The air in Michigan changes every October. It’s not just the temperature drop or the smell of woodsmoke; it’s a palpable, teeth-gritting tension that settles between Ann Arbor and East Lansing. You’ve felt it. If you grew up in this state, you were likely forced to pick a side before you could even tie your own shoes.
People call it "Little Brother" versus "The Big House." They talk about the Paul Bunyan Trophy like it’s the Holy Grail, even though, honestly, it’s a nine-foot-tall wooden lumberjack that former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr once called the "ugliest trophy in college football."
But ugliness is the point. This rivalry isn't about grace. It’s about a deep-seated, generational resentment that makes Michigan Wolverines football vs Michigan State Spartans football the most bitter game on the calendar.
The 2025 Battle: Running Through the Rain
Just a few months ago, on October 25, 2025, we saw exactly what this game is at its core. Michigan rolled into Spartan Stadium ranked No. 25, facing a Michigan State team that was struggling but desperate.
The Spartans played with a chip on their shoulder the size of the Mackinac Bridge. They held Michigan to a 10-7 lead at the half, and for a second, it looked like East Lansing might witness a classic upset.
Then Justice Haynes happened.
Michigan essentially stopped pretending they had a passing game. With freshman QB Bryce Underwood struggling to find a rhythm, Sherrone Moore leaned on the ground attack. Haynes put up 152 yards and two scores, while Jordan Marshall added another 110. It was a physical beatdown.
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Michigan won 31-20.
That marks four straight wins for the Wolverines. It’s the first time they’ve put together a four-game streak since the early 2000s. For Spartan fans, the "sloppy play" and 12 penalties for 105 yards were a bitter pill to swallow. Head coach Jonathan Smith didn't mince words after the game, calling the performance "unacceptable."
Why the "Little Brother" Narrative is Actually Wrong
Look, Mike Hart’s 2007 "Little Brother" comment is etched into the history of this series. It’s the ultimate trash-talk fuel. But if you actually look at the numbers since 1953—when the Spartans joined the Big Ten—the gap is way smaller than Wolverine fans want to admit.
Before 1953, Michigan treated the Spartans like a scrimmage partner. They went 33-9-3 in that early era. They once beat them 119-0 back in 1902.
But since the Paul Bunyan Trophy was introduced? It’s a different story.
Michigan leads the trophy series 42-29-2. That’s competitive. In the Mark Dantonio era, the Spartans actually won 8 out of 10 games. They didn't just compete; they dominated the physical identity of the state.
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The Paul Bunyan Trophy's Weird History
- The Origins: Governor G. Mennen "Soapy" Williams created it in 1953 to welcome MSU to the Big Ten.
- The Rejection: Michigan’s AD, Fritz Crisler, hated the idea. He actually refused to accept the trophy the first time Michigan won it, leaving it on the field.
- The Size: It stands nine feet tall including the base. It’s a monster.
- The Damage: Once, during a move, Paul’s axe snapped off. A Michigan equipment manager had to use "invisible tape" and a screw to fix it before the game.
The Moments That Still Haunt Your Dreams
You can't talk about Michigan Wolverines football vs Michigan State Spartans football without mentioning "Trouble with the Snap."
October 17, 2015.
Michigan is up 23-21. Ten seconds left. All they have to do is punt the ball away.
Blake O'Neill fumbled. Jalen Watts-Jackson picked it up and ran into the end zone as time expired. I remember the silence in the Big House. It was deafening. You could hear a pin drop in a stadium of 110,000 people.
Then there's the 2001 "Clockgate." Jeff Smoker's last-second touchdown pass to T.J. Duckett. The "Spartan Stadium clock operator" became a villain in Ann Arbor for a decade. Did the clock actually stop? Probably not. Does it matter? Not to the record books.
Head-to-Head: The All-Time Numbers
As of today, the all-time record stands at 75-38-5 in favor of Michigan.
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But stats don't tell you about the 2022 tunnel incident. They don't tell you about the way the "S" and the "M" car decals divide families in Grand Rapids or Lansing.
Michigan State’s greatest era was under Biggie Munn and Duffy Daugherty in the 50s and 60s. They went 14-4-2 against the Wolverines. Michigan’s greatest run was under Bo Schembechler and Lloyd Carr, winning 30 of 38 games between 1970 and 2007.
The pendulum swings. Right now, it's swinging Maize and Blue.
How to Win the Tailgate Argument
If you’re a Spartan fan, point to the 2021 game. Kenneth Walker III's five touchdowns against a Michigan team that eventually went to the Playoff is a trump card that never gets old.
If you’re a Wolverine fan, just point to the trophy case. Michigan has 12 national titles to MSU’s 6. They have 45 Big Ten titles to MSU’s 9.
And, of course, the 2025 score: 31-20.
Actionable Takeaways for the Next Game
- Watch the Trenches: In this rivalry, the team that out-rushes the opponent wins nearly 90% of the time.
- Check the Flags: As we saw in 2025, penalties are the quickest way for the Spartans to blow a lead.
- Weather Matters: This is late October football. Wind and rain favor the more physical, ground-and-pound team—which has lately been Michigan.
- Home Field isn't Everything: MSU has a weirdly high success rate of winning in Ann Arbor compared to other Big Ten teams.
The 2026 meeting will be back in Ann Arbor. Paul Bunyan is currently sitting in a glass case in the Schembechler Hall, but if history has taught us anything, he doesn't like to stay in one place for too long. Keep an eye on the transfer portal this off-season; the quarterback battle for both teams is going to define whether MSU can break this four-game skid.