How to Watch Michigan State vs. Michigan - College Football on Peacock (Nov. 7)
This weekend on Peacock, it's the Battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy.
Content availability may vary over time.
Key Takeaways
- Michigan State and Michigan face off in the 119th Battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy on Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET in Ann Arbor, with the game streaming exclusively on Peacock.
- Michigan leads the all-time series 75-38-5 and enters on a five-game winning streak, but both teams have struggled this season, with Michigan State still winless in Big Ten play and Michigan dealing with inconsistency.
- Key players to watch include Spartans quarterback Alessio Milivojevic, who has recently improved his efficiency and avoided turnovers, and Wolverines wide receiver J.J. Buchanan, a dependable playmaker with more than 600 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
We're in the crucial final weeks of the 2026 college football regular season, and that means, among other things, rivalry games. Throughout November, some of the biggest rivalries in the sport will play out live, with huge implications for every team. This weekend, one of those big-time Big Ten rivalry games comes exclusively to Peacock.
On Saturday, the Michigan State Spartans and Michigan Wolverines meet for the 119th Battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy, granting the winner bragging rights over the state of Michigan for the next year, and you can stream it all live.
How do I watch Michigan State Spartans vs. Michigan Wolverines?
The Michigan State Spartans and Michigan Wolverines play Saturday, November 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET, with the game streaming live exclusively on Peacock. Just log in, hit play, and stream a legendary college football rivalry.
RELATED: College Football Games on NBC & Peacock This Week: Schedule
Michigan State vs. Michigan kickoff time
The Spartans and the Wolverines are set to kick off Saturday, November 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET, live from the Big House in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Michigan State vs. Michigan rivalry history
The Battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy dates all the way back to 1898, though the trophy itself didn't come along until 1953, by which point the game had become an annual college football tradition. The two schools have played each other every year since 1945, and Michigan leads the series handily, 75-38-5. Michigan also holds a current win streak of five games, which means Michigan State is hungry for an upset this year.
RELATED: What Happened to the Divisions in Big Ten Football?
Michigan State vs. Michigan preview
Both teams are struggling a bit this season as they head into their rivalry showdown, though the Spartans are struggling more. Under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald, they are still winless in the Big Ten this season, though they've come close in games against Illinois and Northwestern. They're still finding their footing, and at this point, it might feel as though they'll take all year to coalesce. But there are signs of life in Michigan State, and a rivalry game could bring those to the fore.
Michigan, meanwhile, started the season looking like a potential Big Ten title threat, only to fall to 2-3 in conference play so far this year, and 5-3 overall. Their biggest issue has been that it's just plain hard to tell which version of the Wolverines will show up on any given Saturday. They fought No. 4 Indiana to a stalemate in regulation before losing an overtime thriller, then turned around the next week and only beat lowly Rutgers by a touchdown. Every conference game they've played this year, and all but one of their games overall, has been decided by seven points or less. If Michigan can show up ready to play they can handle the Spartans, but if their defense keeps bending, it could be a different story.
Michigan State vs. Michigan players to watch
Alessio Milivojevic has had a rough year as Michigan State's quarterback, but there are signs that he's beginning to come into his own. He's got just seven passing touchdowns against three interceptions, but if you look at his last three games, it seems like a turnaround. He hasn't thrown a pick since September, and in the last two games he's proven to be an efficient passer who can score, notching two touchdowns against both Illinois and Northwestern in very close games. Michigan's defense isn't necessarily equipped to grind him to a halt, so if Milivojevic can keep up that trend, he could have the biggest day of his season so far.
But Michigan has playmakers too, and one of them is wide receiver J.J. Buchanan. He's been a reliable target all season long -- whether for the Wolverines' initial starting quarterback Bryce Underwood, or for current starter, freshman Tommy Carr. Buchanan has five touchdowns and more than 600 receiving yards on the season so far; he's not the flashiest wideout, but he has proven to be clutch. If he can get open, find space, and give Carr the chance to stay productive, Michigan's offense can pull away and perhaps avoid those pesky close games they've had all season.
Who's on the broadcast team for Michigan State vs. Michigan?
NBC Sports' Paul Burmeister will call the action on play-by-play, with analysis from Yogi Roth, sideline reporting from Lewis Johnson, and rules analysis from Reggie Smith.
