Michigan and Michigan State first met on the gridiron 117 years ago, on Oct. 12, 1898. Michigan defeated Michigan State, then known as the State Agricultural College, 36-0 that day.
All told, after 107 meetings, Michigan leads the series 68-34-5. However, in recent years the Spartans have dominated their in-state rivals, winning six of the last seven games.
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The rivalry has seen its share of exciting and controversial moments. Here are some highlights.
1970: Michigan 34 - Michigan State 20
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Everyone remembers Michigan's upset of top-ranked Ohio State in 1969, but Bo Schembechler was unable to beat State in his first season. His Wolverines got their revenge the next year, winning 34-20. It began a streak of eight-straight Michigan victories against the Spartans.
1978: Michigan State 24 - Michigan 15
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Michigan State finally bested Michigan for the first time in the 1970s in '78. Coach Darryl Rogers called the upset--Michigan came into the game undefeated and ranked fifth in the nation--the biggest win of his career. Lions fans will recall he never bested that accomplishment while coaching the Honolulu Blue and Silver.
1990: Michigan State 28 - Michigan 27
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Michigan came into this game as the top-ranked team in the country, but the Spartans arrived in Ann Arbor looking for an upset. Michigan scored a touchdown to get within a point with seconds left to go. Coach Gary Moeller elected to go for two, and the win, instead of the kicking for a tie. But Michigan State hung on for the win with a little help from the officials. They missed a clear pass interference call against State as a defender tangled up Desmond Howard on the failed conversion play.
1997: Michigan 23 - Michigan State 7
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Michigan State came into the 1997 contest with a 5-1 record, its best start since the undefeated 1966 team. However, Michigan was 6-0 with a national championship in its sights. The Wolverines' defense, led by Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson, is one of the best units in college football history. They left East Lansing with a 23-7 victory. Like so many teams that played Michigan that year, State never really recovered, finishing the year 7-5.
2001: Michigan State 26 - Michigan 24
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When it comes to conspiracies about the events of fall 2001, few are more controversial than the UM-MSU "clockgate" game. State won on a last-second play--a literal last second play--after QB Jeff Smoker spiked the ball with one second left on the clock. Some Michigan fans, led by their now-former radio broadcast Frank Beckmann, claimed the Spartan Stadium timekeeper was a little quick to hit stop as time was winding down. The Big Ten, however, concluded the timekeeper acted properly.
2008: Michigan State 35 - Michigan 21
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Michigan State came to Ann Arbor in 2008 having dropped six straight and 10 of the last 12 against Michigan. Sparty left Ann Arbor as, ahem, "the victors" that day. It was the first of four straight and six of the last seven wins against Michigan.