Since former Michigan running back Mike Hart described Michigan State as the Wolverines' "little brother," the Spartans are 8-2 against the noisier and more affluent program.

Since that moment, Mark Dantonio is 2-1 against Jim Harbaugh, 3-1 against Brady Hoke, 3-0 against Rich Rodriguez, 4-1 in Ann Arbor, 3-1 against top-15 Michigan, 5-0 in UM-MSU games decided by 10 or more points, 1-0 in games decided by flubbed punt debacles, and roughly 1-0 in hideous weather conditions (I can't remember/find an example of a recent game in the series before 2017's that involved conditions like Saturday's).

When Michigan State beats Michigan, two things are often true:

1. It was probably a big upset, as has now happened seven times since 1990. This time, the home favorites entered at No. 7, while MSU was unranked.
2. One or both offenses looked absolutely ghastly. That's meant 2013 Michigan rushing for negative-48 yards against the Spartans, but in 2017, it meant MSU taking a 14-3 lead before the bottom fell out, then allowing one 33-yard touchdown drive while just standing on the brake pedal the rest of the way.

In the second half, three straight Michigan drives ended in interceptions, each one punted or fumbled right back as the rain kept falling and the clock kept dying. On Michigan's final drive, a wide-open drop by Eddie McDoom gave us this GIF:

After the game, Harbaugh acknowledged UM's 35 pass attempts to only 39 runs as a valid criticism (MSU had 22 throws to 40 runs).

Also after the game, Dantonio said of the rivalry, "We've done it eight times, so I don't know why there's a lot of doubt."

And yes, the Spartans still remember "little brother."

"It's definitely talked about, it's definitely played before the game," quarterback Brian Lewerke said. "It's something that motivates us. I think Coach D uses it very well for motivation for us, so we definitely don't like that comment."

Time for our annual trip back to 2007:

More college football

• Iowa State shocked Oklahoma as a 31-point underdog, then very briefly stole two Baker Mayfield celebrations.
• Miami finally beat Florida State! Here's where we go from here.
• LSU beat Florida, thanks in large part to a missed extra point.
• All you need to know about Alabama right now is that Nick Saban's using "rat poison" to describe media praise after a road win over a previously 4-1 team.
• Buffalo and WMU set a new record for scoring and tied the all-time overtime record, hitting SEVEN extra frames.
• Washington fans both started and ended their Saturday being annoyed by ESPN.
• Texas beat Kansas State in double OT on Bill Snyder's 78th birthday.
• Auburn blew out Ole Miss as Aubie the Tiger made fun of Ole Miss' Landshark. Also, Ole Miss officially posted a listing for its new head coaching position.
• Navy beat Air Force in a rivalry thriller.
• Bret Bielema's latest trick: getting blown out by Will Muschamp.
• Congratulations to Notre Dame for definitely exceeding last year's 4-8 record!
• Michigan and Nebraska both honoring their 1997 title teams on the same night is some extremely college football shit.
• Florida had a beautiful Tom Petty tribute, but we're also interested in these two Gator fans and LSU's band getting into it.
• How in the world did this announcer think this kick was good??
• It's important to watch this Miami defender use FSU's QB as an air guitar.
• Michigan QB John O'Korn has the strangest flop (at least I think that's what this is) ever.
• TCU beat West Virginia, so these "Western Virginia" signs at GameDay are now the state's name. I'm sorry.
• Lol, the Gators now hold the record for the longest scoring streak in college football history.
• As always, visit your school's SB Nation team site!