Spartans, Wolverines Set to Clash Saturday Night for Paul Bunyan Trophy

Game 8: Michigan State (3-4, 0-4 B1G) vs. No. 25/24 Michigan (5-2, 3-1 B1G)

Date: Saturday, Oct. 25
Kickoff: 7:45 p.m.
Location: East Lansing, Mich.
Stadium: Spartan Stadium (74,866)
Surface: Natural Grass
Game Notes: MSU | Michigan

►BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: NBC
Streaming/Mobile: Peacock
Announcers: Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst), Kathryn Tappen (sidelines)
Live Stats: msuspartans.com | Live Stats

Radio: Spartan Media Network | Affiliate Listings
Play-by-Play: George Blaha
Analyst: Jehuu Caulcrick
Sidelines: Tre Mosley
Broadcast Hosts: Will Tieman, Dalton Shetler
Website/Mobile: msuspartans.com/watch, MSU Spartans app, Tune In radio
Flagship Stations: Lansing: WMMQ (94.9 FM)/WJIM (1240 AM); Detroit: WJR (760 AM); Grand Rapids: WBFX (101.3 FM)
Affiliates: 21 affiliates listed at msuspartans.com
Satellite: SiriusXM Ch. 85 | SiriusXM App
Pregame Show: Begins at 6 p.m.

►GAME DAY INFORMATION
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• Parking: Parking lots will open at 11 a.m. on Saturday. | Parking Map

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Additional Links:
• Construction/Traffic Information
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• The Munn Tailgate Information

►SERIES INFORMATION
All-Time Series: UM leads, 74-38-5
Series in East Lansing: UM leads, 22-15-2
Series in Big Ten Games: UM leads, 41-29-2
Last Meeting: UM 24, MSU 17 (2024 in Ann Arbor)
Current Series Streak: 3 by Michigan

►HEAD COACHES
MSU Head Coach: Jonathan Smith
MSU Record: 8-11 (second year)
Overall Record: 42-46 (eighth year)
Record vs. Michigan: 0-1

Michigan Head Coach: Sherrone Moore
Michigan Record: 12-7 (second year)^
Overall Record: 12-7 (second year)^
Record vs. MSU: 1-0
^Interim head coach for one game in 2023

►SPARTANS, WOLVERINES TO CLASH SATURDAY NIGHT IN EAST LANSING FOR PAUL BUNYAN TROPHY
• The Paul Bunyan Trophy will be on the line Saturday night in East Lansing as Michigan State hosts No. 25/24 Michigan at 7:30 p.m. in Spartan Stadium. The game will be televised on NBC and streamed on Peacock with Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst) and Kathryn Tappen (sidelines) on the call. This marks the fourth consecutive night game in the series.

• The Spartans enter the annual rivalry game with a 3-4 record (0-4 Big Ten) after falling at No. 3/3 Indiana last Saturday in Bloomington, 38-13. No. 25/24 Michigan beat Washington in Ann Arbor, 24-7, to improve to 5-2 (3-1 Big Ten).

• Saturday's game marks the 118th meeting between Michigan State and Michigan. The Wolverines lead the all-time series, 74-38-5. Since 1950, Michigan owns a nine-game advantage in the series, 41-32-2, and since 1999, UM holds a two-game edge, 14-12. The Spartans are looking for their 11th win in the past 18 games against Michigan. In the last matchup, the Wolverines topped MSU in Ann Arbor in 2024, 24-17.

• Since 1953, the winner of the Michigan State-Michigan game has been presented the Paul Bunyan Trophy. The four-foot wooden statue was donated by then-Governor G. Mennen Williams to mark Michigan State's acceptance into the Big Ten. Since 1953, Michigan leads the series 41-29-2. The trophy depicts the legendary giant lumberjack astride an axe with feet planted on a map of the state with flags representing the schools.

• Michigan State has defeated Michigan 22 times when the Wolverines were ranked in the AP Top 25, including 12 wins in the top 10.

• Michigan State ranks second among opponents in all-time victories over Michigan. Only Ohio State (52) has posted more wins over the Wolverines than the Spartans (38).

• Saturday marks the 35th night game in Spartan Stadium history; MSU is 25-9 overall (.735) in night games in East Lansing. MSU is 5-1 in home night games under head coach Jonathan Smith (wins over FAU, Iowa and Purdue in 2024, and Western Michigan and Boston College in 2025; loss vs. No. 3 Ohio State in 2024).

►NICK MARSH SURPASSES 1,000 RECEIVING YARDS FOR CAREER
• Sophomore wide receiver Nick Marsh leads the Spartans with 36 receptions for 404 yards (57.7 ypg; 11.2 avg.), including a team-best five touchdown catches. Marsh tied his season high with seven catches for 64 yards at Indiana, his second consecutive game with seven receptions. The Detroit, Michigan, native ranks among the Big Ten leaders in TD catches (tied for seventh with five), receptions (tied for eighth with 36; 5.1 pg) and receiving yards (16th with 404 yards; 57.7 pg). During the Indiana game, Marsh surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for his career (77 catches for 1,053 yards in 18 collegiate games).

►RED ZONE EFFICIENCY
• Michigan State has scored on 25 of its 27 trips to the red zone this season, good for a .926 percentage, which ranks third in the Big Ten and 25th in the FBS. The Spartans have scored 19 touchdowns in the red zone, including 11 rushing TDs, along with four field goals. MSU's TD percentage in the red zone (.703) ranks third in the Big Ten and tied for 31st in the FBS.

Aidan Chiles action at Indiana

►JUNIOR QB AIDAN CHILES SETS SCHOOL RECORD WITH 20 STRAIGHT COMPLETIONS
• Junior Aidan Chiles has started 19 consecutive games at quarterback for the Spartans. Now in his second season at MSU, Chiles is completing 65 percent of his passes (114-of-175) for 1,262 yards and 10 touchdowns against three interceptions.

• He currently ranks among the Big Ten leaders in points responsible for per game (seventh with 13.1 ppg), passing efficiency (eighth with 141.1 rating), passing touchdowns (ninth with 10), rushing TDs (10th with five) and total offense (13th with 213.7 ypg). The Long Beach, California, native has accounted for 15 total touchdowns (10 passing, five rushing).

• Chiles was 27-of-33 passing for 243 yards and one touchdown in the loss at No. 3 Indiana last Saturday. He completed a career-best 82 percent of his passes while also leading the team in rushing with 48 yards on eight carries, including a career-long 64-yard rush in the fourth quarter. At one point, Chiles completed a school-record 20 consecutive passes, which tied the second-longest completion streak in any Big Ten Conference game (record: 22 by Chuck Long vs. Indiana in 1984).

►OMARI KELLY PROVING TO BE A PRODUCTIVE ALL-AROUND THREAT FOR MSU
• Senior wide receiver Omari Kelly, who is in his first season at MSU after transferring from Middle Tennessee State, leads the team in receiving yards (406; 58.0 ypg) and all-purpose yards (529; 75.6 ypg). He is also second with 27 receptions. Kelly ranks 15th in the Big Ten in receiving yards per game (58.0) and tied for 19th in receptions per game (4.1), while also ranking second in the Big Ten in punt returns (19.7 avg.).

►MATT GULBIN ANCHORING THE OFFENSIVE LINE
• Graduate senior center Matt Gulbin, a Wake Forest transfer who joined the program in 2025, has taken every snap on offense this season for the Spartans (461). He is graded the second-best center in the FBS by Pro Football Focus (80.9). Gulbin is currently on the Rimington Trophy Watch List for the nation's best center.

►JORDAN HALL LEADS TEAM, RANKS AMONG BIG TEN LEADERS IN TACKLES
• Junior co-captain linebacker Jordan Hall leads the team and ranks tied for 11th in the Big Ten with 51 tackles (7.5 pg). He recorded a career-high 15 tackles, including nine solo stops, in the win over Boston College on Sept. 6 to earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors. Hall had his first career interception to go along with eight tackles at Nebraska on Oct. 4.

►PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN RYAN ECKLEY A WEAPON ON SPECIAL TEAMS
• Redshirt junior punter Ryan Eckley, a Ray Guy Award candidate and preseason All-American, led the Big Ten in punting in 2024 with his 47.9-yard average and was a second-team all-conference selection.

• Eckley has showed why he is one of the best punters in the nation in the first seven games of the season. Although he doesn't meet the NCAA stat minimums, Eckley would rank No. 1 in the FBS with his 51.3-yard punting average. He also ranks first in the Big Ten in 50-yard plus punts (13) and tied for fourth with nine punts inside the 20. Eckley has dropped six punts inside the opponents' 10-yard line, including three at the 1 and one at the 2.

• Eckley has a career punting average of 48.0 yards per punt (120 punts for 5,755 yards), which would rank No. 1 in school history (current record: Bryce Baringer, 46.0 avg.). That average also ranks No. 1 among current active players in the FBS.

• Michigan State also ranks No. 4 in punt returns (19.7 avg.) and No. 14 in the FBS in net punting (38.8 avg.).

►STAT LEADERS
Michigan State:
Rushing – So. Makhi Frazier (94 carries for 384 yards, 4.1 avg., 2 TDs, 54.9 ypg)
Passing – Jr. Aidan Chiles (114-of-175, .651, 1,262 yards, 10 TDs, 3 INTs, 180.3 ypg)
Receiving – So. Nick Marsh (36 receptions for 404 yards, 11.2 avg., 5 TDs, 57.7 ypg)
Tackles – Jr. LB Jordan Hall (51 tackles, 3.5 TFLs for 10 yards, 2.0 sacks for 8 yards, 1 FF, 1 INT)

Michigan:
Rushing – Jr. Justice Haynes (95 carries for 705 yards, 7.4 avg., 8 TDs, 117.5 ypg)
Passing – Fr. Bryce Underwood (113-of-181, .624, 1,440 yards, 7 TDs, 2 INTs, 205.7 ypg)
Receiving – Gr. Donaven McCulley (24 receptions for 369 yards, 15.4 avg., 2 TDs, 52.7 ypg)
Tackles – Sr. LB Ernest Hausmann (47 tackles, 2.5 TFLs for 13 yards, 1.0 sack for 7 yards, 1 PBU)

►SERIES NOTES
• Saturday's game marks the 118th meeting between Michigan State and Michigan. The Wolverines lead the all-time series, 74-38-5. Since 1950, Michigan owns a nine-game advantage in the series, 41-32-2, and since 1999, UM holds a two-game edge, 14-12. The Spartans are looking for their 11th win in the past 18 games against Michigan. In the last matchup, the Wolverines topped MSU in Ann Arbor in 2024, 24-17.

►BATTLE FOR THE PAUL BUNYAN TROPHY
• Since 1953, the winner of the Michigan State-Michigan game has been presented the Paul Bunyan Trophy. The four-foot wooden statue was donated by then-Governor G. Mennen Williams to mark Michigan State's acceptance into the Big Ten. Since 1953, Michigan leads the series 41-29-2. The trophy depicts the legendary giant lumberjack astride an axe with feet planted on a map of the state with flags representing the schools.

►BATTLE FOR IN-STATE BRAGGING RIGHTS
• Michigan State's 2025 roster features 42 players from the state of Michigan.

►SPARTANS RANK SECOND IN ALL-TIME VICTORIES vs. MICHIGAN
• Michigan State ranks second among opponents in all-time victories over Michigan. Only Ohio State (52) has posted more wins over the Wolverines than the Spartans (38).

►GROUND GAME KEY FACTOR IN THIS SERIES
• The team with the most productive ground attack has won 48 of the last 55 games in the MSU-UM series, with the only exceptions being in 1995, 2004, 2007, 2015, 2016, 2020 and 2024.

Jalen Watts-Jackson fumble return vs. Michigan 2015

Jalen Watts-Jackson fumble return vs. Michigan 2015

►LONG HISTORY OF BIG WINS OVER MICHIGAN
• Michigan State has defeated Michigan 22 times when the Wolverines were ranked in the AP Top 25, including 12 wins in the top 10.

• In one of the most famous endings in college football history, 10 years ago on Oct. 17, 2015, Jalen Watts-Jackson's 38-yard fumble return for a game-winning touchdown as time expired propelled No. 7 MSU to a 27-23 win at No. 12 Michigan. Watts-Jackson scooped up the mishandled snap by U-M punter Blake O'Neill and broke several tackles en route to the end zone. The unforgettable touchdown was named the No. 1 play of the 2015 season at the ESPN College Football Awards Show.

Here's a look at MSU's all-time AP Top 25 wins over Michigan:
Sept. 30, 1950: No. 19 MSU 14, No. 3 Michigan 7 (Ann Arbor)
Sept. 29, 1951: No. 2 MSU 25, No. 17 Michigan 0 (Ann Arbor)
Oct. 6, 1956: No. 2 MSU 9, No. 5 Michigan 0 (Ann Arbor)
Oct. 12, 1957: No. 2 MSU 35, No. 6 Michigan 6 (Ann Arbor)
Oct. 14, 1961: No. 5 MSU 28, No. 6 Michigan 0 (Ann Arbor)
Oct. 18, 1969: MSU 34, No. 6 Michigan 20 (Ann Arbor)
Oct. 14, 1978: MSU 24, No. 5 Michigan 15 (Ann Arbor)
Oct. 6, 1984: MSU 19, No. 13 Michigan 7 (Ann Arbor)
Oct. 10, 1987: MSU 17, No. 12 Michigan 11 (East Lansing)
Oct. 13, 1990: MSU 28, No. 1 Michigan 27 (Ann Arbor)
Oct. 9, 1993: MSU 17, No. 9 Michigan 7 (East Lansing)
Nov. 4, 1995: MSU 28, No. 7 Michigan 25 (East Lansing)
Oct. 9, 1999: No. 11 MSU 34, No. 3 Michigan 31 (East Lansing)
Nov. 3, 2001: MSU 26, No. 6 Michigan 24 (East Lansing)
Oct. 3, 2009: MSU 26, No. 22 Michigan 20 (OT) (East Lansing)
Oct. 9, 2010: No. 17 MSU 34, No. 18 Michigan 17 (Ann Arbor)
Oct. 15, 2011: No. 23 MSU 28, No. 11 Michigan 14 (East Lansing)
Nov. 2, 2013: No. 24 MSU 29, No. 23 Michigan 6 (East Lansing)
Oct. 17, 2015: No. 7 MSU 27, No. 12 Michigan 23 (Ann Arbor)
Oct. 7, 2017: MSU 14, No. 7 Michigan 10 (Ann Arbor)
Oct. 31, 2020: MSU 27, No. 13 Michigan 24 (Ann Arbor)
Oct. 30, 2021: No. 8 MSU 37, No. 6 Michigan 33 (East Lansing)

►QUICK GLANCE AT NO. 25/24 MICHIGAN (5-2, 3-1 BIG TEN)
• The Wolverines returned to the rankings this week at No. 25 in the AP Top 25 Poll and No. 24 in the AFCA Coaches Poll after beating Washington, 24-7, last Saturday in Ann Arbor.

• The Wolverine offense is sixth in the conference and 45th in the country in total offense (417.9 ypg), ranking third in the league and 22nd in the nation in rushing offense (212.1 ypg), while ranking 13th in the B1G and 93rd in the FBS in passing offense (205.7 ypg).

• Michigan's defense is ninth in the league and 24th in the nation in total defense (307.9 ypg), including fourth in the conference and 15th in the country in rushing defense (92.7 ypg), and 10th in the B1G and 57th in the FBS in passing yards allowed (215.1 ypg).

• In Michigan's 24-7 win over Washington on Saturday, UM pulled away from a 7-7 tie at halftime with 17 unanswered second-half points for the 24-7 win.

• Individually, freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood is 11th in the conference in passing yards/game (205.7), along with 15th in passing TDs (7), on 113-of-181 passing for 1,440 yards with two INTs. Underwood also has 39 rushing attempts for 202 yards (5.2 ypc/28.9 ypg) with three TDs.

• Despite missing the Washington game, Justice Haynes still leads the B1G and ranks fourth in the FBS in rushing yards/game (117.5) and also tops the league and ranks fifth in the nation in rushing yards/carry (7.4), along with fifth in the conference and 15th in the country in rushing TDs (8). Haynes has 95 carries for 705 yards on the season. He also has 10 catches for 31 yards.

• Jordan Marshall has a 84 total carries for the year for 434 yards, ranking seventh in the B1G and 68th in the FBS in rushing yards/carry (5.2), along with 10th in the league and 86th in the nation in rushing yards/game (62.0) and 14th in the conference and 99th in the country in rushing TDs (4). He adds six catches for 49 yards.

• Graduate wide receiver Donaven McCulley is 20th in the B1G in receiving yards/game (52.7), while ranking 16th in yards/reception (15.4), with 24 catches for 369 yards and two TDs.

• Senior linebacker Ernest Hausmann leads the UM defense with 47 total tackles, ranking 21st in the conference with 6.7 tackles per game. Hausmann adds 2.5 TFL with 1.0 sack and one pass break-up.

• UM head coach Sherrone Moore is in his second season leading the Wolverines, logging a 12-7 ledger.

LAST TIME OUT: NO. 3/3 INDIANA 38, MSU 13

►GAME RECAP
Michigan State fell to third-ranked Indiana, 38-13, last Saturday afternoon before a crowd of 55,165 at Memorial Stadium.

Spartan junior quarterback Aidan Chiles was 27-of-33 passing for 243 yards and one touchdown; he completed a career-best 82 percent of his passes while also leading the team in rushing with 48 yards on eight carries, including a career-long 64-yard rush in the fourth quarter. At one point, Chiles completed a school-record 20 consecutive passes, which tied the second-longest completion streak in any Big Ten Conference game (record: 22 by Chuck Long vs. Indiana in 1984).

Nick Marsh had a team-high seven receptions for 64 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.

Graduate senior cornerback Malcolm Bell led the Spartan defense with a season-high seven tackles.

►SCORING SUMMARY
Michigan State scored on its opening possession, marching 55 yards on 13 plays while taking 6:53 off the clock, with a 38-yard field goal by Martin Connington.

Indiana (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) answered right back on its first series to go up 7-3 as Fernando Mendoza found E.J. Williams Jr. for a yard touchdown reception with 2:40 left in the opening quarter.

The Spartans took even more time on their second possession, keeping the ball for eight minutes and 18 seconds en route to a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Aidan Chiles rushed 2 yards on a fourth-and-2 play from the IU 18-yard line, then found Nick Marsh on a 15-yard slant pass on third down for a touchdown to put the Spartans back on top, 10-7, at the 9:22 mark in the second quarter.

The Hoosiers took a 21-10 lead into halftime after scoring touchdowns on their second and third possessions.

Following a 30-minute delay at halftime due to severe weather in the Bloomington area, Indiana went up 28-10 with a five-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to open the second half, capped by a 48-yard TD pass from Mendoza to Omar Cooper Jr.

Mendoza threw his fourth touchdown of the day on a 27-yard pass to Elijah Sarratt with 3:55 remaining in the third quarter.

Both teams added field goals in the fourth quarter to make the final 38-13. Connington connected on his second field goal of the day, this time from 34 yards out, with 33 seconds remaining to close out the game's scoring.

►OFFENSIVE NOTES
• With a field goal on its opening drive, MSU has now scored on its opening possession in six of its seven games . . . it was the Spartans' first field goal for their opening drive score, as the other five times were touchdowns . . . the Spartans' game at Nebraska was their only game this season that they did not score on the first drive of the game.

• MSU's two scoring drives of 8:18 (touchdown) and 6:53 (field goal) in the first half were the longest and second-longest scoring drives allowed by Indiana's defense this season, as the previous two longest drives were 5:57 by Oregon (10/11) and 5:31 by Iowa (9/27).

• MSU topped Indiana in time of possession, 31:14-28:46, marking only the second time this season that the Hoosiers trailed in time of possession, when Iowa had a 32:42-27:18 advantage on Sept. 27.

• The Spartans' 293 passing yards were a season-high, topping the previous season-high of 270 vs. Youngstown State (9/13/25) . . . MSU's 30 completions and 38 passing attempts were also season-highs, bettering 22 completions from the aforementioned game vs. YSU and 30 attempts vs. UCLA.

• Michigan State's 30 completions, 19 first downs, 293 yards passing and 367 yards of total offense were all the most posted on the Indiana defense this season, while MSU's 38 pass attempts tied a season-high with Iowa (9/27/25).

• Junior quarterback Aidan Chiles completed an MSU-record 20 passes in a row spanning from the first quarter to the third quarter, topping the previous school record of 15 by Noah Kim vs. Richmond on Sept. 9, 2023.
• Chiles' 20 consecutive completions tied the second-longest streak in a Big Ten Conference game, and the top three marks in the record book all involve Indiana . . . Chiles tied Indiana QB Michael Penix Jr. who had 20 completions in a row at Michigan State (9/28/19); the Big Ten record in a conference game is 22 by Chuck Long of Iowa vs. Indiana (10/20/1984).

• Chiles finished 27-of-33 passing for 243 yards and one TD, including 20-of-22 for 178 yards in the first half . . . with a 9-yard pass to Jack Velling at 3:55 of the third quarter, Chiles notched his career-high 25th completion of the game, topping his previous career-high mark of 24 completions vs. Maryland (9/7/24).

• Chiles' .818 completion percentage was also a new career high, bettering his previous top mark of .759 vs. Youngstown State (9/13/25).

• Chiles rushed for a career-long 64-yard scamper in the fourth quarter, topping his previous longest rush play of 28 yards vs. Youngstown State (9/13/25).

• Sophomore wide receiver Nick Marsh had 18 yards on MSU's opening drive, which put him over the 1,000 career receiving yards milestone, becoming the 49th Spartan receiver to reach the 1,000 yards plateau in program history . . . Marsh had three catches in the Spartans' opening drive to extend his streak of having not just one catch, but multiple receptions in all seven games this season . . . Marsh has at least one catch in all 18 games that he's appeared in as a Spartan and multiple catches in 17-consecutive games played.

• Marsh's 15-yard TD catch in the second quarter was his second straight game with a TD and he now has one TD catch in four of the seven games this season as part of five total TDs on the season and eight for his career.

• Marsh finished with team-highs of seven catches for 64 yards . . . the seven catches tied Marsh's season-high seven receptions for the second game in a row after seven vs. UCLA.

• With his catch on MSU's opening drive, senior wide receiver Omari Kelly extended his streak of at least one catch in all seven games this season as a Spartan . . . Kelly finished with three catches for 59 yards, marking the sixth time out of the seven games that Kelly had multiple receptions.

• Redshirt junior wide receiver Chrishon McCray had four catches for 42 yards, marking the most receptions of his Spartan career, and most since eight vs. Ball State last season during his time at Kent State.

• Senior tight end Jack Velling snared four catches, which are the most in a Big Ten game this season and two shy of his season-best and career-high tying of six vs. Youngstown State (9/13/25) . . . the four receptions give Velling 98 for his career, needing just two more for the 100 career receptions milestone.

►DEFENSIVE NOTES
• Graduate cornerback Malcolm Bell logged seven tackles to lead the Spartan defense while posting the most of his Spartan career.

• Redshirt junior defensive lineman Alex VanSumeren matched his career-best of six tackles for the second straight game and the third time of his career, all coming in the last four games.

►SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
• Redshirt junior punter Ryan Eckley had one punt for 50 yards, while junior quarterback Aidan Chiles punted for the first time in his college career with a 40-yard punt, as MSU lined up to go for it on fourth-and-9 at the IND 40, and Chiles punted it, and nearly pinned the Hoosiers at their own goal line, but the ball trickled into the end zone for a touchback.

• With Eckley's 50-yard punt, he now has 13 punts of 50+ yards this season and 57 for his career.

• Redshirt freshman Martin Connington was 2-for-3 on field goals, making a 38-yarder on MSU's opening possession of the game, then missing a 50-yarder early in the third quarter in windy and rainy conditions, before splitting the uprights from 34-yards out with 33 seconds left in the game in heavier rain . . . he is now 7-of-9 on field goals for the season, with his only two misses coming on attempts of 50+ yards, also missing on a 56-yarder in the USC game.