There's always a lot of debate surrounding whether certain games in college football are actual rivalries. While Michigan and Michigan State may be trending in opposite directions, the fact that the two programs are complete enemies remains the same.
No. 18 Michigan (1-0) could be the biggest contender to Ohio State for the Big Ten East crown as Jim Haurbaugh may have the best quarterback of his six-year tenure in Ann Arbor. Joe Milton lead the Wolverines past a ranked Minnesota program in Week 1, passing for 225 yards and a touchdown on 15-of-22 passing. At 6-5, 243 pounds, the junior quarterback has one of the strongest arms in the conference as he looks to find teammates in a receiving corps that was hit hard by transfers and opt-outs.
The strength of this Wolverines team is its defensive line featuring studs like Kwity Paye and Aidan Hutchinson. Paye, a 2020 preseason All-Big Ten selection and the No. 1 players on Bruce Feldman's annual "Freaks List," finished with four tackles and two sacks against the Gophers.
MORE: Watch Michigan vs. Michigan State live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
While Michigan may be busy competing for the top spot in the conference, Michigan State (0-1) will do everything in its power not to finish last. The Spartans recorded a whopping seven turnovers in their 38-27 loss to Rutgers in Week 1, snapping a 21-game conference losing streak for the Scarlet Knights. The game was the first for new head coach Mel Tucker who replaced longtime Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio after serving as the head coach at Colorado for a year.
There was a big question entering the season who would be the starting quarterback for Michigan State to replace Brian Lewerke. Junior Rocky Lombardi got the start, and played decent against Rutgers, passing for 319 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Jayden Reed, a 2018 Freshman All-American who sat out 2019 after transferring from Western Michigan, had a great debut in East Lansing, catching 11 passes for 128 yards and two scores.
The winner of this rivalry receives the coveted Paul Bunyan Trophy. Michigan has won each of the last two meetings between the intra-state rivals, but the Spartans have won 6 of the last 10.
Here's everything you need to know to watch Michigan vs. Michigan State on Saturday, including kickoff time, TV channels and more.
What channel is Michigan vs. Michigan State on today?
- TV channel (national): Fox
- Live stream: Fox Sports app, fuboTV
Michigan vs. Michigan State will be broadcast live on Fox starting at noon ET. Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt will be on the call, with Jenny Taft reporting from the sidelines.
Michigan vs. Michigan State start time
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 31
- Kickoff: 12 p.m. ET
The Wolverines' game against the Spartans will be a part of Fox's Big Noon Kickoff. Last week the network's college football pregame show was also at a Big Ten venue when it traveled to Columbus for Ohio State's opener against Nebraska.
Michigan football schedule 2020
| Week | Date | Game |
| 1 | Oct. 24 | Michigan 49, Minnesota 24 |
| 2 | Oct. 31 | vs. Michigan State |
| 3 | Nov. 7 | at Indiana |
| 4 | Nov. 14 | vs. Wisconsin |
| 5 | Nov. 21 | at Rutgers |
| 6 | Nov. 28 | vs. Penn State |
| 7 | Dec. 5 | vs. Maryland |
| 8 | Dec. 12 | at Ohio State |
Michigan State football schedule 2020
| Week | Date | Game |
| 1 | Oct. 24 | Rutgers 38, Michigan State 27 |
| 2 | Oct. 31 | at Michigan |
| 3 | Nov. 7 | at Iowa |
| 4 | Nov. 14 | vs. Indiana |
| 5 | Nov. 21 | at Maryland |
| 6 | Nov. 28 | vs. Northwestern |
| 7 | Dec. 5 | vs. Ohio State |
| 8 | Dec. 12 | at Penn State |