Looking back at games between ranked Michigan and Michigan State football teams
Rarely are the Michigan and Michigan State football teams both ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 poll when they meet. Saturday, No. 17 Michigan State is at No. 18 Michigan (3:36 p.m., ABC).
Here's what happened the last five times Michigan and Michigan State played when both have been ranked.
Michigan quarterback Tom Brady looks to the sideline in the 1999 Michigan-Michigan State game. Brady finished 30-of-41 passing for 285 yards.
File photo
Nov. 1, 2003: No. 11 Michigan 27, No. 9 Michigan State 20, in East Lansing: Michigan, then 7-2, took a 27-10 lead after quarterback John Navarre found wide receiver Braylon Edwards for a 16-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. Michigan State, which entered the game 7-1 scored 10 points in the final 10:32, but lost. Chris Perry carried the ball 51 times for Michigan, gaining 219 yards. Seth Mitchell, who now is an up-and-coming boxer named “Mayhem” Mitchell, had 17 tackles for Michigan State.
Oct. 9, 1999: No. 11 Michigan State 34, No. 3 Michigan 31, in East Lansing: The last time both teams entered this rivalry game undefeated - coincidentally both at 5-0. Michigan State had two touchdowns from quarterback Bill Burke. A 14-yard touchdown run by Dawan Moss gave the Spartans a 34-17 lead in the fourth quarter. Michigan quarterback Tom Brady, in his senior year, threw touchdown passes to David Terrell and Aaron Shea, but the Wolverines had their three-year win streak in the series snapped.
Oct. 25, 1997: No. 5 Michigan 23, No. 15 Michigan State 7, in East Lansing: Michigan, on its way to its last national championship, scored 20 straight points to keep its Rose Bowl and national title hopes alive. Chris Howard ran 21 times for 110 yards and a touchdown. Kraig Baker made three field goals for the Wolverines.
Oct. 14, 1989: No. 5 Michigan 10, No. 21 Michigan State 7, in East Lansing: Leroy Hoard scored Michigan’s only touchdown in the first quarter and the Wolverines held on. Running back Tony Boles gained 100 yards on 22 carries.
Oct. 6, 1979: No. 11 Michigan 21, No. 16 Michigan State 7, in East Lansing: Quarterback B.J. Dickey threw two touchdown passes - one to Anthony Carter and one to Ralph Clayton - to give the Wolverines the win after dropping the 1978 game, Michigan’s first loss in the series in eight years.
Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein
Comments
trigg7
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 10:32 a.m.
The state of OHOI gave the state of Michigan its nik name. It was a slam cuz the wolverine eats like a pig,and UM jumped on,go figure!
GoBlue2009
Thu, Oct 7, 2010 : 9:46 a.m.
@ Zeb Olsen: And Spartans do exist in Michigan, right? PLEASE.
chiro19
Wed, Oct 6, 2010 : 9:21 p.m.
I thought the name change had to do with the current Geico commercial. Robinson is going to put the new mascots on the side line to chuck wood at wide open receivers to help the d secondary!
Zeb
Wed, Oct 6, 2010 : 9:05 p.m.
Are any of you aware that the UM administration is considering changing name from Wolverines to WoodChucks? The reasoning is that wolverines don't exist in Michigan and woodchucks is more fitting.
saginaw
Wed, Oct 6, 2010 : 8:04 p.m.
As much as I hate to admit it, the 1978 game was the best. In 1978 both teams were really good; and each team went on to win the rest of their regular season games that year. I would love it if both teams would go on to win the rest of their games in 2010; especially after Michigan wins a close game on Saturday. Here is to an undefeated season, more solid, better and respectful rivalry!
aarox
Wed, Oct 6, 2010 : 7:37 p.m.
and #1 in spelling.
aarox
Wed, Oct 6, 2010 : 7:21 p.m.
we are number one in arrongance. bring it on!