Michigan Football: Michigan State should always be a protected rival

Michigan State is a protected rival of Michigan football in the 2024 season and beyond with the new Big Ten schedule, which is something that should never change.

Last week, Michigan football and other Big Ten programs figured out their future schedules, at least for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

Michigan football and Michigan State were also announced as protected rivals. Some teams such as Iowa got up to three protected rivals.

Michigan football has just two: Michigan State and Ohio State.

That’s the way it should be in my opinion. Penn State shouldn’t be a protected rival. On that same note, the idea that some don’t want Michigan State as a protected rival is insane.

There shouldn’t be a Michigan football season without a game against Michigan State. Sure, the rivalry has gotten intense. Last year, things even got out of hand in the tunnel.

But that’s not a reason not to play one of the best rivalry games in all of college football. I can certainly understand not wanting Michigan State on the schedule.

I can confidently say that no team has beaten Michigan football more times when it shouldn’t have than the Spartans. From Spartan Bob to other crushing defeats (2021), Michigan State has found a way to pull off some miracle wins over Michigan.

Michigan State needs to be always on the schedule

Ohio State is No. 1 on the football field. That’s just the way it works, but Michigan State isn’t far behind. Ohio State has always been the team standing in the way of winning championships, almost like the boss fights at the end of the game.

Michigan State has a different feel to it. Even when the game was really important in the Big Ten East in 2021, the hatred and bragging rights still seemed to reign supreme.

Those bragging rights really matter and I just have a hard time being happy about a Michigan football schedule that didn’t have the Spartans on it.

Outside of Ohio State, there isn’t a team I love to see Michigan football beat more, or one I want the Wolverines to lose to less. That’s why it needs to stay.

A lot of great rivalries in college football have been ruined by realignment and I hope Michigan football and Michigan State doesn’t end up as one of them.