Michigan and Michigan State is as fierce a rivalry as there is in college football. You will never see it ranked up there with The Game or the Iron Bowl, but when it comes to pure hatred of each other, I am not sure that there is a matchup where the two sides dislike each other as much as this one.
Jim Harbaugh frequently referred to this game as the state championship of Michigan, and it has that feel to it when these two teams meet on the field. Mike Hart famously referred to Michigan State as little brother in a post-game press conference, and it is largely true when it comes to this rivalry. Michigan fooball is the superior program all time and has also dominated the head-to-head series. There has been no shortage of great games, players, and coaches in this rivalry that have added to its history. Let's take a look at the numbers, a historic comeback win for Michigan, and what the future looks like between these two programs.
All-time record: Michigan leads 74-38-5
Most recent meeting: Michigan football won 24-17 in 2024
First meeting: Michigan won 39-0 in 1898
Largest margin of victory: Michigan 119-0 on 1902, Michigan State 34-0 in 1967
Favorite game from the series: Michigan won 28-24 in 2007
There have been so many great games between these two teams throughout the years, so it was very difficult to pick my all-time favorite game. 2004 was a very close second but there is something very special about the 2007 game that has always made it my favorite game from the series.
Michigan football came into this game with a record of 7-2 and ranked #12 in the country, while Michigan State came into the game with a record of 5-4 and unranked. Michigan started the year slowly in 2007, dropping the first two games of the year, but then became hot, rattling off seven wins in a row.
It seemed like this team was finding its footing and back on track as one of the top teams in the country, as they were predicted to be coming into the year. The first half of this game was complete domination from the Wolverines. Chad Henne threw two touchdown passes and the Michigan defense picked off a Michigan State pass to take a 14-3 lead going into halftime.
This game had the feel of a Michigan blowout coming in the second half. However, that would be far from the truth as the second half would be a completely different game than we saw in the first. Michigan State scored 21 unanswered points to start the second half.
Michigan got the ball with 7:35 left on the clock, trailing 24-14. Chad Henne took a hit on a completed pass and came up limping badly after the play. True freshman Ryan Mallett came into the game and fumbled on the very first play, but Hart happened to be in the perfect spot at the perfect time and picked the ball up and ran for a first down. Chad Henne came back in the game on the very next play and led the Wolverines down the field, eventually scoring on a touchdown pass to Greg Mathews to cut the lead to 24-21 with 6:47 left.
The Michigan defense stepped up and forced a three-and-out from Michigan State and got the ball back with 4:28 remaining. The next drive for the Michigan offense is one that will forever be remembered by all Michigan fans.
Facing a 3rd and 12 with 2:36 on the clock, Chad Henne dropped back and threw a deep ball to Mario Manningham in the endzone. I remember feeling like the ball was in the air for ten minutes. When it did come down, it fell into the hands of Super Mario for a Michigan touchdown. Manningham finished the day with eight catches for 129 yards and two touchdowns. Michigan took the lead 28-24 with 2:28 left on the clock. Spartan Stadium was in complete disbelief. They watched their team come back and look like they would finally get a win vs Big Brother, only for it to be ripped away from them in glorious fashion from the big bad Wolverines. The Michigan defense forced a turnover on downs from the Spartan offense on their next possession, and the game was over. MICHIGAN WINS 28-24!
Future outlook
Michigan football will head to East Lansing this season on October 25th for a road game vs the Spartans. Bryce Underwood will get his first taste of the rivalry on the road in what will surely be a hostile environment. This will also be Sherrone Moore's first road test in the rivalry as the head coach of the Wolverines. Michigan State will go into its second season with Jonathan Smith at the helm as head coach. Smith seemed like a great hire for Michigan State, but went a disappointing 5-7 in his first year.
Aidan Chiles showed flashes of brilliance last season but also a lot of head-scratching mistakes that left Spartan fans extremely frustrated. Smith hasn't gained much momentum on the recruiting trail so far, so he is going to need to start producing on-field results or else patience will start growing thin in East Lansing. Regardless of how both teams are playing going into this game, you know it's going to be a hard-hitting, intense, nasty, physical football game. I predict Michigan will go into East Lansing and put little brother to bed with another victory this season. Go Blue!