College Football: UCLA highlights in-state rivalry week

This year’s annual game between the Wolverines and the Spartans will be different than in recent games played between these two in-state and conference rivals.

Traditionally speaking, this game between Michigan and Michigan State is one of the best rivalry games in all of college football. This rivalry game became more of a nationally known game when these two teams faced off against each other in 2021 in a match-up between two undefeated teams ranked in the top 10. It was the third most-watched game in all of college football that year.

One program is led by a high-profile coach Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh. He has had his ups and downs in this rivalry as a coach with one of those not-so-great games being the major upset in 2020 when the Spartans defeated the Wolverines and to a lesser extent in arguably one of the best games in 2021, when the Spartans defeated the Wolverines. Harbaugh is 4-4 against Michigan State with his best win over the Spartans coming in 2019. Fans of both programs as well as former players usually communicate via social media outlets like X (formerly known as Twitter) this week before their annual game against one another, as the hope should be that this game is not a blowout but a fun and competitive game.

Michigan heads into this game as the favorite as they are undefeated at 7-0 and being ranked No. 2 in the country. The Wolverines have defeated all their opponents this season by double digits and have scored 30 or more points in every game this season. The Wolverines are once again on a collision course with Ohio State to capture the Big Ten East division title when the two teams face off against one another as well as a berth into the college football play.

Michigan State on the other hand has had a disappointing season and is fighting to become bowl-eligible this season. The Spartans after winning their first two games lost at home to Washington before losing at home to Maryland to go to 2-2. Michigan State then lost on the road to Iowa and to Rutgers. To be fair, however, the combined records of Washington, Rutgers, Iowa, and Maryland are 22-5. The loss to Rutgers was extremely disappointing to all Spartan fans as the Scarlet Knights scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to win by three.

Let’s take an in-depth look at this rivalry and this week’s game between Michigan State and Michigan.

Last 15 Years of this rivalry: The Spartans have won nine times during the past 15 games these two in-state rivals had played against each other.

Last 10 Years of Rivalry: Michigan State has won five times during the past 10 games that these two schools have played one another.

Distance between schools: 49 miles

Rivalry Trophy: Paul Bunyan

The best game between these two schools over the past 10 years: The famous “Trouble with the snap” game.

Current Win Streak: Michigan has won the last game between the two schools.

Last meeting between both schools: The Wolverines defeated the Spartans at home by a final score of 29-7.

Prediction: Michigan 31 Michigan State 10