, the latest against Illinois. On the flip side, Michigan State seems to be on the upswing, bouncing back with a decisive win over Iowa.

The numbers game: who’s got the edge?

  • Scoring Offense: Not exactly electric. Michigan averages 21.2 points per game, while MSU averages 21.6.
  • Defense: Both teams are giving up just over 20 points per game, with Michigan holding opponents to 326.2 total yards and Michigan State allowing 323.1.
  • Turnovers: The Spartans hold a slight edge here, having forced one more turnover than Michigan. But with nine interceptions apiece, the QBs better keep their heads on a swivel.

Predictions, tailgating and trash talk.

The oddsmakers have Michigan as a 31⁄2-point favorite according to FanDuel Sportsbook, thanks to their overall talent and home-field advantage. But let’s be real: with rivalry games like this, logic often gets benched for adrenaline. Expect a heavy dose of trash talk, awkward family gatherings, and questionable refereeing calls that will be debated for weeks.

A trophy for the bold.

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The Paul Bunyan Trophy, a four-foot wooden lumberjack, might be the “ugliest trophy in college football,” as former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr put it, but it’s got a special place in Michigan sports lore. The Spartans and Wolverines have taken turns hoisting it since 1953, and this year will be no different – though it might involve a little more sweat and grit than usual.