Michigan State beat Michigan 15-6 on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, delivering a rivalry upset built on defense, five field goals and four forced turnovers. The victory returned the Paul Bunyan Trophy to Michigan State and gave the Spartans their first Big Ten win of the season.
The result drew major search interest after a game in which Michigan State controlled possession, protected the football and repeatedly stopped Michigan from turning opportunities into points. For readers looking for the Michigan State vs. Michigan score, key statistics and what comes next, here is the breakdown.
Michigan State vs. Michigan: How the Spartans won 15-6
Michigan State never scored a touchdown, but kicker Liam Boyd supplied all 15 Spartan points with field goals from 21, 37, 38, 24 and 49 yards. Michigan did not score until Savion Hiter's 1-yard touchdown run with 1:35 remaining; the ensuing two-point attempt failed.
The Spartans finished with 298 total yards to Michigan's 192 and held the ball for 38:07. The most decisive statistic was the turnover margin: Michigan State committed no turnovers, while Michigan had four. The Spartans also recorded five sacks. Michigan State quarterback Alessio Milivojevic completed 21 of 32 passes for 188 yards, while Michigan quarterback Tommy Carr went 14-of-26 for 138 yards with two interceptions.
Why the rivalry result matters
Michigan State entered the game 2-6 overall and winless in Big Ten play, while Michigan entered at 5-3. The 15-6 win moved the Spartans to 3-6 overall and 1-5 in the conference, while Michigan fell to 5-4 and 2-4.
The upset also sent the Paul Bunyan Trophy back to East Lansing for the first time in five years, according to The State News. The outlet reported that Michigan State had arrived in Ann Arbor on a six-game losing streak before reversing its season's direction against its in-state rival.
Defense and ball security decided the game
Michigan State's approach was not flashy, but it consistently created favorable situations. The Spartans did not give Michigan a takeaway, converted enough sustained drives to create five field-goal opportunities and kept the Wolverines scoreless through the first three quarters.
Michigan State's defense made the difference. Four takeaways limited Michigan's ability to build momentum, while the five sacks added pressure to an offense that produced only 192 total yards. The Spartans also ran 20 third-down plays and possessed the ball for more than 38 minutes, keeping Michigan's offense off the field for long stretches.
What comes next for Michigan State
Michigan State's schedule lists Washington as its next opponent on November 14, followed by Oregon on November 20 and a road game at Rutgers on November 28. After a rivalry win that ended its conference drought, the Spartans now have a late-season opportunity to build on their strongest result of the year.
For Michigan, the immediate task is correcting the ball-security and offensive issues that defined the loss. The Wolverines generated only 13 first downs and converted 2 of 10 third downs against the Spartans.
Michigan State vs. Michigan final score and key numbers
- Final: Michigan State 15, Michigan 6
- Total yards: Michigan State 298, Michigan 192
- Turnovers: Michigan State 0, Michigan 4
- Possession: Michigan State 38:07, Michigan 21:53
- Liam Boyd: five made field goals for Michigan State
- Michigan State record after the game: 3-6 overall, 1-5 Big Ten
- Michigan record after the game: 5-4 overall, 2-4 Big Ten
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