ANN ARBOR, MI (11-07-26) – Michigan State reclaimed the Paul Bunyan Trophy with a 15–6 victory over Michigan on Saturday night, riding five Liam Boyd (#37) field goals and a disruptive defense to its first win in the rivalry since 2021.

Before 111,172 fans at Michigan Stadium, the Spartans delivered coach Pat Fitzgerald a victory in his first meeting with the Wolverines. Michigan State improved to 3–6 overall and 1–5 in the Big Ten, while Michigan slipped to 5–4 and 2–4.

The Spartans dictated possession, holding the football for 38:07 and outgaining Michigan 298–192. Four takeaways repeatedly interrupted the Wolverines’ offense, which managed only two conversions on 10 third-down attempts and remained scoreless until the final two minutes.

Boyd supplied every Michigan State point. His 21-yard field goal with 1:33 remaining in the second quarter broke a scoreless tie, and a 37-yarder with five seconds left sent the Spartans into halftime leading 6–0.

The defining possession came after halftime. Starting at its own 1-yard line, Michigan State marched 79 yards across 17 plays, consuming 10:41. Boyd finished the drive with a 38-yard field goal, extending the advantage to 9–0 while keeping Michigan’s defense on the field.

Quarterback Alessio Milivojevic (#11), returning after missing the UCLA game because of injury, completed 21 of 32 passes for 188 yards. Brandon Tullis (#7) carried 25 times for a career-high 86 yards, and Chrishon McCray (#13) caught six passes for 92 yards.

Michigan State’s defense supplied the stops needed to protect those points. Captain Nikai Martinez (#21) recorded seven tackles, a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery, helping anchor a unit that consistently frustrated Michigan’s attempts to establish momentum.

NiJhay Burt (#0) added an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The Spartans finished with five sacks, applying pressure while preventing the Wolverines from sustaining enough drives to reverse the game’s direction.

Boyd added a 24-yard field goal with 5:04 remaining, then connected from 49 yards with 4:09 left after another Michigan turnover. The 15–0 margin gave the Spartans breathing room despite their inability to reach the end zone.

Michigan finally scored on Savion Hiter’s (#5) one-yard touchdown run with 1:35 remaining. The Wolverines’ two-point attempt failed, and Michigan State recovered the ensuing onside kick to secure the trophy.

Michigan received strong defensive performances from Troy Bowles (#18), who totaled 15 tackles, and John Henry Daley (#90), who contributed eight tackles and two sacks.

For a team searching for a breakthrough, the victory provided a memorable moment in Fitzgerald’s debut season.

Michigan State hosts Washington at 4:15 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Spartan Stadium on Big Ten Network. Michigan travels to Oregon for a 3:30 p.m. Eastern kickoff that afternoon on FS1.