Michigan State University head football coach Jonathan Smith watches the scoreboard as his team scores a touchdown during the game against the University of Iowa at Spartan Stadium on Oct. 19, 2024. The Spartans beat the Hawkeyes 32-20, breaking a three-game losing streak.
Last Saturday, MSU football revived its season under the lights at Spartan Stadium during homecoming weekend, beating Iowa by multiple possessions and moving to 4-3.
The Spartans now turn to a road clash with their biggest rival, a team that beat them 49-0 on their turf last October.
This year's battle for the Paul Bunyan trophy between MSU and University of Michigan will likely feature a more level playing field in Ann Arbor, both teams just seven games into new regimes under first-year head coaches.
MSU's Jonathan Smith, who came from Oregon State last winter, has no history within the heated rivalry. He may not yet comprehend the stakes the way fans and players do but he understands its weight, Smith said after practice Monday.
Michigan head coach Sherron Moore succeeded Jim Harbaugh after a 15-0 season and winning the national championship this January. Moore served as the offensive coordinator for that team under Harbaugh, who left Ann Arbor to coach the Los Angeles Chargers.
Both coaching staffs fell under scrutiny last season. Harbaugh was suspended for the first three games for recruiting violations. In September, former MSU head coach Mel Tucker was fired for allegations of sexual harassment from a prominent rape survivor and advocate who was consulting for the team.
Later in the season, Harbaugh was again suspended amid accusations of sign-stealing against the program led by disgraced former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions.
In 2022, a brawl broke out in the tunnel at Michigan Stadium after the Wolverines won by 22. Seven MSU players were charged. MSU received a $100,000 fine, the largest the Big Ten has seen.
With all the turmoil, the rivalry remains the same as both programs have begun a new chapter. Smith said he's felt the tension of the rivalry since he touched down in East Lansing. After all, he's no stranger to in-state rivalries. At Oregon State, he went 2-4 against University of Oregon.
"I definitely felt it upon arrival," Smith said. "I think I got asked about it even with my introductory press conference."
Smith is beginning to prove himself in the Big Ten after a vital win against Iowa last week, a win that displayed MSU's ability to fix mistakes during the bye week. The offense turned a corner and showed they're capable of carving up Big Ten teams at this stage in the rebuild.
Michigan is also 4-3 but not trending in the same direction. Deficient quarterback play has been the Wolverines' main issue after two seasons of standout J.J. McCarthy. Harbaugh's departure has seemed to hurt more than many expected, with road losses to Washington and Illinois moving Michigan outside the AP Top 25 for the first time in 54 weeks.
One year removed from a demolition in East Lansing, Paul Bunyan is up for grabs at the Big House.
The rivalry matchup will take place on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m. The game will be aired by Big Ten Network.
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