Michigan vs Michigan StatePaul Bunyan Trophy
A towering wooden lumberjack a governor handed out in 1953 to welcome Michigan State into the Big Ten.
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Michigan and Michigan State are not on each other's schedule right now. The trophy stays with Michigan State until they meet again.
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Start a pick'em contestHow the Paul Bunyan Trophy came to be
Michigan Governor G. Mennen Williams, himself a Michigan alumnus, introduced the trophy in 1953, the first season Michigan State played football as a full member of the Big Ten.
The idea was to mark the Spartans' arrival in the conference with a prize for the in-state game, and the Paul Bunyan figure was picked as a nod to Michigan's history as a big lumber-producing state.
Michigan State won the first game played for it in 1953, beating Michigan 14-6.
For years the trophy got little respect: it moved between Ann Arbor and East Lansing with little fuss, and many people saw it as a political publicity move by the governor rather than a real rivalry prize.
The trophy itself. A wooden statue of the lumberjack Paul Bunyan, about four feet tall, standing on a wooden base roughly five feet high, so the whole trophy towers over the players who carry it. The figure leans over an axe with his feet on a map of Michigan, and a flag for each school stands on either side; its formal name is the Paul Bunyan - Governor of Michigan Trophy.
Paul Bunyan Trophy history
- 1898
Michigan and Michigan State meet for the first time on Oct. 12; Michigan wins 39-0.
- 1953
Gov. G. Mennen Williams introduces the trophy for Michigan State's first Big Ten season; the Spartans win the first trophy game 14-6.
- 1999
Michigan coach Lloyd Carr calls it the ugliest trophy in college football, while admitting his team missed it when they did not have it.
- 2022
Michigan begins a run of four straight wins in the rivalry (2022-2025).
- 2025
Michigan wins 31-20 at Spartan Stadium on Oct. 25 behind 152 rushing yards and two touchdowns from Justice Haynes, keeping the trophy for a fourth straight year.
- 2026
The 74th trophy game is set for Nov. 7 at Michigan Stadium, with both schools under new head coaches (Kyle Whittingham at Michigan, Pat Fitzgerald at Michigan State).
Recent results
| Season | Result | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Michigan State Spartans 15, Michigan Wolverines 6 | Michigan Stadium |
| 2025 | Michigan Wolverines 31, Michigan State Spartans 20 | Spartan Stadium |
| 2024 | Michigan Wolverines 24, Michigan State Spartans 17 | Michigan Stadium |
| 2023 | Michigan Wolverines 49, Michigan State Spartans 0 | Spartan Stadium |
| 2022 | Michigan Wolverines 29, Michigan State Spartans 7 | Michigan Stadium |
Paul Bunyan Trophy facts worth knowing
Michigan had a 33-9-3 lead in the series before the trophy existed, which is why the all-time record (75-38-5) is far more lopsided than the trophy-era record (42-29-2).
Former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr labeled Paul Bunyan the ugliest trophy in college football, then added that you miss him when you don't have him.
Michigan State, the newcomer the trophy was created to welcome, won the very first Paul Bunyan game in 1953.
The 2026 meeting will be the 119th game in a series that goes back to 1898, and Michigan State is Michigan's second most-played opponent.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Paul Bunyan Trophy?+
The Paul Bunyan Trophy is the trophy Michigan and Michigan State play for in college football, first awarded in 1953. A wooden statue of the lumberjack Paul Bunyan, about four feet tall, standing on a wooden base roughly five feet high, so the whole trophy towers over the players who carry it. The figure leans over an axe with his feet on a map of Michigan, and a flag for each school stands on either side; its formal name is the Paul Bunyan - Governor of Michigan Trophy.
How did the Paul Bunyan Trophy come to be?+
Michigan Governor G. Mennen Williams, himself a Michigan alumnus, introduced the trophy in 1953, the first season Michigan State played football as a full member of the Big Ten.
Who has the Paul Bunyan Trophy right now?+
Michigan State holds the Paul Bunyan Trophy after winning the 2026 game, Michigan State 15, Michigan 6. The live block on this page updates as soon as the next meeting is played.
Who leads the Michigan-Michigan State series?+
Michigan leads the all-time series 75-39-5 as of the 2026 game. In games played for the Paul Bunyan Trophy since 1953, Michigan leads 42-30-2.
When is the next Paul Bunyan Trophy game?+
No Michigan-Michigan State game is on ESPN's schedule right now. Conference schedules rotate, so check back as the next season's slate is released.
Where can I bet on the Paul Bunyan Trophy game?+
You can bet Michigan vs Michigan State on BettorEdge, a peer-to-peer marketplace where you trade with other bettors rather than a sportsbook, so the price is set by the community, not the house. You can also run a free pick'em contest for the game with your group.
More college football
Records and the current holder are as of the 2026 game; the next-game block and recent results update from ESPN.Sources: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, espn.com, espn.com.
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