By Samantha Bell, Opinion Editor

Fall is always a great time of year; going back to school, seeing your friends again for the first time in a couple months, and, of course, college football. This football season has been unlike any season in recent memory for either of the state’s main football teams: the Michigan State Spartans and Michigan Wolverines.

The University of Michigan team, coached by Jim Harbaugh, have shown exponential growth since Harbaugh took over. In his second season with the team, Harbaugh has taken the team from a weak 5-7 record to currently being 10-2 and have held a place in the AP top 25 throughout the whole season. Not only have the Wolverines been dominant against the majority of their opponents, but they have shown depth in their roster, which means great things to come.

The Wolverines started their season with an impressive nine game winning streak, taking out teams like Michigan State and Wisconsin. Then, in an upset manyweren’t expecting, the Iowa Hawkeyes ruined the Wolverines perfect season hopes, winning by a score of 14-13. Michigan turned it around the following week, however, beating the Indiana Hoosiers 20-10. In their last game of the regular season, the Wolverines took a heartbreaking double overtime loss to rival Ohio State, losing 30-27.

Michigan State University is singing a different tune this season, having their worst season in years with a 3-9 record. This is a drastic difference from the team they had last year, going 12-2 and making it to the Cotton Bowl. In this season, however, the Spartans have taken beatings from multiple teams, mostly from the Big Ten Conference.

The Spartans started this season off with a close win against the Furman Paladins, followed by another victory against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Then ensued a brutal seven game losing streak, where they played teams like Michigan and Indiana. In week 11, however, State turned it around and pounded out a brutal 49-0 victory against the Rutgers. In their final game of the season, the Spartans took on the Penn State Nittany Lions. In this one they took a beating, losing by a score of 45-12.

Michigan State’s season is now officially over, not making it to the Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 3. Michigan also didn’t make the Big Ten Championship, but still has a good chance of making a bowl appearance.