Who is MSU's biggest rival?

If you said Michigan, you're right.

Who is U-M biggest rival?

If you said MSU, you're wrong, dead wrong.

Let me explain.

I'm not saying it isn't a rivalry at all, what I'm saying is it's not mutual.

MSU fans get all riled up for this one big game all year, while U-M fans get the luxury of looking past the Spartans and yearning for the Buckeyes.

And thanks to the most recent 49-3 drubbing MSU got this season, it makes the case for another rival even more appealing.

The MSU-U-M rivalry has produced numerous classic moments, but it still doesn't match the intensity of Ohio State-U-M.

That intensity incites raw emotion and hostility from the athletes who play in the game, (e.g. Charles Woodson vs. David Boston), and the fans who pay butt-loads of money to watch an always eventful game.

All week the hype around college football land has been the 99th all-time matchup between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Michigan Wolverines.

The game almost always closes out the season for both schools, and it usually comes with a lot of implications.

Let's just look at some of the outcomes that these games have offered. From 1970 through 1975 U-M entered the game without a loss, and only once was it victorious.

In 1993, 1995 and 1996 OSU was undefeated going into the game. How many wins did they leave with? Nada.

It's no wonder these two schools have formed one of the greatest rivalries in college football, joining the ranks of Auburn-Alabama, Stanford-California and USC-UCLA. (Note: I'm not even going to compare any of these to Army-Navy).

So for a week where each of these teams face off with their fierce and physical nemesis, it's high-time MSU found a "real" rival.

I would now like to open it up to any school who wants to start a "real" rivalry with us.

Now, before I get bombarded with letters and e-mails, I'm going to take Notre Dame out of the running.

First of all, any team Notre Dame plays is a rival, second the game is played in the third or fourth week of the season, usually by then MSU already has dropped a game.

So now let's look at some options for us.

I'm going to go ahead and throw Minnesota, Northwestern, Illinois and Iowa out the window. Why? No particular reason.

Wisconsin shows potential, but the two teams that would be on my list would be Purdue and Penn State.

Now, let's remember that rivals don't just appear out of thin air. Rivalries are built over a long period of time, with both schools having storied football programs.

MSU and Purdue have met 57 times and MSU leads the series 28-26-3. This year's game was a thriller with the Boilermakers downing the Spartans 45-42.

The 1995 35-35 tie was one the best college games I ever watched. Mike Alstott and Scott Greene bowling over each other's defense.

Penn State and MSU meet the criteria of a beginning rivalry, and this weekend's game is only the 20th meeting between the two schools. There is still time for this one to prosper.

Anyway, this column won't spark a rivalry. At best it may make some people think. Whatever.

All I know is that MSU needs a true rival.

What's that, do I hear the Rainbow Warriors calling?

Ryan Wallace, State News sports editor can be reached at wallac89@msu.edu.