EAST LANSING – The Paul Bunyan Trophy will spend another year in Ann Arbor.

Michigan State (3-5, 0-5 Big Ten) lost 31-20 against No. 25 Michigan (6-2, 4-1) on Saturday night for its fourth straight defeat in the rivalry.

Here are quick takeaways and observations for the Spartans in the game:

– Mired in a four-game losing streak with speculation about second-year coach Jonathan Smith’s job security, Michigan State was desperate to secure a potential season-changing win. That would have required a much-cleaner performance across the board on a sloppy evening for the Spartans.

Gaining only 14 yards on 13 plays without a first down in the opening quarter wasn’t going to do it. Committing 12 penalties – double the previous season high – for 105 yards with backbreaking errors to go with

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