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Michigan and Michigan State play each other every year, of course. But rarely do they meet with the stakes this high.
The No. 6 Wolverines and No. 7 Spartans are both 7-0, the first time they’ve squared off with that many combined victories without a loss. Both are in the thick of the hotly-contested Big Ten East race, though they also both still have their toughest games, including this one, ahead of them. Suffice to say, the intensity should be quite palpable.
Here’s what you need to know in order to watch the annual clash for the Paul Bunyan Trophy:
What time does Michigan at Michigan State start?
The game kicks off at noon ET on Saturday, Oct. 30 at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.
What TV channel is Michigan at Michigan State on?
The national broadcast is on Fox, complete with the Big Noon Kickoff treatment.
How can I watch Michigan at Michigan State online via live stream?
The live stream is available via the Fox Sports app as well as via FuboTV.
What are the odds for Michigan at Michigan State?
Michigan is a 3.5-point favorite with the over/under at 50.5 points, according to Tipico Sportsbook.
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EAST LANSING, Mich. – A matchup between Michigan and Michigan State always has special meaning within the state. When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, October 30, 2021 Where: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan This year, the rivalry game is far bigger than simple bragging rights. There are major implications in the Big Ten and College Football Playoff races. The last time both teams were ranked in the Top 10 for their annual showdown, Roy Orbison’s “Oh, Pretty Woman” was at the top of the record charts. That was October 1964. Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh was just an infant. This year’s game promises to be anything but pretty. It will be a hard-hitting affair between two teams that rely on a throwback style and old-school power-running game. The No. 6 Wolverines (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) and No. 8 Spartans (7-0, 4-0) are tied atop the East Division standings with Ohio State. “You’re talking all the way to - win the conference, win the national championship? It’s one of those elimination mindsets,” Harbaugh said. “Playoff mindset at this point. Win this game, it’ll help your chances.”
Thanks to a bye week, Michigan State had an extra week to prepare for its arch-rival.
“We all understand the significance of the game,” Spartans second-year coach Mel Tucker said. “That doesn’t take away from the fact we need to prepare. It’s what we do during the week leading up to the game that’s going to greatly affect the outcome of the game.”
Tucker collected his first victory as Michigan State’s coach at Michigan’s Big House last season. That game was played before a sparse crowd due to COVID-19 protocols. Spartan Stadium will be jam packed on Saturday.
“That’s what we’re excited for, the fans, the atmosphere,” Spartans safety Xavier Henderson said. “The last time we played Michigan at home, it was probably the loudest I’ve heard Spartan Stadium.”
Michigan returned to prominence with an old-school Big Ten approach. It’s not quite “three yards and a cloud of dust,” but the Wolverines have leaned heavily on running backs Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins.
Corum has gained 729 yards on 116 carries, while Haskins has rushed for 602 yards on 124 carries. They have combined for 20 rushing touchdowns.
“Obviously, defensively you try to stop the run,” Tucker said. “You’d like to make opponents one-dimensional if you can and then affect the quarterback with rush and coverage. So in the run game, we have to set the edge and build a wall.”
The Wolverines’ starting quarterback, Cade McNamara, is averaging 159.3 passing yards per game but he’s thrown just one interception.
Despite the bye week, Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III ranks second nationally with 997 yards on 152 carries. He’s scored nine touchdowns on the ground and another as a receiver.
“He’s got great vision, really good balance,” Harbaugh said. “He runs their zone schemes, their man schemes extremely well. He’s fast. He looks to be about a mid-4.4 guy. But he’s also big, too. The most impressive thing with him is the yards he gets after contact.”
The Spartans’ quarterback, Payton Thorne, is averaging 243 passing yards per game and has thrown for 15 touchdowns, compared to four interceptions.
He’ll be facing a Michigan defense that has held all but one of its opponents to 17 or fewer points.
“It’s definitely a physical, gritty game,” Michigan linebacker Josh Ross said. “It’s definitely important for us as guys in-state, me and (defensive lineman) Aidan (Hutchinson), specifically, guys that are captains, guys that are leaders, guys that are in-state, to emphasize the importance of this rivalry. But at the end of the day, it’s about doing our job, executing, and preparing the right way so we can have a great game this weekend.”
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This installment of the Michigan vs. Michigan State rivalry, the battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy, is shaping up to be a historic one.
Both teams (Michigan at No. 6 and Michigan State at No. 8) are ranked well inside the top-10 and both teams are also a perfect 7-0. There have been some important games in this rivalry before, but few with the potential consequences of the 114th meeting between the two schools.
For starters, it's the first time since 1964 that both teams enter the matchup ranked inside the top-10. The 7-0 start is also the best of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh's career at his alma mater, though the Wolverines have yet to play a ranked opponent this season.
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Harbaugh, however, has struggled against top-10 teams over the course of his tenure, going just 2-12 against top-10 teams while at Michigan.
Michigan State won last year's meeting of the rivalry, knocking off then-No. 13 Michigan in Ann Arbor as 24.5 point underdogs. It marked the first win of the Mel Tucker era at Michigan State and was one of just two wins last year for the Spartans, who have quickly turned things around in 2021.
One team's going to leave Saturday's game with the first loss of their season. But for the winner, a path to the College Football Playoff gets that much more real and that much closer.
Here's how to catch this marquee Big Ten game in action.
MORE: Watch Michigan vs. Michigan State live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
What channel is Michigan vs. Michigan State on today?
- TV channel (national): Fox
- Live stream: Fox Sports App, fuboTV
The meeting between Michigan and Michigan State will be broadcast nationally on Fox. Gus Johnson will man the play-by-play duties while Joel Klatt will join him in the booth as an analyst. Jenny Taft also joins the duo as the sideline reporter.
What time does Michigan vs. Michigan State start?
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 30
- Kickoff: Noon ET
Michigan vs. Michigan State will kick off at noon ET from Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Mich.
Michigan football schedule 2021
| Opponent | Date | Outcome |
| vs. Western Michigan | Sept. 4 | Michigan 47, Western Michigan 14 |
| vs. Washington | Sept. 11 | Michigan 31, Washington 10 |
| vs. Northern Illinois | Sept. 18 | Michigan 63, Northern Illinois 10 |
| vs. Rutgers | Sept. 25 | Michigan 20, Rutgers 13 |
| at Wisconsin | Oct. 2 | Michigan 38, Wisconsin 17 |
| at Nebraska | Oct. 9 | Michigan 32, Nebraska 29 |
| vs. Northwestern | Oct. 23 | Michigan 33, Northwestern 7 |
| at Michigan State | Oct. 30 | TBD |
| vs. Indiana | Nov. 6 | TBD |
| at Penn State | Nov. 13 | TBD |
| at Maryland | Nov. 20 | TBD |
| vs. Ohio State | Nov. 27 | TBD |
Michigan State football schedule 2021
| Opponent | Date | Outcome |
| at Northwestern | Sept. 3 | Michigan State 38, Northwestern 21 |
| vs. Youngstown State | Sept. 11 | Michigan State 42, Youngstown State 14 |
| at No. 24 Miami (FL) | Sept. 18 | Michigan State 38, Miami 17 |
| vs. Nebraska | Sept. 25 | Michigan State 23, Nebraska 20 (OT) |
| vs. Western Kentucky | Oct. 2 | Michigan State 48, Western Kentucky 31 |
| at Rutgers | Oct. 9 | Michigan State 31, Rutgers 13 |
| at Indiana | Oct. 23 | Michigan State 20, Indiana 15 |
| vs. Michigan | Oct. 30 | TBD |
| at Purdue | Nov. 6 | TBD |
| vs. Maryland | Nov. 13 | TBD |
| at Ohio State | Nov. 20 | TBD |
| vs. Penn State | Nov. 27 | TBD |