Liam Boyd Field Goals Lead Michigan State to 15-6 Win Over Michigan

Liam Boyd kicks five field goals to secure Paul Bunyan trophy

Liam Boyd drilled five field goals to lead Michigan State to a 15-6 victory over Michigan on Saturday, snapping a losing streak and reclaiming the Paul Bunyan trophy for the first time in five years.

The Spartans traveled 65 miles to Ann Arbor for the rivalry matchup following a bye-week, relying on a dominant special teams performance to overcome a highly-rated Wolverines defense. According to reporting from the Spartan Newsroom, the win boosts the morale of a team that has faced considerable adversity throughout the 2026 season.

“The credit goes to the man in the arena and that’s our players,” head coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “We’ve been through so much adversity throughout this year, and for them to respond the way that they have, not only tonight but the whole season, I could not be more proud of them.”

One more for Liam Boyd! He knocks down a 49-yard field goal, making it the longest of the night. MSU now leads 15-0 with four minutes left in the game.

— Post by @Spartans_Illo on X

Running the ball controls the tempo

Statistical trends in this rivalry often hinge on ground dominance, and Saturday was no exception. Historically, the team with the most productive run game has won 49 of the last 56 meetings between these two programs. Michigan State reinforced that pattern by doubling Michigan’s rushing output.

Stat Category	Michigan State	Michigan
Total Rushing Yards	110	54
Field Goals Made	5	0
Turnovers Forced	4	0

Junior running back Brandon Tullis led the Spartan ground attack with 86 yards. His performance came despite being “banged up” earlier in the week, a detail that head coach Pat Fitzgerald noted reflected the player’s character. Senior offensive lineman Trent Fraley observed that Tullis has stepped up as a leader for the team since the summer.

The Spartans utilized the run game to effectively kill the clock during a decisive second-half drive. Relying on Tullis and junior running back Kenneth Williams, the offense drained 10:41 off the clock on a single series. Sophomore quarterback Alessio Milivojevic attempted only three passes during that stretch, as the offensive line opened enough lanes to move the ball into field goal range.

Defense stifles Michigan offense

Michigan entered the contest with a formidable defensive reputation, ranking first in the Big Ten and third nationally in total defense, allowing 250.0 yards per game. The Wolverines’ defense initially lived up to those metrics, holding Michigan State to just 36 yards of offense in the first quarter.

Michigan State kicker Liam Boyd on 15-6 win over Michigan

However, the momentum shifted as the Spartans’ defense began forcing errors. The unit forced a season-high four turnovers, preventing Michigan from establishing any offensive rhythm. Senior cornerback NiJhay Burt helped secure the win in the closing stages, recording both an interception of Wolverine quarterback Tommy Carr and a forced fumble in the final quarter.

Boyd’s precision from the kicking position kept the scoreboard moving when touchdowns proved elusive. He opened the scoring with a 21-yard field goal late in the first half, followed by a 37-yarder just before the break to give MSU a 6-0 lead. Fitzgerald described Boyd’s performance as operating at an “All-Big Ten level.”

Michigan State 15, Michigan 6, all 15 on Liam Boyd field goals. Michigan spent $13.5M more on football in FY2025 ($61.7M vs $48.2M). Paul Bunyan heads to East Lansing anyway.https://t.co/TDMUCG7uEv https://t.co/bkRk5GoAHO

— Post by @thePublicCap on X

The lead grew to 15-0 after Boyd connected on his fourth field goal with just over five minutes remaining in regulation. While Michigan managed to score late through running back Savion Hiter, a failed two-point attempt left the Wolverines trailing. Michigan State recovered the subsequent onside kick to seal the win.

Looking toward the Washington matchup

For Michigan State, the victory serves as a momentary reprieve in a difficult campaign. The team currently holds a 1-6 record and a 3-5 standing in the Big Ten. Despite the winning record, the win against a major rival offers a sense of validation for the roster’s resilience.

4/4 for Liam Boyd. MSU drives down to the red zone once more, and Boyd finishes the drive with a field goal. MSU leads, 12-0, with five minutes left in the game.

— Post by @Spartans_Illo on X

“Today was the state championship and we went 1-0,” Fitzgerald said. “As we move forward now, we’ve got opportunities, if we prepare the right way and we keep doing the things that we’ve done to get better and improve.”

The Spartans will return to East Lansing this coming Saturday to host Washington. The Washington team enters the matchup with a 5-4 record and a 2-4 standing in the Big Ten, with kickoff scheduled for 4:15 p.m.

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