Michigan State Football’s All-Time Record Against Every Big Ten Opponent

Michigan State football has a rich history filled with highs and lows, championships and blowouts, legendary players and unforgettable moments.

As all Spartan fans know, it’s been no easy task following Michigan State football lately. After a decade of competing among the nation’s elite, landing top recruits, and sending players to the NFL, the program has endured a long and difficult slide over the past several years. That downturn seemed to reach its lowest point last season when the Spartans finished just 1-8 in Big Ten play.

Now, with Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald at the helm, Michigan State is looking to leave the past behind and start building toward a brighter future.

But for now, I’m not quite ready to move on from the past.

A graphic recently posted by College Football Zone on X broke down Michigan State’s all-time record against every Big Ten opponent, providing an interesting look at where the Spartans stand historically against the conference.

So let’s dive into the numbers and take a look at which programs Michigan State has dominated, which rivals have had the upper hand, and some of the closest series in conference history.

Michigan State’s All-Time Record vs. Every Big Ten Team

Teams Michigan State Owns a Winning Record Against (8)

Teams Michigan State Has a Losing Record Against (9)

One of the more surprising things that stands out is Michigan State’s winning record against Wisconsin. The Badgers have often felt like a program on the same tier as the Spartans, whether it was the memorable Russell Wilson vs. Kirk Cousins battles for Big Ten supremacy or the years when both teams were simply trying to scrape together conference wins.

Still, seeing Michigan State hold a 30-24 advantage in the series is a nice reminder of just how competitive the Spartans have been over the years.

On the other hand, seeing Penn State on the losing-record list isn’t quite as enjoyable. The Nittany Lions have long been viewed as a comparable program, and many Spartan fans would probably argue that Michigan State should be closer to even in that series. The same could be said for Iowa and Nebraska.

The Closest Series

Speaking of Penn State, Michigan State is just two wins away from evening up that all-time series. If the Spartans can string together a couple victories in the coming years, the matchup could look very different by the end of the decade.

The Spartans are also only four wins behind Iowa. With Michigan State hiring Iowa’s former special teams coordinator and punter, perhaps they’ll be able to steal a few advantages in the kicking game the next time the two teams meet.

Meanwhile, UCLA and USC each hold just a one-game edge over Michigan State, while Oregon’s advantage sits at two games. With the expanded Big Ten schedule creating more opportunities for these matchups, the Spartans will have plenty of chances to close the gap.

The New West Coast Schools Have Been Problematic

Against the Big Ten’s four newest West Coast additions, Michigan State owns the following records:

Combined Record: 11-18

Simply put, the Spartans have some work to do against their new conference counterparts. As the Big Ten continues to stretch from coast to coast, Michigan State will need to start adding more wins to that column.

Largest Advantages

Indiana: +29 games (49-20-2)
Northwestern: +20 games (40-20)
Minnesota: +10 games (30-20)

Largest Deficits

Michigan: -37 games (38-75-5)
Ohio State: -23 games (15-38)
Nebraska: -7 games (3-10)

Best and Worst Winning Percentages

Best All-Time Records

Indiana (49-20-2) – .704
Northwestern (40-20) – .667
Minnesota (30-20) – .600

Worst All-Time Records

Washington (1-4) – .200
Ohio State (15-38) – .283
Michigan (38-75-5) – .285

It’s always fun to look back at the all-time records. Sure, some of these games were played so long ago they may as well have happened before the Titanic sank, but they still tell the story of each program’s history and the rivalries that have shaped the conference.

Michigan State has absorbed more than its fair share of losses in recent years, but history shows this program has also spent plenty of time on the winning side. With a new coaching staff in place and a fresh chapter beginning, the Spartans will look to start chipping away at some of those deficits and add a few more Big Ten wins to their legacy.

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