The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Land Grant Trophy

Michigan State18-20-1Penn State
National Program III#62 of 138–Power Program I#12 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
1 player crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Penn State leads the all-time series 20-18-1. They've met 39 times since 1914. Penn State has won the last 3.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Michigan State
Win total
3.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
-5
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -58
What fans are saying · recruiting effort
One fan believes a strong recruiting class can turn around the team's performance
if we want to be good next year I’m expecting like a 35-40 player haul in the portal along with it being a T15-20 class.
Verified verbatim
Penn State
Transfer portal
-4
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -37
What fans are saying · player performance
fans think the defense can't stop any opposing offense
I’m afraid we’re going to get slaughtered. I’ve never seen a PSU defense so bad
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1914–2025

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeMichigan StatePenn Stateevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Michigan State won, gray: Penn State won)192019401960198020002020

The identity war

Michigan State has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Michigan State led 13 and Penn State led 10.

more passmore runMichigan StatePenn State2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262014Penn State 12.2 ptsMichigan State won 34-102018Michigan State 9.1 ptsMichigan State won 21-172025Michigan State 7.7 ptsPenn State won 28-10
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

Michigan State once won 5 in a row. The biggest win was Penn State by 54 in 2002. The biggest crowd, 109,845, was in 2008.

The coaching duels

Mark Dantonio vs James Franklin4-2
Nick Saban vs Joe Paterno2-3
John Smith vs Joe Paterno1-3
Mark Dantonio vs Joe Paterno2-2
Mel Tucker vs James Franklin1-3
Bobby Williams vs Joe Paterno0-3

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
154-258
Penn State leads
1st-rounders
24-40
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
Michigan StatePenn State
1960s10-8
1970s21-45
1980s22-48
1990s29-33
2000s32-38
2010s27-40
2020s13-46

Best picks, either side

1967Bubba Smith Defensive End · Baltimore ColtsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1995Ki-Jana Carter Running Back · Cincinnati BengalsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2000Courtney Brown Defensive End · Cleveland BrownsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1967Clinton Jones Running Back · Minnesota VikingsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1989Tony Mandarich Offensive Tackle · Green Bay PackersRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
2003Charles Rogers Wide Receiver · Detroit LionsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
2018Saquon Barkley Running Back · New York GiantsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1990Blair Thomas Running Back · New York JetsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall

Recent meetings

2025Penn State28-10
2023Penn State42-0
2022Penn State35-16
2021Michigan State30-27
2020Penn State39-24
2019Penn State28-7
2018Michigan State21-17Penn State — Penn State favored by 13.5
2017Michigan State27-24Penn State — both ranked, Penn State favored by 10.0
2016Penn State45-12
2015Michigan State55-16
2014Michigan State34-10
2010Michigan State28-22
2009Penn State42-14
2008Penn State49-18Michigan State — both ranked

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Michigan State’s chance to win through that meeting. Michigan State is 2-1 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter.

2025Penn State 28-10Michigan State lost 10-28 vs Penn State. Chance to win started at 40%, low 2%, high 61%.Steady
2023Penn State 42-0Michigan State lost 0-42 vs Penn State. Chance to win started at 8%, low under 1%, high 11%.Steady
2022Penn State 35-16Michigan State lost 16-35 at Penn State. Chance to win started at 11%, low 1%, high 18%.Busy
2021Michigan State 30-27Michigan State won 30-27 vs Penn State. Chance to win started at 41%, low 30%, high 96%.
2020Penn State 39-24Michigan State lost 24-39 at Penn State. Chance to win started at 21%, low 1%, high 70%.
2019Penn State 28-7Michigan State lost 7-28 vs Penn State. Chance to win started at 35%, low under 1%, high 38%.
2018Michigan State 21-17Michigan State won 21-17 at Penn State. Chance to win started at 18%, low 6%, high better than 99%.
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2025
    “Beautiful pass. Grunk looks nice and Ross finally getting to showcase the speed!”
    A Penn State fan

Meetings with their own story page

2 meetings in our archive, 2017 to 2018.