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By the numbers: No Michigan head coach has won first meeting against Michigan State since Bennie Oosterbaan in 1948

clayton-sayfieby:Clayton Sayfie•10/24/24•

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Sherrone Moore
Michigan Wolverines football head coach Sherrone Moore was an assistant coach for six seasons before being promoted. (Photo by Lon Horwedel / TheWolverine.com)

Michigan Wolverines football‘s Sherrone Moore could become the program’s first head coach to beat Michigan State in his first meeting against the in-state foe since Bennie Oosterbaan in 1948.

That’s right: No Michigan head coach has taken down the Spartans in their first try since Oosterbaan won 13-7 in East Lansing — not even Bo Schembechler, Gary Moeller, Gary Moeller, Lloyd Carr or Jim Harbaugh.

Seven-straight Michigan coaches have lost their first meeting with MSU.

Michigan CoachSeasonResult
Jim Harbaugh2015L, 27-23
Brady Hoke2011L, 28-14
Rich Rodriguez2008L, 35-21
Lloyd Carr1995L, 28-25
Gary Moeller1990L, 28-27
Bo Schembechler1969L, 23-12
Bump Elliott1959L, 34-8

Famously, Schembechler’s first game against Michigan State served as a learning lesson. He put things back into their proper perspective with eight-straight victories over the Spartans, before finishing 17-4 against the Big Ten opponent.

With Michigan leading the all-time series, 73-38-5, that means 18.4 percent of the Spartans’ wins over the Wolverines have come in those seven contests against first-year head coaches.

Every other Michigan head coach who faced MSU won his first meeting against the Spartans, including Fritz Crisler in 1938 (14-0), Harry Kipke in 1929 (17-0), Tad Wieman in 1927 (21-0) and George Little in 1924 (7-0). Those were all in those coaches’ first seasons at the helm in Ann Arbor.

Fielding Yost didn’t play Michigan State in his first season as head coach but did in his second year in 1902, winning 119-0. Neither did Gustave Ferbert in 1897, but the following season his Wolverines won 39-0 in the first clash between Michigan and what was then known as State Agricultural College.

This season, both Michigan and Michigan State have new head coaches, so it’s hard to say whether or not the trend will continue. While interim head coach Harlon Barnett lost 49-0 last season, previous MSU head man Mel Tucker won his first clash with U-M, 27-24 in 2020.

Prior to Tucker, the last MSU head coach to beat Michigan in his first try was Nick Saban. Bobby Williams (14-0 in 2000), Morris Watts (49-3 in 2002) John L. Smith (27-20 in 2003) and Mark Dantonio (28-24 in 2007) all fell victim to the Maize and Blue.

By the numbers: Michigan vs. Michigan State

15 Turnovers committed by each team, tied for 122nd nationally. MSU has a minus-6 turnover margin, while the Wolverines are at minus-7 for the season.

18 Yards per catch for MSU wide receiver Nick Marsh, checking in third in the Big Ten. He has 433 receiving yards and 1 touchdown on 24 receptions. Marsh has been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week twice, including for his 113-yard performance against Iowa last week.

46th Nationally is where MSU ranks with 3.8 yards per carry allowed. The Spartans are 69th, giving up 7.1 yards per pass attempt. They’re 29th in the FBS by allowing only 323.1 total yards per game.

48 Of the last 54 winners of the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry have won the rushing yard battle.

59.3 Completion percentage for Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles. He’s racked up 1,468 yards and 6 touchdowns with 9 interceptions through the air. He’s added a team-leading 3 rushing touchdowns.

1928 Was the last time before this season that both Michigan and Michigan State came into the in-state rivalry with three or more losses. Both teams sit at 4-3 heading into Saturday’s meeting.

1953 was when the Paul Bunyan Trophy made its debut in the Michigan vs. Michigan State series. The winner of the rivalry game is presented the prize, and Michigan leads 40-29-2 when it’s on the line.

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