It might not be coming with the same fanfare we’ve seen in the past, but this week marks a key point on the calendar in the state of Michigan.
Things are different this season in the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry. Both programs are under new management, with Pat Fitzgerald at Michigan State and Kyle Whittingham at Michigan. The head coaches have extensive college football histories, but are each taking part in something new this Saturday.
The biggest elephant in the room is the records of both programs,
with neither one getting off to the start either envisioned with their new head coaches. The rivalry has featured either one or both of the programs being elite on a national level in the past, but this year, the teams enter the matchup with a combined record of 7-9.
What makes up for the lack of wins, though, can be the fire and intensity a rivalry game can still bring. Even if it’s not attracting as many eyeballs as usual, a win for either side could be a great boost to morale at this point in the year.
Whittingham, though, has drawn some criticism from fans based on the lack of intensity he’s seemed to express about the Michigan-Ohio State game, the biggest game on the schedule for both teams. Fitzgerald, though, isn’t making that same mistake with his Spartans ahead of what’s undoubtedly the most important game they’ll play all year.
“This is a week that not only our players, our staff, but all of our fans, our alums, our former players circle,” Fitzgerald told local reporters on Monday.
“From the minute I took the job, I think I was pretty clear that I understood what this rivalry meant. Being a Big Ten player and being a part of games that are big and important and significant and rivalry games in this league, I have a pretty firm understanding coming in. But once I landed here in December, it was pretty crystal clear exactly what this game means.”
Fitzgerald, of course, hasn’t experienced this rivalry yet, but he has an extensive track record in the Big Ten, having coached at Northwestern from 2006-2022. His track record against Michigan, though, hasn’t been good, posting just a 1-9 record against the Wolverines, with the lone win coming back in 2008.
Despite Michigan being in the midst of a down year, it’ll still be tough for Michigan State to pull off the upset on Saturday, facing one of the nation’s best defenses and dealing with a hostile crowd. Fitzgerald wouldn’t go so far as to say that winning the game would make the Spartans’ season, but he emphasized this matchup is of great importance.
“We’re not going to shy away from where we want to be and what we want to do, and one of those things is to have Paul Bunyan always in our building, and right now it’s not,” Fitzgerald said. “We’re fully aware of that, and we know what we’re going to have to do to get ready, and that’s to prepare the best we’ve prepared all year.”
A win for Michigan State would return Paul Bunyan to East Lansing for the first time since the Spartans won in 2021 by a 37-33 final score.
Michigan will have to do its part in protecting its house and avoid a disaster in a season that’s had plenty of them. Michigan State tends to always be ready for this matchup regardless of the disparity between the teams, and it appears this season will be no exception with Fitzgerald leading the way and looking to earn his way into the good graces of his fan base.
