Michigan State finally found a way to wake up a rivalry that had been drifting toward the dull side.
On Friday night, the Spartans dropped their latest game trailer for the 119th meeting with Michigan, and it landed with the kind of energy this matchup has been missing. The annual hype video gave the Battle for Paul Bunyan a needed shot of life, even if the week around it had been pretty flat.
Narrated by Dalton Shetler, the trailer was a strong one. It might have hit even harder with Mark Dantonio behind the mic to really crank up the rivalry feel, but the message and the clips did the job.
This one just means more. pic.twitter.com/ymk7wPBAMf
- Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) November 6, 2026
That boost matters because Michigan State is walking into this game on a six-game losing streak and still searching for its first win since the second week of the season back in early September. The Spartans have also let a couple of recent games slip away, including matchups with Illinois and Northwestern that they probably should have taken.
Michigan hasn’t exactly brought much heat to the table either. The trash talk has been light, and the whole thing has felt a little muted.
The most pointed comment of the week came from Kyle Whittingham, who said he is starting to understand the rivalry and that it’s a big one but “not the biggest one” and it’s Michigan State’s Super Bowl more so than Michigan’s.
That kind of subdued tone was somewhat expected with all the changes and with one coach who isn’t familiar with the Battle for Paul Bunyan. Still, it’s been a pretty sleepy buildup.
Michigan State’s trailer at least gave its fans something to grab onto.
The Spartans, though, are heading into Saturday’s game in rough shape from a personnel standpoint. They’ll be without Jordan Hall, Tre Bell, Jaziun Patterson, Marvis Parrish, Charles Brantley, Ben Roberts, and Jayden Savoury. Alessio Milivojevic and Devin Vaught were listed as questionable.
Even with all that, Michigan State may not be staring at an offense that can fully bury it. Michigan is expected to be a heavy favorite at home, but the Wolverines may not have enough firepower to turn this into a runaway.
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What stands out is how the lineup has reshuffled roles as much as names. Carr has slid to power forward, Jervis has earned a starting spot, and the overall efficiency has given the staff something real to study as the schedule moves on. The Spartans are expected to keep evaluating the group in the coming games, and if the fit keeps holding, Izzo may have to rethink the rotation sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Enters Rivalry Game With One Huge Problem On Offense
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That leaves Michigan State in a difficult spot against a Michigan team that is favored largely because of its defense and better overall health. The game should still have the edge and tension that comes with this rivalry, but the Spartans need a cleaner offensive performance than they have been able to produce recently if they want to avoid letting Michigan's defense dictate the night. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Saw One Breakout And One Big Concern Vs Toledo
Michigan States 30-point win over Toledo pushed the Spartans to 2-0, and it came with one clear bright spot in Jordan Scott. He delivered a strong all-around outing, setting career highs in rebounds and assists and giving Tom Izzo another look at the kind of high-motor effort that can help settle a rotation early in the season.
Cam Ward, meanwhile, left the game with a much different kind of attention. Foul trouble quickly cut into his night, and he fouled out early, leaving Izzo disappointed by how little Ward was able to stay on the floor. For a team still sorting out its pieces, Scotts rise and Wards early-season concern stood out in the same win. [Read more 🡒]