Michigan State head football coach Jonathan Smith came over from Oregon State this offseason, bringing promising transfers like quarterback Aidan Chiles with him to East Lansing. On Monday, Smith made an admission about the Michigan vs. Michigan State rivalry that emphasized the importance of the game to the Spartans faithful.

Michigan will host one of its bitter rivals on Saturday night when Michigan State comes to town. The Wolverines have won the past two contests against the Spartans and hold a 73-38-5 all-time record against MSU -- but this is a new era of the rivalry.