TEN YEARS OF FOOTBALL: MSU vs UM

The ninth season of the Mark Dantonio Era has ended, with the Spartans winning the B1G Championship and finishing 12-2. Now that football season is over, let's take a look at the last ten years of the rivalry series between Michigan State and Michigan.

UM fans are always talking about the distant past, telling us that MSU has "only been good recently", as if it's just a passing fad or a blip on the sports screen. They constantly brag about their "all-time wins record", but to do so, they are actually counting rugby scrimmages from the late 1800s as "football". There's no way to stop those people, but we don't have to believe in their mythology. We're not cherry-picking a "convenient" time-frame, as a decade is definitely a significant measuring stick, so here we go.

Last 10 Football Games Between MSU and UM

• 2015:  MSU won by 4 (27-23)
• 2014:  MSU won by 24 (35-11)
• 2013:  MSU won by 23 (29-6)
• 2012:  UM won by 2 (12-10)
• 2011:  MSU won by 14 (28-14)
• 2010:  MSU won by 17 (34-17)
• 2009:  MSU won by 6 (26-20, OT)
• 2008:  MSU won by 14 (35-21)
• 2007:  UM won by 4 (28-24)
• 2006:  UM won by 18 (31-13)

• Ten Game Record = MSU 7, UM 3
• Total Points = MSU 261, UM 183 (MSU +78 points)

Over the last ten years of the series, MSU has taken charge, winning both big and small, both home and away. We continue by summarizing the season results for each team over the past decade.

SEASON RESULTS OVER THE LAST DECADE

MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS

2006:  4-8, Tenth Place, no bowl

2007:  7-6, Seventh Place, bowl loss

2008:  9-4, Third Place, bowl loss

2009:  6-7, Sixth Place, bowl loss

2010:  11-2, First Place (B1G), bowl loss

2011:  11-3, First Place (division), Bowl Win

2012:  7-6, Fourth Place (division), Bowl Win

2013:  13-1, First Place (B1G), Rose Bowl Champion

2014:  11-2, Second Place (division), Cotton Bowl Champion
2015:  12-2, First Place (B1G), College Football Playoff bowl loss

• MSU TEN YEAR TOTAL = 91-41 (.689)
• Current Bowl Games in a row = 9
• Total Bowl Victories = 4
• Current Bowl Win Streak = 0
• Biggest Bowl Win Streak = 4
• League Championships = 3
• Division Titles = 3

MICHIGAN WOLVERINES

2006:  11-2, Second Place, bowl loss

2007:  9-4, Second Place, Bowl Win

2008:  3-9, Tenth Place, no bowl

2009:  5-7, Tenth Place, no bowl

2010:  7-6, Seventh Place, bowl loss

2011:  11-2, Second Place (division), Bowl Win

2012:  8-5, Second Place (division), bowl loss

2013:  7-6, Fifth Place (division), bowl loss

2014:  5-7, Fourth Place (division), no bowl
2015:  10-3, Third Place (division), Bowl Win

• UM TEN YEAR TOTAL = 76-51 (.598)
• Current Bowl Games in a row = 1
• Total Bowl Victories = 3
• Current Bowl Win Streak = 1
• Biggest Bowl Win Streak = 1
• League Championships = 0
• Division Titles = 0

The Spartans lead the Wolverines in every comparative category except for one. The only measurable edge in favor of UM is the "Currrent Bowl Win Streak" (1-0).

BOTTOM LINE:  Mark Dantonio promised that MSU would "measure up" when he took over the job in 2007, and the Spartans have done so, by winning league championships, division titles, and bowl games. By comparison to Michigan, Michigan State has won more rivalry games, they have a better bowl streak in progress, as well as more conference championships. The series is starting to become imbalanced - - - in favor of MSU - - - when measuring total points scored.

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Care to compare these numbers from two years ago?

Click Here for a similar summary compiled just after the 2014 Rose Bowl.

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