It’s state championship week in Ann Arbor as the undefeated Michigan Wolverines will play host to the Michigan State Spartans Saturday under the lights at The Big House.

Blake Corum rushed for 123 yards and three touchdowns as No. 25 Michigan routed Northern Illinois 63-10 on Saturday.

If it’s good enough for George Patton, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is here for it.

There’s an interesting subplot to this weekend’s Michigan football game against Northern Illinois: Former Michigan State quarterback Rocky Lombardi returns to the Big House one year after shocking the Wolverines on that very field.

Nine of the 14 Big Ten football teams appear set at quarterback heading into the fall.

Rocky Lombardi #12 of the Michigan State Spartans hands the ball off to Connor Heyward #11 of the Michigan State Spartans in the second half of the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Spartan Stadium on October 24, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. EAST LANSING, Mich. – The final game of the Michigan State football season has been canceled due to COVID-19 cases within the Maryland program. This is the second time this season Maryland has had to cancel a game with Michigan State due to COVID-19. There were six positive cases among staff over that same time period, resulting in a population positivity rate of 12.4%. Though the season as a whole was difficult, Tucker beat in-state rival Michigan and upset then-undefeated Northwestern along the way.

Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker pumps his fist after the team defeated Michigan in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)In yet another twist to this crazy college football season, a matchup between Maryland and Michigan State has been canceled a second time after an outbreak of COVID-19 in College Park. The Terrapins (2-3) were slated to face the Spartans (2-5) on Saturday night as part of the Big Ten “Champions Week.”But on Thursday afternoon, Maryland released this statement:“Under the guidance and advice from university medical staff, Maryland Athletics has canceled Saturday’s scheduled football game against Michigan State. “Our team has demonstrated a tremendous work ethic, resolve and displayed Maryland pride throughout this unique season. Home games against Ohio State and two against Michigan State was called off because of a COVID-19 outbreak in College Park, and the Dec. 5 game at Michigan was canceled because of virus issue among the Wolverines. ___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and http://www.twitter.com/AP_Top25

3 Ohio State to a 52-12 win over Michigan State on Saturday. Michigan State (2-4, 2-4) was coming off a win over another undefeated team — Northwestern — but the Spartans were overmatched Saturday. “Outings like this are not acceptable, and I don't care who we're playing," Michigan State coach Mel Tucker said. They punted on fourth-and-1 in the first quarter — and again on fourth down in Ohio State territory early in the third. Michigan State wraps up the regular season at Penn State.

Fryfogle had 11 catches for 200 yards — surpassing career highs he’d set just a week earlier — and the Hoosiers handled Michigan State 24-0 on Saturday. Michigan State was shut out at home for the first time since a 31-0 loss to Michigan in 1985. Michigan State: The Spartans have been hurt by turnovers in all three of their losses, and this was no exception. Lombardi isn't the only one to blame, but it was time for Michigan State to try another option at quarterback. “We thought it was some decision making early in the game," Michigan State coach Mel Tucker said.

Fryfogle had 11 catches for 200 yards — surpassing career highs he'd set just a week earlier — and the Hoosiers handled Michigan State 24-0 on Saturday. Michigan State was shut out at home for the first time since a 31-0 loss to Michigan in 1985. Michigan State: The Spartans have been hurt by turnovers in all three of their losses, and this was no exception. Lombardi isn't the only one to blame, but it was time for Michigan State to try another option at quarterback. “We thought it was some decision making early in the game," Michigan State coach Mel Tucker said.

Meanwhile, Michigan State lost to Big Ten bottom feeder Rutgers in East Lansing. Nobody outside the Spartan locker room expected Michigan State to beat Michigan, but from the moment the opening whistle blew Saturday, it was Rocky Lombardi who embarrassed the Michigan secondary. Henning #3 of the Michigan Wolverines runs the ball during the first quarter at Michigan Stadium on October 31, 2020 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan State always gets up for the Michigan game. It’s the way Michigan lost that’s much more damning than the actual loss itself.

The Spartans (1-1, 1-1 Big Ten) appeared to be the better team all afternoon on both sides of the ball in Mel Tucker's debut as coach in the rivalry. Tucker became just the second coach to beat Michigan in his first attempt with the Spartans, joining Alabama coach Nick Saban, who did it in 1995. The Wolverines (1-1, 1-1) were favored to win by more than three touchdowns. Running back Hassan Haskins scored on a 2-yard run with 37 seconds left to help Michigan pull within three points. The onside kick was recovered by Michigan State running back Connor Heyward and Lombardi converted a fourth-and-2 from the Michigan 36 with a sneak to seal the victory.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – This has probably been the quietest week leading up to a Michigan vs. Michigan State football game in a decade. Comparing Michigan, Michigan State by position: Do Spartans have advantage anywhere? That’s why I’m picking Michigan to win its third straight against Michigan State this weekend. RIVALRY PREVIEW: Michigan has to avoid overlooking massive underdog Michigan StateI don’t think Michigan takes this rivalry for granted anymore, so Michigan State should have the team’s full attention. Michigan State will improve from last week, and there’s almost no chance it turns the ball over another seven times.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan football is expected to crush Michigan State this weekend, as the current betting line favors the Wolverines by more than three touchdowns. While Michigan dominated a top 25 team in Minnesota, Michigan State turned the ball over seven times in a loss to conference bottom feeder Rutgers. “This game against the school down the road is not just another game, so it’s really special to me,” Tucker said. Tucker said that’s when teams generally show the most improvement, and it’s hard to imagine Michigan State turning the ball over seven times. Michigan crushed Michigan State 44-10 when the two teams met last season at the Big House.

The Scarlet Knights scored 14 points total through their first five Big Ten games last year. Rocky Lombardi was sacked and fumbled, giving Rutgers the ball at the Michigan State 1. Michigan State lost another fumble near midfield on its first possession of the third. A slow start wasn't much of a surprise, and even beyond all the turnovers, Michigan State looked disorganized on some key plays. Michigan State: The Spartans have a lot of improving to do heading into next weekend's matchup — on the road against rival Michigan.

Mel Tucker’s success in his first season as Michigan State’s coach may be determined in large part by who is playing quarterback. “We won't be announcing a quarterback today," Tucker said Tuesday, four days before the Spartans open the season against Rutgers. Redshirt freshman Payton Thorne is also an option, and Tucker mentioned freshman Noah Kim as well when assessing the position. “Those guys, that's a really good group of guys, and Noah Kim has done a nice job for us. “Jay Johnson is a veteran offensive coordinator, a veteran play caller, a veteran quarterbacks coach — played the position himself.