Saturday, October 31
Ann Arbor, MI
12 PM ET
Michigan State University
1-1 , 1-1
27
at
24
Michigan
1-1 , 1-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Michigan State
7
7
6
7
27
Michigan
7
3
7
7
24
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell/MSU Athletic Communications
Spartans Knock Off No. 13/14 Wolverines, 27-24 Saturday In Ann Arbor To Reclaim Paul Bunyan Trophy
10/31/2020 4:51:00 PM | Football
Michigan State earns ninth win in last 13 meetings with UM for Coach Tucker’s first victory for MSU
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Boosted by Rocky Lombardi, Ricky White and Connor Heyward on offense, and a relentless, resolute and tenacious defense spearheaded by Antjuan Simmons and Noah Harvey, Michigan State knocked off No. 13/14 Michigan, 27-24, Saturday afternoon at Michigan Stadium to reclaim the Paul Bunyan Trophy.
Saturday's victory for MSU was first-year Spartan head coach Mel Tucker's first win, and his first victory over UM, as Michigan State is bringing the Paul Bunyan Trophy, the rivalry trophy with UM, home to East Lansing.
"We all understand that this is a special game, dating back over 100 years and our players were very, very focused this week in the preparation, and I just thought that they were ready to play a physical, 60-minute four-quarter game, and we did that," Tucker said post-game. "We're just proud to bring that Paul Bunyan Trophy back to East Lansing where it belongs. State fans, this one's for you!"
The Spartans earned their ninth win in the last 13 meetings against the Wolverines, and have now won five of the last seven meetings over Michigan in Ann Arbor.
MSU had 449 yards of total offense, including 323 passing from Lombardi, while the visiting Spartans rushed for 126 yards. Junior quarterback Lombardi was 17-of-32 for 323 yards, with three TDs, matching his career-high set last week vs. Rutgers. MSU also had zero turnovers Saturday.
The Spartan defense stymied the Wolverines, starting off with a sack on the opening defensive play of the game on the way to six tackles for loss.
After just one catch last week vs. Rutgers in his Spartan debut, freshman wide receiver White had a breakout game Saturday afternoon with 196 yards on eight catches and one TD. The 196 yards was the most-ever by a Spartan freshman receiver, bettering the previous mark of another White wearing jersey No. 7, Cody White with 165 receiving yards in 2017. Ricky White's 196 yards is tied for seventh-best single-game outing in program history, matching Andre Rison (11 catches) vs. Indiana (11/8/86).
Junior running back Heyward had only two catches, but they were both TDs, adding 13 carries for 28 yards. Freshman Jordon Simmons led the Spartan running attack for the second-straight game with 14 rushes for 55 yards.Â
Senior linebacker Antjuan Simmons, who is an Ann Arbor native and went to high school at Pioneer HS, which is just across the street from UM's campus, notched 11 tackles, tying his career-high from last week vs. Rutgers. Simmons finished with six solo stops, five assists, along with 0.5 tackle for loss and two pass break-up, one coming in the endzone, thwarting a UM score.Â
Junior linebacker Harvey had seven solo stops and four assists, along with 1.5 tackles for loss. Senior defensive back Tre Person posted a career-high nine tackles.
Senior placekicker Matt Coghlin made two field goals, including a career-long 51-yarder in the third quarter, adding three PATs. Junior punter Bryce Baringer punted four times for a 54.0 yards per punt average, with a career-long of 78 yards.Â
Michigan State opened the game's scoring on its second drive, going 71 yards on just four plays to take a 7-0 lead. Following a 28-yard rush by Simmons, MSU quickly lined up and Lombardi tossed a 30-yard TD to Ricky White in the back corner of the end zone for his first career Spartan score.Â
Michigan responded with an 8-play, 60-yard touchdown drive to tie the game at 7 on its next possession, capped by a Blake Corum 8-yard TD run.
The Spartans reclaimed the lead at 14-7 midway through the second quarter. Lombardi found Nailor deep down the side of the field for a career-long 53-yard pass that set up MSU's second touchdown of the game, a 2-yard pass to Heyward.
The Wolverines drove the ball to the MSU 11-yard line toward the end of the second quarter, but on third-and-4 from the 5, Simmons tipped a pass in the end zone, forcing a Michigan field goal that trimmed Michigan State's lead to 14-10 with 2:49 left in the half.
After forcing a Michigan three-and-out to start the second half, the Spartans extended their lead to 17-10 on their first possession of the third quarter by driving 52 yards in five plays, capped by a 27-yard field goal from Coghlin. Lombardi connected on a 50-yard pass to White on the drive that led to the field goal.Â
The Wolverines tied the game at 17 midway through the third quarter, going 75 yards across 11 plays and crossing the goal line on a 1-yard TD rush by Corum.Â
Coghlin's career-long 51-yard field goal put the Spartans back on top, 20-17, with 4:23 left in the third.
Lombardi and Heyward connected again, on a 13-yard screen pass and Coglin split the uprights for a 27-17 Spartan advantage with 5:11 to go.
On its ensuing possession, Michigan drove down and scored on a 2-yard rush by Hassan Haskins with 37 seconds left to pull within, 27-24. Heyward recovered UM's onside kick attempt and MSU ran out the clock, as Lombardi plunged for a first down on fourth-and-three to ice the win and spark the celebration.
Michigan State returns to action Saturday, Nov. 7 to take on Iowa at Kinnick Stadium beginning at 12 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ESPN.
Â
Saturday's victory for MSU was first-year Spartan head coach Mel Tucker's first win, and his first victory over UM, as Michigan State is bringing the Paul Bunyan Trophy, the rivalry trophy with UM, home to East Lansing.
"We all understand that this is a special game, dating back over 100 years and our players were very, very focused this week in the preparation, and I just thought that they were ready to play a physical, 60-minute four-quarter game, and we did that," Tucker said post-game. "We're just proud to bring that Paul Bunyan Trophy back to East Lansing where it belongs. State fans, this one's for you!"
The Spartans earned their ninth win in the last 13 meetings against the Wolverines, and have now won five of the last seven meetings over Michigan in Ann Arbor.
MSU had 449 yards of total offense, including 323 passing from Lombardi, while the visiting Spartans rushed for 126 yards. Junior quarterback Lombardi was 17-of-32 for 323 yards, with three TDs, matching his career-high set last week vs. Rutgers. MSU also had zero turnovers Saturday.
The Spartan defense stymied the Wolverines, starting off with a sack on the opening defensive play of the game on the way to six tackles for loss.
After just one catch last week vs. Rutgers in his Spartan debut, freshman wide receiver White had a breakout game Saturday afternoon with 196 yards on eight catches and one TD. The 196 yards was the most-ever by a Spartan freshman receiver, bettering the previous mark of another White wearing jersey No. 7, Cody White with 165 receiving yards in 2017. Ricky White's 196 yards is tied for seventh-best single-game outing in program history, matching Andre Rison (11 catches) vs. Indiana (11/8/86).
Junior running back Heyward had only two catches, but they were both TDs, adding 13 carries for 28 yards. Freshman Jordon Simmons led the Spartan running attack for the second-straight game with 14 rushes for 55 yards.Â
Senior linebacker Antjuan Simmons, who is an Ann Arbor native and went to high school at Pioneer HS, which is just across the street from UM's campus, notched 11 tackles, tying his career-high from last week vs. Rutgers. Simmons finished with six solo stops, five assists, along with 0.5 tackle for loss and two pass break-up, one coming in the endzone, thwarting a UM score.Â
Junior linebacker Harvey had seven solo stops and four assists, along with 1.5 tackles for loss. Senior defensive back Tre Person posted a career-high nine tackles.
Senior placekicker Matt Coghlin made two field goals, including a career-long 51-yarder in the third quarter, adding three PATs. Junior punter Bryce Baringer punted four times for a 54.0 yards per punt average, with a career-long of 78 yards.Â
Michigan State opened the game's scoring on its second drive, going 71 yards on just four plays to take a 7-0 lead. Following a 28-yard rush by Simmons, MSU quickly lined up and Lombardi tossed a 30-yard TD to Ricky White in the back corner of the end zone for his first career Spartan score.Â
Michigan responded with an 8-play, 60-yard touchdown drive to tie the game at 7 on its next possession, capped by a Blake Corum 8-yard TD run.
The Spartans reclaimed the lead at 14-7 midway through the second quarter. Lombardi found Nailor deep down the side of the field for a career-long 53-yard pass that set up MSU's second touchdown of the game, a 2-yard pass to Heyward.
The Wolverines drove the ball to the MSU 11-yard line toward the end of the second quarter, but on third-and-4 from the 5, Simmons tipped a pass in the end zone, forcing a Michigan field goal that trimmed Michigan State's lead to 14-10 with 2:49 left in the half.
After forcing a Michigan three-and-out to start the second half, the Spartans extended their lead to 17-10 on their first possession of the third quarter by driving 52 yards in five plays, capped by a 27-yard field goal from Coghlin. Lombardi connected on a 50-yard pass to White on the drive that led to the field goal.Â
The Wolverines tied the game at 17 midway through the third quarter, going 75 yards across 11 plays and crossing the goal line on a 1-yard TD rush by Corum.Â
Coghlin's career-long 51-yard field goal put the Spartans back on top, 20-17, with 4:23 left in the third.
Lombardi and Heyward connected again, on a 13-yard screen pass and Coglin split the uprights for a 27-17 Spartan advantage with 5:11 to go.
On its ensuing possession, Michigan drove down and scored on a 2-yard rush by Hassan Haskins with 37 seconds left to pull within, 27-24. Heyward recovered UM's onside kick attempt and MSU ran out the clock, as Lombardi plunged for a first down on fourth-and-three to ice the win and spark the celebration.
Michigan State returns to action Saturday, Nov. 7 to take on Iowa at Kinnick Stadium beginning at 12 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ESPN.
Â
Team Stats
MSU
MICH
Total Yards
449
452
Pass Yards
323
300
Rushing Yards
126
152
Penalty Yards
65
86
1st Downs
20
28
3rd Downs
5
7
4th Downs
1
1
TOP
26:13
33:47
1st Quarter
MSU 7, MICH 0
MSU - White, Ricky 30 yd pass from Lombardi, Rocky (Coghlin, Matt kick) 4 plays, 71 yards, TOP 1:14
MSU 7, MICH 7
MICH - Corum, Blake 8 yd run (Nordin, Quinn kick), 8 plays, 60 yards, TOP 3:56
2nd Quarter
MSU 14, MICH 7
MSU - Heyward, Connor 2 yd pass from Lombardi, Rocky (Coghlin, Matt kick) 6 plays, 68 yards, TOP 2:01
MSU 14, MICH 10
MICH - Nordin, Quinn 23 yd field goal 9 plays, 70 yards, TOP 3:37
3rd Quarter
MSU 17, MICH 10
MSU - Coghlin, Matt 27 yd field goal 5 plays, 52 yards, TOP 1:03
MSU 17, MICH 17
MICH - Corum, Blake 1 yd run (Nordin, Quinn kick), 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:26
MSU 20, MICH 17
MSU - Coghlin, Matt 51 yd field goal 9 plays, 45 yards, TOP 3:37
4th Quarter
MSU 27, MICH 17
MSU - Heyward, Connor 13 yd pass from Lombardi, Rocky (Coghlin, Matt kick) 11 plays, 92 yards, TOP 4:37
MSU 27, MICH 24
MICH - Haskins, Hassan 2 yd run (Nordin, Quinn kick), 18 plays, 93 yards, TOP 4:34
Game Leaders
CMP
17
TD
3
YDS
323
INT
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ Football
K
/ Football
LB
/ Football
RB
/ FootballQB
/ Football
CB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ FootballJonathan Smith Post Game Comments | PSU | Nov. 15 2025
Saturday, November 15
Jonathan Smith | Football Press Conference | Nov. 10 2025
Monday, November 10
Jonathan Smith Postgame Comments | Minnesota
Saturday, November 01
Jonathan Smith | Football Press Conference | Oct. 27 2025
Monday, October 27