Tag: msu michigan rivalry

Jonathan Smith on UM rivalry: ‘We’ll have our guys ready to go’

Jonathan Smith is new to the MSU-UM rivalry, but he already understands the importance of this matchup

Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith is new to the Spartans-Wolverines’ rivalry but he already understands the importance of that matchup.

Smith was asked about the annual in-state rivalry matchup during Big Ten Football Media Days, and he responded with an answer that should get Spartans excited. Here’s what Smith had to say:

“In-state rivalries are one of the best things about college football. When we get to that point, we’ll have our guys ready to go.”

Michigan has won the last two rivalry matchups, with this last year’s 49-0 victory over the Spartans’ being the largest margin in the rivalry’s history. Things should certainly be a lot closer this upcoming season, especially with Smith now at the helm for Michigan State.

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MSU-UM ranked as one of best football rivalries in Big Ten

Michigan State football’s annual rivalry matchup with Michigan is ranked as one of the best in the Big Ten

Michigan State football’s annual rivalry matchup with Michigan is ranked as one of the best in the Big Ten.

Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports recently ranked all of the Big Ten rivalries, and the annual Spartans-Wolverines matchup is near the top. Of the 21 ranked rivalry games, Michigan-Michigan State ranked at No. 5 on the list.

Here’s a little bit of what Fornelli had to say about the Michigan in-state rivalry matchup:

“There’s plenty of hate here, as you’d expect from two public schools that share a state and battle each other on and off the field. However, while I appreciate that anger and the trophy is rock solid, the rivalry has been too one-sided to rank any higher than this.”

Click on the post below to read more from Fornelli and to see his complete list of rivalry rankings for the Big Ten:

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