It does not take hours of research to determine how vital the running game is in determining the winner of the annual Michigan-Michigan State grudge match.

Even as they enter rivalry week, Michigan football players remain focused on their ultimate goal: the Big Ten championship.

It's no secret that beating Michigan is at the top of every Spartan's "to-do" list. Soon after his hiring last November, first-year Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio put a clock in the MSU practice facility that has been counting off each second until Saturday's kickoff

By all accounts, after a disastrous 0-2 start to the season, the 2007 Michigan Wolverines were finished. But rumors of their demise were greatly exaggerated.

Last December, at the all-state football banquet at Ford Field, Mark Dantonio paused in the middle of his speech and turned to his right.

Asked about the Paul Bunyan Trophy, given to the U-M/MSU winner since 1953, the Wolverines had little to say.

Will Johnson wants to beat Michigan State for all the usual reasons.

"If you're going to talk trash, you've got to back it up on the field so you can talk later. They didn't do that, and so we can do our talking now. And I'm telling you how it is. We took it to them."

Did you grow up cheering for one team or another?

Michigan's Carr says Henne (shoulder), Hart (ankle) getting better but plans to wait and see.

"It's playing for that Paul Bunyan Trophy. It may not mean that much to people outside the state of Michigan, but people who played in the game….

Michigan plays for a trophy that may share some likeness to one of their teammates this weekend, but in the bigger picture, they are playing each week for something else -a Big Ten title.

Rivalry week means more focused players, coaches and, in the instance of the University of Michigan and Michigan State, it ends with a game of rare intensity.

Continuing what has become almost a weekly tradition, a University of Michigan football player stepped behind a microphone Monday, predicting Mike Hart's return to the lineup.

If the pressure of a rivalry game is supposed to seep through, the Michigan football team sure isn't showing it.

Mark Dantonio said it to his team Sunday, then repeated the message to the media Monday, when asked if he would play up the fact that none of his players have a win against Michigan.

Michigan week has arrived just in time for the Michigan State football team.

Coach John Macklin led the Michigan Agricultural College Aggies to their first win over Michigan in 1913, then directed a 24-0 blowout in Ann Arbor in 1915, and it looked like a power shift might be under way.

Mark Dantonio's question to his players Sunday hit them where it hurt most.

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio called on fans to show their support this weekend.

Billy Sauer has been often criticized for being inconsistent.

Freshman goalie Bryan Hogan took his biggest steps to rejoining the University of Michigan hockey team over the weekend.

On the one hand, this has got to be about the stupidest (expletive) rule in NCAA history. On the other hand, well wait, what?!?! You mean they're not even allowed to use their hands? "$#@%&!"

Tacky or tactically brilliant?

From Knowshon Moreno and Georgia solving Florida, to Sylvester Croom and Mississippi State knocking off Kentucky, it was a Dawgs-day afternoon in the SEC.

Nebraska QB suffered shoulder injury against Texas

Florida State backup quarterback Xavier Lee was suspended two games for a violation of team rules on Monday.

If Matt Ryan becomes the king of college football, he might be late to his own coronation.