Michigan
Michigan State
Haynes, Marshall Power Wolverines to Rivalry Win Over Spartans, Paul Bunyan Trophy
10/25/2025 11:44:00 PM | Football
Site: East Lansing, Mich. (Spartan Stadium)
Score: #25 Michigan 31, Michigan State 20
Records: U-M (6-2, 4-1 B1G), MSU (3-5, 0-5 B1G)
Attendance: 75,085
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 1 -- vs. Purdue (Michigan Stadium), 7 p.m. (TV: Big Ten Network)
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The No. 25-ranked University of Michigan football team outlasted in-state rival Michigan State 31-20 to retain the Paul Bunyan Trophy on Saturday night (Oct. 25) at Spartan Stadium. The Wolverines were buoyed by a potent rushing attack and a sound defensive effort.
The Michigan offense was paced by its ground game, with 276 of its 362 total yards coming via the rush. Justice Haynes returned to action and rushed for his seventh game of 100 yards or more this season, adding 152 and two touchdowns in the win. Jordan Marshall contributed 110 yards of his own and one score -- his second straight week of 100 yards or more on the ground.
Defensively, the Maize and Blue held Michigan State to 305 total yards and just five conversions on 16 third-down attempts in the victory. Jimmy Rolder (10 tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss, one fumble recovery) and Derrick Moore (six tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss) highlighted the defensive effort with each contributing key plays on fourth downs late in the game to help secure the win.
The first quarter of the matchup saw the Wolverines move ahead 10-0 and hold the Spartans' offense to zero first downs. On the game's first drive, Brandyn Hillman forced a fumble which was recovered by Rolder at the Michigan State 34-yard line. U-M converted this turnover into a 21-yard Dominic Zvada field goal before forcing another stop and adding a touchdown to take a two-score lead. Bryce Underwood scampered along the away sideline for the 13-yard touchdown, his fourth ground score of the season.
Early in the game's second frame, the Spartans scored their first points with a one-yard rushing score to capitalize on a 49-yard rush by Mekhi Frazier on the second play of the drive. The score held at 10-7 for the remainder of the first half, as the teams traded punts and entered the break in a one-score contest.
After totaling just 33 yards in the second quarter as a team, the Wolverines marked off 48 yards on the first two plays of quarter three -- 20- and 28-yard rushes by Haynes. Michigan's leading ball carrier also closed the drive with a five-yard rushing touchdown to move U-M ahead by 10 points.
After Hudson Hollenbeck booted a 67-yard punt down to the Michigan State three-yard line and the Spartans punted the ball back to the Wolverines for a drive start at the U-M 48-yard line, the Maize and Blue offense capitalized on the short field with another touchdown -- a 14-yard rushing score by Haynes.
Following another one-yard Spartans rushing score and a missed two-point try, the Wolverines held a 24-13 lead with 12 minutes remaining in the contest.
Sealing the game for the Wolverines were back-to-back stops on fourth down in Michigan territory late in the fourth quarter. One came on a Rolder pass breakup and the other on a tackle for loss by Moore and TJ Metcalf. The latter was followed by a 56-yard Marshall rushing touchdown to move the Wolverines ahead by three scores with 2:48 remaining and secure the Paul Bunyan Trophy.
Michigan returns home next Saturday (Nov. 1) for a contest against Purdue. The game at Michigan Stadium is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Big Ten Network.
