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Michigan stunned by Michigan State 27-24 at home as three touchdown favorites

Little Brother brings the Paul Bunyan Trophy back to East Lansing for the first time since 2017, and the sixth time this decade.

Michigan State Spartans running back Connor Heyward celebrates after scoring in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

In an absolute stunner at The Big House, the Michigan State Spartans stunned the Michigan Wolverines 27-24 on Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.

Spartans quarterback Rocky Lombardi was the star, going 17-32 for 323 yards and three touchdowns and zero interceptions.

After getting throttled last week at home by Rutgers 38-27, Sparty bounced back averaging 6.4 yards per play on the road without a turnover, while holding UM quarterback Joe Milton and the Wolverines offense to just 5.3 yards per play via six tackles for loss.

Milton was 32-51 for 300 yards but had zero touchdowns, although there were no turnovers for either side in the game.

Michigan State as a team had 38 rushes for 126 yards, and sealed it with an 11-play, 92-yard touchdown drive that ended with a 13-yard TD reception from Lombardi to Connor Heyward with 5:11 remaining. It put the Spartans up 10 points, who then forced Michigan to eat far too much time on their ensuing 18-play, 93-yard drive that took 4:34, and left only 37 seconds left.

A failed onsides kick all but sealed it, and one of the biggest upsets in the history of the 113-game series was complete.

Next Saturday Michigan State heads to Iowa City to face the Iowa Hawkeyes, while Michigan is off to Bloomington to take on the upstart Indiana Hoosiers.