No. 2 Michigan vs. Michigan State: Everything You Need To Know Ahead Of Saturday's Matchup
Saturday's matchup between No. 2 Michigan and Michigan State will be the 116th meeting between the two programs all-time, and the 71st meeting when competing for the coveted Paul Bunyan trophy. The Wolverines enter the meeting with a perfect 7-0 record and first place in the Big Ten East, while the Spartans are just 2-4 and currently last in the division.
On paper, this one looks like it could get very ugly, very quickly. Offensively, the Wolverines play mistake-free football that punishes an opposing defense with a relentless rushing attack. Defensively, the Wolverines are leading the nation in keeping opponents out of the endzone - ranking No. 1 in scoring defense at just 6.71 PPG.
Here's everything you need to know ahead of Saturday's matchup, courtesy of MGoBlue.com:
• The Wolverines rank top 10 in scoring offense (10th, 39.4 avg.) and scoring defense (1st, 6.7 avg.).
• U-M has won a school-record-tying 19 straight Big Ten games (1990-92).
• Michigan is the least penalized team in the country (16 for 123 yards).
• J.J. McCarthy is second in the NCAA in completion percentage (78.2%) and pass efficiency (195.9 rating).
• Blake Corum leads the nation in rushing TDs (12) while Roman Wilson is tied for the lead in receiving TDs (9).
Battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy
• The game between the in-state rivals will be the 71st played for the Paul Bunyan Trophy.
• The Wolverines hold a 39-29-2 advantage in the trophy game.
• Michigan has won 35 of the past 53 games played between the two schools since 1970.
• The Paul Bunyan Trophy dates back to 1953, when Michigan State entered the Big Ten, and has become the cornerstone of the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry since its inception.
• A donation by then-Michigan governor G. Mennen Williams, the Paul Bunyan Trophy stands nearly four feet tall.
• The wooden trophy depicts the figure of legendary folk hero Paul Bunyan astride an axe, with his feet planted over the state of Michigan. On each corner of the state lies a flag emblazoned with the Michigan 'M' or the Spartan 'S'.
• Each year the winner of the Michigan-Michigan State game is awarded ownership of the prize.
Wolverines vs Spartans
• This will be the 116th meeting in the all-time series with Michigan State.
• The Wolverines lead the all-time series, 72-38-5, and have won 27 of the last 44 games played between the two schools dating back to 1979.
• U-M has compiled a 21-15-2 record on the road against MSU, including a 19-15-2 mark at Spartan Stadium.
• After losing his first game against the Spartans in 1969, head coach Bo Schembechler won 13 of his next 14 games in the series and posted a 17-4 record during his tenure at U-M.
• Michigan won back-to-back games in 2018 and 2019 and Michigan State followed with a pair of wins during the 2020 COVID season and 2021 season in East Lansing before the Wolverines won 29-17 last year in Ann Arbor.
• Head coach Jim Harbaugh has a 4-4 overall record against the in-state rival.
Series vs. MSU: Michigan leads 72-38-5
Series Streak: Michigan won 1
Last Meeting: 2022 (#4 U-M 29, MSU 7)
Last Michigan Win: 2022
How to watch: The game kicks off at 7:30 pm ET on NBC
