Michigan State vs Michigan game
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Michigan hosts Michigan State Saturday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Both programs are struggling under new coaches, with MSU on a six-game losing streak.
Background
Michigan and Michigan State meet for the 119th time, the 74th for the Paul Bunyan Trophy, a prize dating to 1953 when Michigan State joined the Big Ten. Both sides have first-year head coaches: Kyle Whittingham, labeled the outsider at Michigan after Sherrone Moore's firing following a long run at Utah, and Pat Fitzgerald at Michigan State. Michigan leads the all-time series 75-38-5 and has won four straight meetings, including 31-20 at Michigan State on Oct. 25, 2025. Both teams are struggling: Michigan is 5-3, 2-3 Big Ten, while Michigan State is 2-6, 0-5 Big Ten and on a six-game losing streak.
How it unfolded
- Oct 31, 2026The Big Ten announced the Michigan State-Michigan game on Saturday, Nov. 7 in Ann Arbor will kick off at 7:30 p.m. and be streamed on Peacock.
- Oct 31, 2026Michigan defeated Rutgers 28-21 on the road in Week 9; Michigan State was off.
- Nov 2, 2026A Michigan athletics preview noted the game is the 119th meeting, the 74th for the Paul Bunyan Trophy, and the fifth consecutive night game in the series.
- Nov 4, 2026An NBC Sports preview listed kickoff Saturday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, on Peacock and NBCSN.
- Nov 6, 2026247Sports listed kickoff at 7:40 p.m. Eastern, stream on Peacock, radio on the Spartan Media Network.
- Nov 7, 2026The Detroit Free Press listed a 7:30 p.m. ET start, TV on NBC Sports Network, streaming on Fubo and Peacock.
- Nov 7, 2026A Sports Illustrated preview noted Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham named true freshman Tommy Carr the team's starter for the "foreseeable future" earlier this week.
Key terms
- Paul Bunyan Trophy
- A trophy awarded to the winner of the American college football rivalry game between Michigan and Michigan State.
- Big Ten
- A major U.S. collegiate athletic conference, the oldest in NCAA Division I, originally named for its ten member universities.
- true freshman
- A student in their first year at a college or university, especially one with no prior college experience.
Source: Wikipedia
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald acknowledged this is the biggest game of MSU's season.
- Official
- Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham named true freshman Tommy Carr the team's starter for the "foreseeable future."
- Analysts
- A Sports Illustrated preview said neither fanbase in the state seems excited and "it definitely feels like" the game with the least amount of juice in the writer's lifetime.
Still unverified
A Sports Illustrated preview said Michigan State "might" start a true freshman quarterback, while Michigan is "definitely" starting true freshman Tommy Carr. Michigan State QB Alessio Milivojevic is listed as questionable after an 11-start streak was snapped at UCLA when he was unable to play. Cornerbacks Tyran Chappell and Keshawn Williams could potentially return, and strongside safety Devin Vaught is on the "questionable" list.