Against its ranked rival - the Michigan Wolverines - Michigan State football and its offense couldn't execute, leading to a 31-20 loss.
The Paul Bunyan rivalry returns this Saturday at Spartan Stadium as Michigan State and Michigan go head-to-head in its 118th meeting. The Spartans defense will attempt to limit the Wolverines rushing attack while the Spartans offense looks to win the ground game themselves.
Michigan State football seeks to return the Paul Bunyan Trophy back to East Lansing this Saturday against its more fierce rival in the Michigan Wolverines. To ensure the Spartans hold passion for a passionate game, MSU head coach Jonathan Smith has brought ex-players and alumni into the facility to speak to his team in attempts to spread knowledge and history of what this game means, while also supplying resources and tips on what to expect.
Michigan State looks to snap a near four-year drought against Michigan when the rivals meet Saturday night at Spartan Stadium. With head coach Jonathan Smith seeking his first ranked win and alumni stressing the rivalry’s importance, the Spartans hope to deliver an “unforgettable” performance and bring Paul Bunyan back to East Lansing.
Under Jonathan Smith, Michigan State is supposed to be rebuilding — but the losses have become alarmingly familiar. Over the past two seasons, the Spartans have repeatedly started strong before unraveling in waves of unanswered points, turning competitive moments into blowouts. From ranked opponents like Ohio State and Oregon to unranked foes such as UCLA and Rutgers, the pattern has been the same: defensive lapses, fading urgency, and an offense that eventually disappears. As MSU continues its search for identity in year two, the question isn’t whether it can win — it’s whether it can compete.
Against No. 3 Indiana, Michigan State football couldn't handle a Hoosier offense that finished the game scoring on sic of its seven opportunities, playing pivotal in a 38-13 loss.
After a promising 3-1 start behind a high-powered passing attack, Michigan State enters its matchup with No. 3 Indiana, searching for answers on offense. Junior quarterback Aidan Chiles has struggled in recent weeks and could miss his first start as a Spartan, opening the door for sophomore Alessio Milivojevic to step in against one of the nation’s stingiest defenses. The Hoosiers, unbeaten at 6-0, boast a physical front that ranks among the top 10 nationally in fewest points, yards and third-down conversions allowed. Facing a three-game skid and mounting offensive pressure, MSU looks to revive its early-season rhythm and regain confidence on the road.
A decade after Michigan State's improbable win over Michigan, one image still captures the shock of the moment.
Ten years after Michigan State's improbable walk-off win over Michigan, the play known as "Trouble with the Snap" remains one of the most iconic moments in college football history.
Michigan State football was once 3-0. Now its 3-3, and its losing momentum fast. With the most recent loss to UCLA, the Spartans displayed an inconsistent showing that has left fans questioning not only where MSU football where go from here, but if Jonathan Smith will still be head coach.
Michigan State’s promising 3-0 start has unraveled after a 38-13 homecoming loss to UCLA dropped the Spartans to 3-3 and intensified pressure on head coach Jonathan Smith. Following two competitive defeats that showed signs of progress, MSU collapsed against the Bruins in front of a restless home crowd. Questionable play-calling, defensive breakdowns and offensive inconsistency fueled the blowout, leaving fans frustrated and Smith searching for answers as the team prepares for a critical matchup at No. 7 Indiana.
Michigan State struggled with execution on both sides of the ball, leading to a 38-13 loss to UCLA. Offensive inefficiency and defensive breakdowns allowed the Bruins to take control early and never look back.
In the sport of football, the offensive line holds some of the most important duties on the field: protecting the quarterback and opening gaps for the running backs. This season, Michigan State football and its offensive line has struggled in fulfilling these important duties. Now facing a statistically weak defense in UCLA, the Spartans try to fix their movement struggles.
Four-star wide receiver Tyren Wortham has decommitted from Michigan State, reopening his recruitment just days after the Spartans’ 38-27 loss to Nebraska. Wortham, the No. 40 receiver in the 2026 class and MSU’s top commit, had been verbally committed since June. His decision highlights growing recruiting concerns amid the team’s recent struggles, as other programs pursue top targets like linebacker Braylon Hodge. In today’s college football landscape, winning remains the key to retaining talent—something MSU hopes to get back to soon.
Michigan State’s defense delivered its best pass-rushing performance of the season, sacking Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola five times to keep the game within reach. But offensive struggles, including Aidan Chiles’ 9-for-23 passing line, proved too much to overcome as the Spartans fell 38-27 on the road.
In a back and forth game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Nebraska Cornhuskers, special team blunders and offensive struggles helped Nebraska push past the Spartans 38-27.
In the sea of red where the sold out Nebraska football crowd promises stimulating energy, the Spartans take on a sophomore quarterback by the name of Dylan Raiola, a confident and NFL-caliber player that could give MSU some fits defensively. To stop Raiola and his Cornhusker squad, the Spartans must play better defense, which means tackle, generate pressure, communicate, cover, play attack coverage, win one-on-one’s and have success in the small details..
When redshirt sophomore Stanton Ramil left Michigan State’s Sept. 20 matchup against USC with an injury, redshirt freshman Rustin Young was thrust into the spotlight. The little-known offensive lineman played 51 of 60 snaps, more than his entire career to that point, and held his own against a Trojan pass rush averaging nearly five sacks per game. Once a four-star recruit from Hawaii who followed head coach Jonathan Smith from Oregon State, Young now finds himself in line for a bigger role as the Spartans battle mounting injuries on the offensive line. With Nebraska’s less disruptive pass rush on deck, Saturday could mark Young’s first career start — and an opportunity to solidify himself as a key piece of MSU’s future.
Going into its first bye week of the season, MSU football has experienced hefty defensive troubles through its four games play. Opponents passing efficiency, third down conversions and redzone conversions have limited what the Spartans could be.
Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles entered 2025 with questions swirling after an up-and-down debut season in East Lansing. A year ago, he threw 11 interceptions and struggled with consistency, but through four games this fall he has led the Spartans to a 3-1 start with 868 yards passing, nine touchdowns and just one interception. Beyond the stat sheet, Chiles’ improved pocket presence and decision-making have transformed MSU’s offense, which has nearly doubled its scoring output from 2024. With his playmaking instincts intact and his efficiency on the rise, Chiles is emerging as the leader of a unit poised for more growth as Big Ten play continues.