What does rivalry mean to Spartans?

The Michigan State Spartans (4-3) are trying to revitalize their identity as a top team in the Big Ten and a national contender. That process will be on the line this Saturday night when they travel to Ann Arbor to take on the Michigan Wolverines (4-3).

A win for the Spartans would end a two-year drought in this rivalry and would say a lot about the direction head coach Jonathan Smith is taking this program. Smith endured one of the worst situations in college football with a team that went 4-8 last season and fired its head coach midway through the season.

Not to mention that much of the team entered the transfer portal in the offseason, Smith had to hire several new coaches and players to start his regime on a positive note. He has been able to do this so far, as the Spartans have the same number of wins as they did a year ago.

Hoisting the Paul Bunyan Trophy in Ann Arbor would mean something sweet for the Spartans, who haven’t been able to do so in enemy territory since 2020. If Smith can begin his East Lansing career with a road win against their in-state rival, the program will be on the fast track to success.

If the Spartans lose on Saturday night, it would be a good measure of how far this program is from contention for a conference championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff. They would fall to 4-4 on the year and feel like they left a lot on the field in a very winnable game.