Rivalry games are simply magical moments, and when MSU and Michigan take the field in opposition it’s no different.
Saturday’s showdown in the Big House marks the 95th meeting between the Spartans (3-5 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) and the No. 15 Wolverines (6-2, 3-1).
“It’s one of the great rivalries in the country,” former MSU head coach and athletics director George Perles said. “The Michigan/Michigan State game is second to none as far as rivalries go.
“I can’t wait until Saturday.”
This weekend’s game might not look too imposing with U-M playing significantly better than MSU. But that’s why it’s a rivalry game, as the records just don’t matter.
“There’s been a lot of upsets in this game,” Perles said. “Whoever wants it bad enough is going to win it.”
With that said, we’ve decided to break down the 10 most memorable games in the rivalry’s history.
No. 10 - Oct. 12, 1898
It was just the third year of varsity football at MSU and only the second with an established head coach, Henry Keep. But the intra-state rivalry was formed on a cold October day.
But the rivalry got off to a rocky start for the Spartans, who lost 39-0 in Ann Arbor. In fact, it wasn’t until the fifth game of the rivalry that MSU finally scored. They had been beaten in the first four by a combined score of 204-0. The Spartans finally scored during a 6-3 loss in 1910.
MSU didn’t lose the first four, however, as it drew a 0-0 tie in 1908.
But regardless of pride, 1898 marked the beginning of something great for college football and the state of Michigan.
No. 9 - Oct. 6, 1984
Having lost five straight in the rivalry, the Spartans marched into the Big House and upset the Wolverines 19-7.
But the game was anything but a graceful display of dominance.
The Spartans drove the ball well in the first quarter and took a 7-0 lead after a 1-yard touchdown run. But despite sophomore quarterback David Yarema’s 18-of-27 performance, MSU failed to score an offensive touchdown the rest of the game.
But in the second quarter, sophomore Robert Morse returned a punt 87 yards for what would prove to be the winning score.
The Spartans missed the extra point and U-M scored on a 1-yard touchdown run of its own to make the score 13-7 at halftime.
But MSU’s defense, which intercepted three Wolverine passes, shut out U-M for the entire second half at the Big House. Senior kicker Ralf Mojsiejenko added field goals of 49 and 30 yards to cap the scoring and end the Spartans five-year drought.
No. 8 - Oct. 4, 1958
The Spartans entered the game in Spartan Stadium as heavy favorites. But after an ugly game MSU was lucky just to come away with a 12-12 tie.
The first score of the game told the entire story - one of sloppy play and misfortune.
MSU senior quarterback Michael Panitch turned to pitch the ball to his tailback, but U-M senior defensive end Gary Prahst intercepted the pitch and rumbled 42 yards to take a 6-0 lead. The Wolverines missed the extra point.
But it still was early and many expected the Spartans to storm back. Yet, they continued to struggle offensively.
After regaining possession, U-M marched the field and powered the ball across the goal line for a 1-yard touchdown run. But, attempting to make up for the missed extra point, the Wolverines failed on a two-point conversion.
In the second half, the Spartans dominated like most thought they would all afternoon.
And they didn’t waste any time. The defense forced U-M to punt the ball and junior Dean Look returned 90 yards to put MSU on the board. But following the theme of the afternoon, the Spartans missed the extra point.
Now, trailing 12-6, MSU’s defense, which picked off three Wolverine passes and recovered one fumble on the day, refused to let U-M move the ball.
And late in the game, junior tailback Robert Bercich tied the game on a 2-yard touchdown run. The score set up an extra point that would have won the game for the Green and White, but it went wide right.
“In those days you didn’t play off ties,” said Perles, then a two-way lineman for the Spartans. “You just left with them.
“It was a heartbreaker.”
No. 7 - Nov. 14, 1931
The Spartans entered the game in Ann Arbor with a 5-2 record. But MSU hadn’t defeated the Wolverines since a 24-0 win in 1915.
However, the Spartans came close in 1930 as they battled to a 0-0 tie.
The game at Yost Field was nothing short of disastrous, as heavy rain caused numerous fumbles.
On the third play of the game, U-M senior captain Roy Hudson fumbled the ball on the Wolverine’s 16 yardline. The play seemed to insure the game wouldn’t end in a 0-0 tie, again. But on MSU’s second play junior tailback Joseph Kowatch fumbled the ball, which U-M recovered.
Not much changed the rest of the game as the rivalry would have to wait another year before either team managed to score.
No. 6 - Oct. 13, 1962
The Spartans entered the game at Spartan Stadium having won the three previous matchups. MSU won by a score of 28-0 in 1961 and was looking for just its second four-game winning streak in the rivalry.
And with a then-record 77,501 fans there to support them, the Spartans posted their second consecutive 28-0 beating of the Wolverines.
MSU held U-M to just 112 total yards of offense and nine first downs. In fact, the Spartans so thoroughly dominated the game that they never once punted the football.
Offensively, it was the Sherman Lewis show. The junior tailback was responsible for 20 of the Spartans’ 28 points, as he ran for three touchdown and added a two-point conversion.
The score would have been more embarrassing, but a 67-yard touchdown run was called back on a clipping penalty.
No. 5 - 1997
Most fans, whether their MSU’s or U-M’s, remember this one because of one player. In fact, most remember it for one play.
The Spartans lost 23-7 to the eventual national champion Wolverines, but U-M junior cornerback Charles Woodson put on such a spectacular play that nobody could complain.
Woodson picked off MSU twice and later said he was amazed the Spartans challenged him so much. But it was his sideline interception that seemed to defy the laws of physics that left the world of college football forever changed.
“That was pretty amazing,” said Bill Burke, the then-backup quarterback for MSU. “That was just one of the great plays that helped him win the Heisman.”
Burke called the Wolverines’ defense the greatest any Spartan team had ever faced.
No. 4 - Oct. 9, 1999
Both teams entered the game 5-0 and the hype surrounding it was crazy. And both teams came to play, but it was the Spartans who left unblemished after a 34-31 shootout.
The two squads combined for 892 yards of total offense, but it was Burke and wide receiver Plaxico Burress who shined brightest.
Burke completed 21-of-36 passes for an MSU record 400 yards. He added two touchdown passes to his memorable performance in Spartan Stadium.
“We felt going into the game that we’d have an opportunity to put up some points,” Burke said. “And once the game started we felt very confident.”
His favorite target was Burress, pulled down 10 passes for a then-MSU record 255 yards.
“They were pretty confident coming into the game that they could play him man-to-man,” Burke said. “They found out real quick they were wrong. He was physically dominant over anybody they put on him.”
No. 3 - Oct. 14, 1967
In front of 103,210 fans in Ann Arbor, the Spartans enjoyed their greatest margin of victory in the history of the rivalry with a 34-0 thrashing of the Wolverines.
The day belonged to MSU senior quarterback Jimmy Raye, who ran for the Spartans’ first two touchdown passes and threw two more.
All told, MSU amassed 424 yards of offense (276 rushing and 148 passing).
The win was the last time the Spartans would win consecutive games in the rivalry and marked the end of MSU’s heyday. From 1950-67 the Spartans held a commanding 13-3-2 record in the rivalry.
“Take a look at the record book. Start with ’50 and take it up to 67, they only won two or three times,” said Henry Bullough, a former defensive tackle (’52-’54) and assistant coach. “They weren’t the dominant program then.”
No. 2 - Oct. 13, 1990
It was the year of MSU’s last Big Ten championship and the Spartans last victory in the Big House. But it didn’t come without controversy.
MSU led 28-21 with a 1:59 remaining on the clock. But the Wolverines marched the field and scored on a 7-yard pass to Derrick Alexander.
Instead of kicking the extra point and heading to overtime, U-M decided to go for two. The pass to Desmond Howard was ruled incomplete.
“Our defensive back, they say, interfered with him,” said Perles, then MSU’s head coach. “That’s not our business. That’s why they have officials.
“But to hear them whine after that made you feel pretty good.”
The Wolverines recovered the ensuing onside kick, but quarterback Elvis Grbac was intercepted on the next play to end the game.
No. 1 - Nov. 3, 2001
It was former tailback T.J. Duckett’s 2-yard touchdown catch as time expired that pushed the Spartans to a 26-24 victory and sent East Lansing into a tornado of celebration.
Come on, what else did you think would be No. 1?
Everyone who bleeds green and white loves the “Diesel,” and it was certainly his night. The junior bulldozer carried the ball 27 times for 211 yards and one touchdown to break the Wolverine defense.
“Last year’s is right at the top,” Perles said. “That was exciting to the last second.
“It seems like we always get into a controversial game with them.”
