Do you guys consider Penn State a rival?
Tbh this probably isn't board-worthy, but I don't really care and am interested in it so I'll throw it out anyway.
Was talking to a Penn State fan, and the two B1G teams they as a fanbase hate the most are supposedly us and OSU. This got me thinking, while OSU and MSU are obviously the main rivals, after that there isn't a team I want Michigan to beat more on a yearly basis than PSU. '94, '97, '02, '05, '06, '13 (albeit in a different way) were all great games.
I personally don't really care about ND and that series, and would've preferred to keep that schedule spot open for another P5 series (like the canceled Arkansas and VT games), and the Minnesota series, while an awesome tradition and the coolest rivalry trophy story, just isn't that compelling on a year to year basis.
So what say you, Michigan Internet, is PSU a rival? Wisconsin? Illinois (lol)?
I'll hang up and listen.
September 21st, 2018 at 1:54 PM ^
No, i don't.
osu, msu are the only ones imo
September 21st, 2018 at 2:05 PM ^
+1 ... but that doesn't take away from the sheer pleasure of whenever we can inflict pain on Franklin. Just can't stand him.
September 21st, 2018 at 4:29 PM ^
I don't dislike him as much as I used to. I think he is a decent dude but just not a strong X and O type coach. He's more like a CEO type running that large program, which he is doing a good job of. I didn't think he had it in him, but I can't argue with the recent success they have had.
Always a big game, but not our rival though.
September 21st, 2018 at 4:36 PM ^
Agree, OSU and MSU rivals, all others, B1G competition.
September 21st, 2018 at 4:53 PM ^
I'd consider ND a rival. Also, PSU is not a rival, but they're certainly our top non-rival. I hate them, and if I feel the same way for another 20 years of them in the B1G, they may make their way in the list.
September 21st, 2018 at 4:41 PM ^
PSU wants to be rivals with us and OSU but they’re not. Their only rival is Pitt if that even counts.
Nd Msu and OSU are rivals along with Minny I guess. (And apparently Illinois if you check Wikipedia lol)
September 21st, 2018 at 1:55 PM ^
No, MSU, OSU and maybe ND
September 21st, 2018 at 5:01 PM ^
Agreed, but...
PSU is a rival to human decency, and they deserve to lose.
September 21st, 2018 at 1:55 PM ^
I agree with you about Notre Dame. Let's play them once every 4 years or something and get some other teams into Michigan Stadium.
Oh yeah...... FUCK PENN STATE
September 21st, 2018 at 7:29 PM ^
Yup and alabummer. Add Clemson as well. Your looking at the bigger picture and I’m trying catch up! Well done.
September 21st, 2018 at 10:40 PM ^
None of those teams would ever come here to play.
September 21st, 2018 at 1:55 PM ^
Yes.
Fuck Penn State.
I hate them just as much as I hate MSU. So, I say again:
Fuck Penn State.
September 21st, 2018 at 3:25 PM ^
F*** Penn State and their flashy uniforms
September 21st, 2018 at 9:18 PM ^
While I hate PSU and love beating them, I don't consider them a rival. I'm not sure that makes any sense, but oh well. I love beating MSU, ND and OSU (yeah, I'm old, I remember actually beating them on a regular basis.)
September 22nd, 2018 at 7:51 AM ^
Having trouble deciphering what you're trying to say...
September 21st, 2018 at 1:55 PM ^
No. Every team can't be a rival. Illinois thinks we are rivals too.
September 21st, 2018 at 1:57 PM ^
I hate every team that is not Michigan
September 21st, 2018 at 4:33 PM ^
Even the Fightin’ Tom Brady’s?
September 21st, 2018 at 1:57 PM ^
They're on about the same level as Michigan state. So no
September 21st, 2018 at 1:58 PM ^
Well played.
September 21st, 2018 at 1:58 PM ^
I fucking despise/loathe Penn State, but they are not a rival.
September 21st, 2018 at 2:28 PM ^
100% agree with this statement!!
Not a rival. Don't care if we ever play them again, or if they even play football. In fact, think they should lose the whole program!
September 21st, 2018 at 4:30 PM ^
Penn State's biggest rival is decency.
September 21st, 2018 at 1:58 PM ^
I think I would agree. Our games against them feel important because they're usually high stakes. Rivalry rankings something like this:
Tier 1: OSU/MSU
Tier 2: ND
Tier 3: PSU/Minny
September 21st, 2018 at 3:21 PM ^
How does Minny make the list? Who even thinks of MN? I understand the trophy but still not a rival...I would say Iowa or Wisconsin over dang MN... But that is my thought...
September 21st, 2018 at 1:58 PM ^
No. They're just another good program in the conference.
September 21st, 2018 at 2:00 PM ^
It has been a very good, balanced series since they joined the BIG, but I don't think it could be classified as a "rivalry." There just isn't a geographical or other notable historical connection between the schools to separate from any other game. Both teams are typically very good, but it isn't a "rivalry."
September 21st, 2018 at 2:12 PM ^
I wouldn't call it balanced. Its 13-8 in our favor. We had 9 victories in a row (and it if it wasn't for taking a year off playing them, it'd would have been 10 victories in a row). They had 4 game win streak against us when we were butt under RR and Hoke.
Good program though for sure, just not a rival.
September 21st, 2018 at 2:00 PM ^
They are 5th in the unofficial “rival ranks”. Behind osu, MSU, nd, and Wisconsin. That being said, no they are not our rivals.
September 21st, 2018 at 2:18 PM ^
Wisconsin? You mean MN?
September 21st, 2018 at 2:35 PM ^
I consider PSU more of a rival than Wisconsin at this point, mostly because we don't play Wisconsin often enough. Agree that they're behind OSU, MSU, and ND.
September 21st, 2018 at 4:58 PM ^
Hey....what about Rutgers, now that’s a rivalry!
September 21st, 2018 at 6:02 PM ^
I consider Rutgers as much of a rivalry as PSU. Can’t wait until Michigan squashes both of those turds!!
Go Blue!!
September 21st, 2018 at 2:00 PM ^
Penn State is not a worthy adversary.
When Penn State came to the Big Ten, they had to campus to campus and tell everyone they were a bunch of pederasts.
September 21st, 2018 at 2:06 PM ^
Penn State = a bunch of fig-eaters, wearing towels on their heads tryin' to find reverse on a Soviet tank.
Whats a pederast, Walter?
September 21st, 2018 at 3:05 PM ^
Shut the fuck up, Donny!
September 21st, 2018 at 2:00 PM ^
My most hated non rival
September 21st, 2018 at 2:01 PM ^
PSU is on the same tier as ND to me, which is usually below OSU and (sometimes) MSU. Though my personal animus toward that school makes me exceedingly happy when they lose.
September 21st, 2018 at 2:46 PM ^
I agree with this. If we didn't play against them in the 1800's, they're not a real rival.
September 22nd, 2018 at 8:18 AM ^
So little brother isn't a rival either since the school wasn't even around back then? I'm okay with that...
September 21st, 2018 at 2:04 PM ^
Are they a rival? No.
Do they have some of the most despicable fans in the conference? Yes.
September 22nd, 2018 at 9:00 AM ^
I would say most despicable in the country.
September 21st, 2018 at 2:05 PM ^
Maybe if we played for this bad boy:
September 22nd, 2018 at 7:56 AM ^
To be fair, you are showing that beautiful MSU vs PSU Land Grant Trophy from a bad angle. Look at it from this angle instead - purely stunning:
September 21st, 2018 at 2:05 PM ^
Yes, sure, why not? Usually when two good teams play each other, something's at stake. Which is how rivalries are generated. There's a mutual dislike, a desire to beat them more than most other teams, and all the other trappings. It walks like a duck and quacks like a duck.
September 21st, 2018 at 2:06 PM ^
Big game, yes.
Rival, no.
September 21st, 2018 at 2:06 PM ^
No, they're not a rival. I always considered them a worthy adversary (before, you know, all the rape), since the school was good and JoPa seemed like a good guy. We played quite a few exciting and important games against PSU (97 especially), but I never hated them like OSU and ND.
September 21st, 2018 at 2:14 PM ^
Yeah, I've kind of had teams vaguely in "Rival" groups:
Real rival: Ohio State
Really don't consider a rival, but mostly are: Michigan State and Notre Dame
Great teams historically whom I love our great historically team to beat: Nebraske and Penn State.
September 21st, 2018 at 2:49 PM ^
Used to be OSU, and then ND. Because those two games dictated Rose Bowl and AP national championship hopes.
Lose to ND and the AP NC is out, lose to OSU and Bo Rose Bowl.
MSU just didn't matter other than been that annoying team that played hard and dirty and sometimes one because they wanted to show us up (kinda like Illinois).
Now ND no longer really matters NC-wise - nor does getting to the arose Bowl. PSU and MSU are much more important division wise, but winning the B1G is pretty hard without beating OSU.
Still, Penn State feels like a must win, but not a rival in the sense they think of it. Then again we haven't really been much of a rival to anyone since 2006 except maybe 2016.