When your season goes sideways, few things ease the pain like a late-season win over your in-state rival.
That’s the opportunity awaiting Michigan and Michigan State this year, two programs with plenty to prove and a chance to salvage something from disappointing seasons at their rival’s expense.
For all the changes in college football, one thing hasn’t changed: Nobody wants to lose to the team across the state.
The winner gets a much-needed lift. The loser gets another offseason of hearing about it.
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The programs first met in 1898, and the rivalry has grown into one of the Big Ten’s most recognizable matchups.
So much so, we ranked it 19th among the 25 rivalries that define college football.
Michigan (5-3, 2-3 Big Ten), which hosts Michigan State (2-6, 0-5), on Saturday, Nov. 7 (7:30 p.m. ET/Peacock), owns a big advantage in the all-time series (75-38-5), but the Spartans have delivered plenty of punches of their own.
There’s also hardware on the line. Since 1953, the winner has taken home the Paul Bunyan Trophy, a 4-foot wooden statue of the legendary lumberjack standing over a map of Michigan.
And when it comes to unforgettable finishes, this rivalry has delivered one of the wildest in college football history.
‘Trouble with the snap’
In 2015, No. 12 Michigan appeared to have the game against seventh-ranked Michigan State under control before a disastrous final sequence changed everything.
With 10 seconds remaining, Michigan punter Blake O’Neill mishandled the snap, then bobbled the ball as he tried to kick it away with Michigan State defenders closing in.
Jalen Watts-Jackson scooped up the loose ball and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown as time expired, giving the unbeaten Spartans a stunning 27-23 victory at the Big House.
It was the kind of finish that left one fan base celebrating in disbelief and the other wondering how it even happened.
The 2015 finish wasn’t the first time Michigan State broke Michigan hearts late.
In 2001, the Spartans stunned the sixth-ranked Wolverines 26-24 when quarterback Jeff Smoker connected with T.J. Duckett for a two-yard touchdown pass on the final play.
The finish was so controversial that it sparked a debate over whether Michigan had called a timeout before the decisive snap.
Walker runs wild
Michigan State has delivered other memorable upsets, too.
In 2021, the Spartans rallied from an early double-digit deficit to beat Michigan 37-33 in East Lansing in a showdown between two undefeated Top 10 teams.
Running back Kenneth Walker III led Michigan State with 197 rushing yards and five touchdowns, giving the Spartans another unforgettable chapter in the rivalry.
The win also reinforced a familiar theme: This rivalry has a way of producing a result that nobody forgets.
Michigan’s recent run
Of course, Michigan has had plenty to celebrate as well.
The second-ranked Wolverines dominated the 2023 meeting with a 49-0 shutout in East Lansing en route to winning the program’s third national championship in the modern poll era, then continued their recent run of success with victories in 2024 and 2025.
Michigan’s 31-20 win in October 2025 at Spartan Stadium extended its winning streak in the series to four games.
The recent results have tilted Michigan’s way, but a lopsided win or a long winning streak doesn’t erase the memories of what can happen when these teams meet.
More than a trophy
No matter how the season has gone, Michigan and Michigan State always have something to play for when they meet.
Coaches change, rosters turn over and expectations shift, but one thing never changes: Nobody wants to lose to the other side.
The Paul Bunyan Trophy is more than a wooden statue. It’s a chance to get one over on your rival and make sure they hear about it long after the final whistle.
A disappointing season eventually ends. But the memories of losing to your in-state rival?
They tend to stick around a lot longer.
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Mike Garbett is a content specialist working with McClatchy’s Content Innovation Lab.