Michigan football is weird. One week everything looks like a disaster, and the next, they're hoisting a heavy wooden statue of a lumberjack in the middle of East Lansing. If you're looking for the latest msu vs u of m score, the most recent clash on October 25, 2025, ended with Michigan securing a 31-20 victory over Michigan State.
It wasn't just a win. It was a statement. The Wolverines walked into Spartan Stadium and basically dictated the terms of the game from the jump.
Retaining the Paul Bunyan Trophy for the fourth straight year is a big deal. For Michigan State fans, it’s a bitter pill. They had the home-field advantage and a lot of energy, but the scoreboard doesn't care about vibes. Michigan moved to 6-2, while the Spartans dropped to 3-5 in what has been a rough transition year under their new leadership. Honestly, the 31-20 final looks closer than the game actually felt for about three quarters of the night.
Breaking Down the 31-20 MSU vs U of M Score
Let's talk about how we got here. Most people expected a defensive grind, but Michigan’s ground game had other plans. They didn't just run; they bullied.
Justice Haynes was a problem. He finished with 152 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. When he wasn't gashing the defense, Jordan Marshall was. Marshall added 110 yards, including a back-breaking 56-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter that sent half the stadium to the parking lot. It was the first time since 1994 that two Michigan backs both cleared 100 yards in this specific rivalry game. That’s a stat that tells you everything about the physical disparity on the line of scrimmage.
The scoring started early. Dominic Zvada knocked through a 21-yard field goal after an early MSU fumble. Then Bryce Underwood—the freshman phenom—showed why he was the most talked-about recruit in the country by scampering in for a 13-yard touchdown.
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Michigan State didn't just roll over, though. Aidan Chiles managed to punch in a 1-yard score in the second quarter to make it 10-7 at the half. For a moment, it felt like we had a classic on our hands.
The Controversial Third Quarter
If you ask a Spartan fan about the msu vs u of m score, they’ll probably point to a specific play in the third. Malcolm Bell appeared to force a fumble on Bryce Underwood. MSU recovered. The stadium went wild.
Then the flag came out.
Bell was called offsides. Replays suggested he might have timed it perfectly, but in college football, that's not a reviewable call. Instead of Spartan ball, Michigan kept the drive alive. Two plays later, Justice Haynes scored. That 14-point swing basically broke the spirit of the MSU defense for a while. Michigan tacked on another Haynes touchdown shortly after, pushing the lead to 24-7.
A Late Rally That Fell Short
College football is never truly over until the clock hits zero.
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The Spartans tried to make it interesting. Brandon Tullis scored on a 1-yard run to cut the lead to 24-13 with about 12 minutes left. They went for two—which you’ve gotta do in that spot—but failed.
Michigan State actually had a chance to make it a one-score game after forcing a three-out, but the offense stalled. They turned it over on downs twice in Michigan territory. That's where the game was lost. You can't leave points on the field against a top-25 team. Jordan Marshall’s 56-yarder shortly after was just the exclamation point.
A late touchdown pass from Alessio Milivojevic to Michael Masunas with seven seconds left made the final msu vs u of m score 31-20, but it was purely cosmetic.
Key Performance Stats
- Justice Haynes (UM): 152 Rushing Yards, 2 TDs.
- Jordan Marshall (UM): 110 Rushing Yards, 1 TD.
- Makhi Frazier (MSU): 109 Rushing Yards (A bright spot for the Spartans).
- Aidan Chiles (MSU): 130 Passing Yards, 1 Rushing TD, 1 Fumble.
- Bryce Underwood (UM): 86 Passing Yards, 1 Rushing TD.
The passing numbers were surprisingly low for both sides. It was an old-school Big Ten "three yards and a cloud of dust" kind of night, except those three yards were often eight or nine when Haynes had the ball.
Looking Back at 2024 and Recent Trends
To understand why this 31-20 result matters, you have to look at the 2024 game. Last year in Ann Arbor, Michigan won a much tighter 24-17 contest. In that game, Colston Loveland was the hero, catching two touchdowns, including a trick-play pass from Donovan Edwards.
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The trend is becoming a problem for East Lansing. Michigan has now won four straight in the series. Before this streak, the rivalry was back-and-forth, with Mel Tucker famously winning his first two against Jim Harbaugh. Now, the momentum has swung back to the Wolverines.
The total yardage in 2025 favored Michigan 362 to 305. Surprisingly, MSU actually outgained Michigan in the 2024 game but still lost. It shows that in this rivalry, stats are often secondary to who makes the fewer mistakes in the red zone.
What This Means for Both Programs
For Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines, this win was about stability. They’ve had a lot of moving parts on the offensive line—six different starting combinations this year—but they still look like the more physical team in the state.
For Pat Fitzgerald and Michigan State, the 31-20 msu vs u of m score is a measuring stick. They aren't there yet. The talent gap on the lines was evident. However, seeing a freshman like Makhi Frazier put up 100+ yards on a stout Michigan defense gives the Spartan faithful something to hold onto for 2026.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're tracking the rivalry or planning for next year, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Watch the Lines: Michigan's dominance is built on winning the Joe Moore Award-caliber play up front. Until MSU can match that physicality, the scoreboards will likely continue to look like this.
- The Underwood Era: Bryce Underwood didn't put up massive air stats, but his mobility changed the math for the MSU defense. He’s only going to get more comfortable.
- Red Zone Efficiency: MSU moved the ball into Michigan territory four times in the second half but only came away with 13 points. Improving "finish" in the red zone is the number one priority for the Spartan coaching staff this off-season.
- Trophy Logic: The Paul Bunyan Trophy stays in Ann Arbor. If you're looking for tickets for the 2026 rematch, expect prices to skyrocket as MSU tries to snap the five-game skid.
The 31-20 outcome is now etched into the history books of this 110-plus year rivalry. Michigan proved they are still the kings of the state, but the late-game fight from the Spartans suggests the gap might be closing—even if the trophy isn't moving just yet.