Saturday night, the kickoff time and broadcast affiliation for the Michigan football team's Oct. 25 matchup at Michigan State was announced. The in-state rivals will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET, and ar on NBC's Saturday night telecast.
The matchup will be the 118th all-time meeting between the two programs, and Michigan will seek its 75th win in the series (all-time record: 74-38-5). The Wolverines will also be aiming for their fourth straight win in the series, which would be their longest streak since winning six straight from 2002-07.
So far this season, Michigan has the on-paper advantage, but neither team has lived up to preseason expectations yet. The Wolverines are 5-2, with losses at Oklahoma and USC and wins over Washington, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Central Michigan and New Mexico.
Michigan State, meanwhile, began the season 3-0 with wins over Western Michigan, Boston College and Youngstown State, but has begun Big Ten play 0-4 with losses at USC, Nebraska and Indiana and at home against UCLA. Those losses have come by a combined margin of 159-84, as Big Ten opponents have averaged 39.8 points per game.
According to ESPN's Football Power Index, Michigan has an 86.6-percent chance of winning the game, despite it being played in East Lansing. The Wolverines are expected to be a double-digit favorite in the matchup.
The game will be Michigan's fourth night game of the season, and third on NBC. Two of those games (at Oklahoma, at USC) were losses, while a victory over New Mexico was the lone win.
In terms of stakes beyond the rivalry and the Paul Bunyan Trophy, Michigan is playing for bowl eligibility and to keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive.
After the Wolverines' win over Washington, Michigan coach Sherrone Moore expressed excitement for the Wolverines' first rivalry game of the season.
"We know we got a big game next week that I've already got my mind on right now," Moore said. "I gotta give myself 24 hours, gotta give ourselves 24 hours, but I find myself wanting to go to the building and go watch the film on them right now."