Michigan State’s annual trip to Ann Arbor comes with the usual rivalry heat, but this one also arrives with both teams trying to steady themselves.
The Spartans enter at 2-6 overall and 0-5 in Big Ten play, and this game against Michigan (5-3 overall, 2-3 Big Ten) could be the 2026 team’s last real shot to give the MSU fanbase something to feel good about this season. The Battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy is set for another round, and fans looking to follow along have a full slate of viewing and listening options.
The game will stream on Peacock, with live sports included in plans priced at $12.99 per month or $129.99 per year. The television broadcast team is Paul Burmeister on play-by-play, Yogi Roth as analyst and Lewis Johnson on the sidelines.
On the radio side, Michigan State’s flagship stations are Lansing’s WMMQ (94.9 FM) and WJIM (1240 AM), Detroit’s WJR (760 AM) and Grand Rapids’ WBFX (101.3 FM). Other stations around Michigan can be found right here.
SiriusXM coverage is on Channel 257, and the SiriusXM app also carries Channel 257. The radio crew features George Blaha on play-by-play, Jehuu Caulcrick as analyst, Tre Mosley on the sideline and Dalton Shetler as host.
Michigan’s season has been strange in its own way. The Wolverines have dealt with the controversial Hail Mary to beat Western Michigan, a last-second loss to Iowa, Bryce Underwood being benched and what has been described as a clear lack of fit with new head coach Kyle Whittingham.
Even with all that, Michigan still enters with the edge. The Wolverines’ offense has been shaky - third-worst in the Power Four in yards per game, with MSU dead last - but their defense has carried the load. Michigan has five wins thanks to a unit that ranks third in the country, led by defensive coordinator Jay Hill.
The offensive side is where the Wolverines have been searching for answers. The talent is there with running backs Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter and wide receiver JJ Buchanan, but much of the criticism has landed on offensive coordinator Jason Beck. He came with Whittingham from Utah and is believed to be the highest-paid offensive coordinator in college football this year at $3 million.
A move to freshman Tommy Carr at quarterback, and away from former mega-recruit Bryce Underwood, appears to have given Michigan a lift. Carr helped lead the Wolverines to a win at Rutgers last week, finishing with 318 total yards of offense, three total touchdowns and no turnovers. Michigan scored 28 points in the one-score victory, its highest output against a Power Four opponent this season.
In Other News...
Michigan State Just Found A Way To Add Juice To Rivalry Week
Rivalry week usually brings its own kind of electricity, but this years Michigan State-Michigan matchup has been carrying a different tone. Both programs have been fighting through rough stretches, and Michigan State enters the 2026 meeting on a six-game losing streak with several key players unavailable, while Michigan is favored at home. The buildup has been quieter than usual, with the usual edge muted and the trash talk mostly absent.
Kyle Whittinghams recent comment downplaying the rivalrys significance only added to the odd feel around it, especially for a series that normally sells itself. Even so, games like this have a way of finding their own juice once the week gets moving, and Michigan State still has a chance to turn a subdued lead-up into something more compelling when the teams finally line up. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Just Got A Harsh Reminder Of What Elite Hockey Takes
Michigan State got a blunt lesson Friday night at Ron Mason Rink, where it controlled some of the numbers but not the game in a 6-2 loss to Boston University. The Spartans outshot the Terriers and won the face-off battle, yet still found themselves chasing the scoreboard as BU made its chances count, including on the power play.
Adam Nightingales team has reason to believe the process can look better than the result, but this was also a reminder that elite hockey punishes mistakes quickly and leaves little margin for missed opportunities. For Michigan State, the frustration is not just the defeat itself, but how much work remains before those territorial advantages start turning into the kind of wins that matter. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Legend Just Added Fuel To Michigan State's Final Four Buzz
The Final Four chatter around Michigan State picked up another notch this week when Jalen Rose, a University of Michigan basketball legend, went on TNT and put the Spartans among his picks to make it to the sports biggest stage. Rose singled out the way Tom Izzo has his team playing and pointed to Jeremy Fears as part of the reason Michigan State has started to look more like a contender after the preseason uncertainty that surrounded the program.
It also adds another layer to the pressure already hanging over Izzo, with the Final Four set for Detroit and the Spartans trying to turn a strong start into something bigger. Rose filled out the rest of his bracket with Illinois, Florida and Duke, but for Michigan State fans, the notable part is simple enough: a Michigan icon just gave their team a public vote of confidence at exactly the right time. [Read more 🡒]