It was rivalry weekend in East Lansing as Michigan State hosted No. 25 Michigan on Saturday. The Paul Bunyan Trophy is staying in Ann Arbor, as the Wolverines defeated the Spartans by a final score of 31-20.

This is the fifth consecutive loss for Michigan State, as the Spartans fall to 3-5 overall and 0-5 in Big Ten play. With the victory, Michigan improves to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in conference play.

Michigan out-gained Michigan State in total yardage by a tally of 362-305. The Wolverines had 276 rushing yards to the Spartans' 115 yards Both teams struggles to pass the ball, but MSU had the edge in passing yards, 190-86.

This was Michigan's fourth-straight win over Michigan State.

First Half:

Michigan State received the ball to start the game. However, three play plays later, Michigan defensive back Brandyn Hillman forced MSU quarterback Aidan Chiles to fumble on third down it was recovered by U-M linebacker Jimmy Rolder. The Wolverines took over at Michigan State's 34-yard line.

The Wolverines drove down to MSU's 3-yard line, but the Spartan defense eventually held and forced a field goal attempt. Michigan kicker Dominic Zvada knocked it through the uprights from 21 yards out and gave U-M an early 3-0 lead.

Michigan State got the ball back and proceeded to go three-and-out. The Spartans were called for back-to-back penalties (delay of game and false start) on fourth down before Ryan Eckley punted the ball 51 yards to Michigan's 32-yard line.

The Wolverines picked up one first down on the drive when quarterback Bryce Underwood found wide receiver Andrew Marsh on a 22-yard passing play. However, Michigan picked up just two yards in the next three plays and punted the ball away.

On the ensuing possession, once again, Michigan State went three-on-and-out. On third down, Chiles' pass to wide receiver Nick Marsh fell incomplete, but the officials missed what appeared to be pass interference on Michigan. No call was made and the Spartans punted.

Michigan took over the ball at its own 37-yard line. On the second play of the drive, a pass interference call on Michigan State cornerback Malcolm Bell gave the Wolverines an automatic first down and the ball at MSU's 45-yard line. U-M finally found the end zone six plays later when Underwood ran in a touchdown from 13 yards out.

Zvada's extra point was good and Michigan took a 10-0 lead with 3:58 to go in the first quarter.

On the next two possessions, Michigan State and Michigan traded three-and-outs and punts once again, with both teams receiving penalties on second down of their respective drives.

Michigan State's offense finally found life on its next possession. The Spartans drove 73 yards in 10 plays, helped in large part by a 49-rush by running back Makhi Frazier, and capped off with a 1-yard touchdown run from Chiles.

The Spartans were also aided on the drive by a pass interference call on Michigan defensive back TJ Metcalf, which came one play after Michigan State was called for a 15-yard personal foul on the play before, and gave MSU the ball at U-M's 2-yard line. Chiles scored two play later.

Kicker Martin Connignton tacked on the extra point and the Spartans cut Michigan's lead was 10-7 with 8:24 left.

Neither team was able to put any additional points on the scoreboard and the Wolverines took the 10-7 lead into the locker rooms at halftime.

Second half:

Michigan got the ball to start the second half. Running back Justice Haynes ripped off two big runs, with gains of 20 yards and 28 yards, respectively, to begin the third quarter. A few plays later, the Michigan State defense made a massive play when Bell blitzed and stripped-sacked Underwood, with MSU linebacker Jordan Hall recovering the loose ball. However, a late, questionable offsides call on Bell allowed Michigan to retain possession.

Thee plays later, Haynes scored a rushing touchdown. Zvada's point-after-touchdown (PAT) attempt was good and Michigan once again took a 10-point advantage and led 17-7 with 11:50 left in the third quarter.

Michigan State picked up one first down on its next possession on a 10-yard pass from Chiles to tight end Jack Velling on second-and-9, but that was all. A 39-yard punt by Eckley gave the Wolverines the ball back at MSU's 38-yard line.

Michigan went three-and-out on the ensuing possession, but punter Hudson Hollenbeck pinned Michigan State at its own 3-yard line. The Spartans proceeded to go three-and-out themselves.

After a 48-yard punt by Eckley from his own end zone, Michigan took over at its own 48-yard line. On the fourth play of the drive, Underwood connected with Andrew Marsh for a big gain of 27 yards. On the next play, Haynes found the end zone on a 14-yard touchdown run for his second score of the night.

After Zvada's PAT, Michigan took a commanding 24-7 lead with 3:08 left on the clock in the third quarter.

Michigan State had a much needed response on its next drive. The Spartans drove 75 yards on 12 plays and eventually found the end zone. On the 11th play of the drive, Chiles connected with Nick Marsh on a 24-yard pass. The play was originally called a touchdown, but after official review, the score was overturned as the wide receiver stepped out of bounds at the 1-yard line. On the next play, running back Brandon Tullis scored a touchdown for the Spartans.

MSU head coach Jonathan Smith elected to go for a two-point conversion, but Chiles' pass fell incomplete and the attempt was stopped. Michigan's lead was 24-13 with 12:34 left to play in the fourth quarter.

Michigan State forced a three-and-out on Michigan's next possession. On the first play of the ensuing drive for MSU, Frazier ran the ball for a 25-yard gain. MSU drove down to U-M's 27-yard line, but faced a fourth-down-and-3. Instead of opting to attempt a field goal, Smith kept his offense on the field. However, Chiles pass attempt to Velling was incomplete and it was a turnover on downs.

MSU's defense made a play on the ensuing possession, when rush end David Santiago forced a fumble on a Haynes run and recovered the ball himself.

The Spartans took over on their own 46-yard line. Michigan State drove down to Michigan's 29-yard line, but once again, went for it on fourth down and failed to covert.

Five plays later, Michigan running back Jordan Marshall put the exclamation mark on the Wolverines' win with an explosive 56-yard touchdown run.

After Zvada added the extra point, Michigan led 31-13 with 2:48 remaining in the game.

With the game out of reach, Michigan State put backup quarterback Alessio Milivojevic into the lineup. He led a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive and capped it off with a 21-yard pass to tight end Michael Masunas with just seven seconds left on the game clock.

Following the extra point from Connington, Michigan's lead was down to 31-20. However, it was far too little, too late, and the that is the score that went final.

Next up, Michigan State travels to Minneapolis to take on Minnesota (5-3, 3-2 in Big Ten play). Meanwhile, Michigan hosts Purdue (2-6, 0-5 in Big Ten play) in Ann Arbor.