It’s no secret that whoever leads the rushing battle in the U-M/MSU clash almost always goes on to win the game. In fact, the team which has rushed for more yards has won 42 of the last 46 meetings in the series.

In recent years, Michigan is all too familiar with this stat, having dropped seven of the last eight to its hated in-state rival. The Spartans’ recent dominance in the annual contest is something that has not been seen since the 1960s, when they lost to the Maize and Blue only once (1964) from 1956-1967 (the two teams tied in 1963 and 1958).

The Jim Harbaugh-led Wolverines are hoping to turn the tide in this rivalry back into Michigan’s favor once again, and to do so, it will all begin on the ground. To get a better understanding of just how important it is to outrush the opponent in this series, we've taken a look at each team’s rushing totals over the past 10 meetings.

Last season, the two teams had nearly identical rushing numbers, with the Wolverines slightly outrushing the Spartans, 62-58. Michigan State wound up winning the game, 27-23, making it one of the rare exceptions in which the team that was outrushed wound up victorious.

In both 2014 and 2013, the Spartans had the rushing edge by a large margin. Two seasons ago, they outgained Michigan on the ground, 219-61, en route to a 35-11 win. The 2013 meeting saw the infamous game in which the Wolverines somehow managed to compile minus-48 yards on the ground, in comparison to Michigan State’s 142. U-M quarterback Devin Gardner was sacked seven times, and the Spartans won the game, 29-6.

Michigan’s lone win in the series since 2007 came in 2012 by a score of 12-10. The Maize and Blue held the advantage on the ground, 163-112, with 96 of those yards coming from quarterback Denard Robinson.

The Spartans defeated the Wolverines four straight times from 2008-2011, winning the ground battle each year by the following margins: 213-82 in 2011, 249-162 in 2010, 197-28 in 2009 and 167-84 in 2008.

The 2007 campaign saw major turning points in the rivalry for both teams. It was Lloyd Carr’s last season in Ann Arbor, and Mark Dantonio’s first in East Lansing. It was also one of the rare exceptions in which the team with more rushing yards lost. Michigan State outgained Michigan on the ground, 191-100, but dropped the game, 28-24. It also stands as the last time Michigan won in Spartan Stadium.

In 2006, Michigan picked up an easy victory over Michigan State, 31-13, while holding the advantage on the ground, 211-60. Mike Hart racked up 122 yards, while Kevin Grady chipped in 51.

Dating back to 2006, the team that has held the rushing edge has won almost every year, with 2007 and 2015 being the exceptions. If the Wolverines can outgain the Spartans on the ground on Saturday, it’s a strong bet they’ll pick up their first win in the rivalry in four years, and first in East Lansing since the Lloyd Carr era.

-4 Is Michigan State’s turnover margin, which ranks 104th in college football. The Spartans have not finished a season with a negative turnover margin since 2009.

1st Is Michigan’s Big Ten rank in scoring offense (48.7 points a contest), scoring defense (10.0 points surrendered per outing), rush defense (96 yards allowed per game), pass defense (111 yards given up per game), total defense (207 yards allowed per contest), average yards per punt return (18.5 ), sacks (25), tackles for loss (63), opponent first downs per game (10.6) and opponent third-down conversion percentage (13 percent).

7 Sacks for the Michigan State defense this season, which is tied for 119th nationally; in comparison, Michigan’s defense has recorded 25 (4th nationally).

8.4 & 8.3 Yards per carry average for U-M freshman Chris Evans and sophomore Karan Higdon, respectively. Evans’ mark ranks fifth-best in the country, and Higdon’s lists eighth.

62 Degrees is projected as the high in East Lansing on Saturday (according to weather.com), which should make for an unusually warm and gorgeous late October day.

66th Is the current rank of Michigan State’s rush defense (162.5 yards allowed per game). The Spartans have not finished lower than 11th since 2010.

68 Times Michigan has defeated Michigan State. The Wolverines have only defeated two other opponents more — Minnesota (74) and Illinois (70).

207 Yards per game Michigan’s defense is allowing. Florida has the nation’s next best defense statistically, giving up 252.

2007 Was the last time Michigan won at Spartan Stadium. Quarterback Chad Henne led a thrilling second-half comeback, and the Wolverines grabbed a 28-24 victory in Lloyd Carr’s last season.