Program history
Michigan State Record vs Ranked Teams
Every opponent's AP Top 25 rank is taken from the time of the game—not the final poll—with all-time, site, decade, and season splits.
Big TenSpartan Stadium
- Overall record
- 79-199-4
- Win percentage
- 28.7%
- Current streak
- 11L
AP-ranked opponent summary
All Top 25
79-199-4
282 games · 28.7%
Against Top 10
37-115-2
154 games · 24.7%
Against Top 5
15-68-1
84 games · 18.5%
Streaks
11L
Current ranked-opponent streak · longest win streak 6
Record by site
| Site | Record | Games | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 37-84-1 | 122 | 30.7% |
| Road | 27-102-3 | 132 | 21.6% |
| Neutral | 15-13 | 28 | 53.6% |
Record by decade
| Decade | Record | Games | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 6-16 | 22 | 27.3% |
| 2010s | 21-24 | 45 | 46.7% |
| 2000s | 10-26 | 36 | 27.8% |
| 1990s | 13-34 | 47 | 27.7% |
| 1980s | 5-28 | 33 | 15.2% |
| 1970s | 7-28 | 35 | 20% |
| 1960s | 4-19-1 | 24 | 18.8% |
| 1950s | 13-11-1 | 25 | 54% |
| 1940s | 0-9-2 | 11 | 9.1% |
| 1930s | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
Record by season
| Season | Record | Games | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 2024 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 2023 | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
| 2022 | 1-3 | 4 | 25% |
| 2021 | 3-1 | 4 | 75% |
| 2020 | 2-2 | 4 | 50% |
| 2019 | 1-4 | 5 | 20% |
| 2018 | 1-3 | 4 | 25% |
| 2017 | 3-1 | 4 | 75% |
| 2016 | 1-4 | 5 | 20% |
| 2015 | 4-1 | 5 | 80% |
| 2014 | 2-2 | 4 | 50% |
| 2013 | 3-1 | 4 | 75% |
| 2012 | 1-4 | 5 | 20% |
| 2011 | 3-2 | 5 | 60% |
| 2010 | 2-2 | 4 | 50% |
| 2009 | 1-3 | 4 | 25% |
| 2008 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 2007 | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
| 2006 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 2005 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 2004 | 2-1 | 3 | 66.7% |
| 2003 | 2-3 | 5 | 40% |
| 2002 | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
| 2001 | 2-1 | 3 | 66.7% |
| 2000 | 2-2 | 4 | 50% |
| 1999 | 5-2 | 7 | 71.4% |
| 1998 | 2-4 | 6 | 33.3% |
| 1997 | 1-4 | 5 | 20% |
| 1996 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1995 | 1-3 | 4 | 25% |
| 1994 | 1-3 | 4 | 25% |
| 1993 | 1-6 | 7 | 14.3% |
| 1992 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1991 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1990 | 2-3 | 5 | 40% |
| 1989 | 1-4 | 5 | 20% |
| 1988 | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
| 1987 | 2-2 | 4 | 50% |
| 1986 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1985 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 1984 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1983 | 1-3 | 4 | 25% |
| 1982 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1981 | 1-3 | 4 | 25% |
| 1980 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1979 | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
| 1978 | 1-1 | 2 | 50% |
| 1977 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1976 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1975 | 2-2 | 4 | 50% |
| 1974 | 2-2 | 4 | 50% |
| 1973 | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
| 1972 | 1-3 | 4 | 25% |
| 1971 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 1970 | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
| 1969 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1968 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 1967 | 0-5 | 5 | 0% |
| 1966 | 0-0-1 | 1 | 50% |
| 1965 | 2-1 | 3 | 66.7% |
| 1964 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1963 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 1962 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1961 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 1960 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 1959 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 1958 | 0-2-1 | 3 | 16.7% |
| 1957 | 1-0 | 1 | 100% |
| 1956 | 1-1 | 2 | 50% |
| 1955 | 3-1 | 4 | 75% |
| 1954 | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
| 1953 | 1-0 | 1 | 100% |
| 1952 | 3-0 | 3 | 100% |
| 1951 | 2-0 | 2 | 100% |
| 1950 | 1-1 | 2 | 50% |
| 1949 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1948 | 0-2-1 | 3 | 16.7% |
| 1947 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1945 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1942 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1941 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 1940 | 0-1-1 | 2 | 25% |
| 1939 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1938 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1937 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1936 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
Highest-ranked wins
Win over No. 1
Ohio State, 1974
16-13 · Home · Michigan State was unranked
Win over No. 2
Ohio State, 2015
17-14 · Road · Michigan State was No. 9
Win over No. 2
Ohio State, 2013
34-24 · Neutral · Michigan State was No. 10
Win over No. 3
Michigan, 1999
34-31 · Home · Michigan State was No. 11
Win over No. 4
Iowa, 2015
16-13 · Neutral · Michigan State was No. 5
Win over No. 4
Baylor, 2014
42-41 · Neutral · Michigan State was No. 7
Win over No. 4
Wisconsin, 2011
37-31 · Home · Michigan State was No. 15
Win over No. 4
Wisconsin, 2004
49-14 · Home · Michigan State was unranked
Win over No. 4
Penn State, 1997
49-14 · Home · Michigan State was unranked
Win over No. 4
UCLA, 1955
17-14 · Neutral · Michigan State was No. 2
All 282 qualifying games
| Season | Result | Opponent at game time | Team rank | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | L 20-31 | No. 25 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 2025 | L 13-38 | No. 3 Indiana | Unranked | Road |
| 2025 | L 31-45 | No. 25 USC | Unranked | Road |
| 2024 | L 10-47 | No. 13 Indiana | Unranked | Home |
| 2024 | L 10-31 | No. 6 Oregon | Unranked | Road |
| 2024 | L 7-38 | No. 3 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 2023 | L 0-42 | No. 11 Penn State | Unranked | Neutral |
| 2023 | L 3-38 | No. 3 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 2023 | L 0-49 | No. 2 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 2023 | L 7-41 | No. 8 Washington | Unranked | Home |
| 2022 | L 16-35 | No. 11 Penn State | Unranked | Road |
| 2022 | W 23-15 | No. 14 Illinois | Unranked | Road |
| 2022 | L 7-29 | No. 4 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 2022 | L 20-49 | No. 3 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 2021 | W 31-21 | No. 13 Pittsburgh | No. 11 | Neutral |
| 2021 | L 7-56 | No. 5 Ohio State | No. 7 | Road |
| 2021 | W 37-33 | No. 6 Michigan | No. 8 | Home |
| 2021 | W 38-17 | No. 24 Miami | Unranked | Road |
| 2020 | L 12-52 | No. 3 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 2020 | W 29-20 | No. 11 Northwestern | Unranked | Home |
| 2020 | L 0-24 | No. 10 Indiana | Unranked | Home |
| 2020 | W 27-24 | No. 13 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 2019 | W 27-21 | No. 22 Wake Forest | No. 25 | Neutral |
| 2019 | L 10-44 | No. 14 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 2019 | L 7-28 | No. 6 Penn State | Unranked | Home |
| 2019 | L 0-38 | No. 8 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 2019 | L 10-34 | No. 4 Ohio State | No. 25 | Road |
| 2018 | L 6-7 | No. 19 Oregon | No. 24 | Neutral |
| 2018 | L 6-26 | No. 8 Ohio State | No. 24 | Home |
| 2018 | L 7-21 | No. 6 Michigan | No. 24 | Home |
| 2018 | W 21-17 | No. 8 Penn State | Unranked | Road |
| 2017 | W 42-17 | No. 21 Washington State | No. 18 | Neutral |
| 2017 | L 3-48 | No. 11 Ohio State | No. 13 | Road |
| 2017 | W 27-24 | No. 7 Penn State | No. 24 | Home |
| 2017 | W 14-10 | No. 7 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 2016 | L 12-45 | No. 8 Penn State | Unranked | Road |
| 2016 | L 16-17 | No. 2 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 2016 | L 23-32 | No. 2 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 2016 | L 6-30 | No. 11 Wisconsin | No. 8 | Home |
| 2016 | W 36-28 | No. 18 Notre Dame | No. 12 | Road |
| 2015 | L 0-38 | No. 2 Alabama | No. 3 | Neutral |
| 2015 | W 16-13 | No. 4 Iowa | No. 5 | Neutral |
| 2015 | W 17-14 | No. 2 Ohio State | No. 9 | Road |
| 2015 | W 27-23 | No. 12 Michigan | No. 7 | Road |
| 2015 | W 31-28 | No. 7 Oregon | No. 5 | Home |
| 2014 | W 42-41 | No. 4 Baylor | No. 7 | Neutral |
| 2014 | L 37-49 | No. 13 Ohio State | No. 7 | Home |
| 2014 | W 27-22 | No. 19 Nebraska | No. 10 | Home |
| 2014 | L 27-46 | No. 3 Oregon | No. 7 | Road |
| 2013 | W 24-20 | No. 5 Stanford | No. 4 | Neutral |
| 2013 | W 34-24 | No. 2 Ohio State | No. 10 | Neutral |
| 2013 | W 29-6 | No. 23 Michigan | No. 24 | Home |
| 2013 | L 13-17 | No. 22 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 2012 | W 17-16 | No. 15 TCU | No. 20 | Neutral |
| 2012 | L 24-28 | No. 21 Nebraska | Unranked | Home |
| 2012 | L 10-12 | No. 23 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 2012 | L 16-17 | No. 14 Ohio State | No. 20 | Home |
| 2012 | L 3-20 | No. 20 Notre Dame | No. 10 | Home |
| 2011 | W 33-30 | No. 18 Georgia | No. 12 | Neutral |
| 2011 | L 39-42 | No. 15 Wisconsin | No. 11 | Neutral |
| 2011 | L 3-24 | No. 13 Nebraska | No. 9 | Road |
| 2011 | W 37-31 | No. 4 Wisconsin | No. 15 | Home |
| 2011 | W 28-14 | No. 11 Michigan | No. 23 | Home |
| 2010 | L 7-49 | No. 15 Alabama | No. 7 | Neutral |
| 2010 | L 6-37 | No. 18 Iowa | No. 5 | Road |
| 2010 | W 34-17 | No. 18 Michigan | No. 17 | Road |
| 2010 | W 34-24 | No. 11 Wisconsin | No. 24 | Home |
| 2009 | L 31-41 | No. 21 Texas Tech | Unranked | Neutral |
| 2009 | L 14-42 | No. 13 Penn State | Unranked | Home |
| 2009 | L 13-15 | No. 7 Iowa | Unranked | Home |
| 2009 | W 26-20 | No. 22 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 2008 | L 12-24 | No. 17 Georgia | No. 21 | Neutral |
| 2008 | L 18-49 | No. 7 Penn State | No. 17 | Road |
| 2008 | L 7-45 | No. 12 Ohio State | No. 20 | Home |
| 2007 | L 21-24 | No. 12 Boston College | Unranked | Home |
| 2007 | L 24-28 | No. 15 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 2007 | L 17-24 | No. 1 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 2007 | L 34-37 | No. 9 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 2006 | L 7-38 | No. 1 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 2006 | L 13-31 | No. 6 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 2006 | L 37-40 | No. 12 Notre Dame | Unranked | Home |
| 2005 | L 22-31 | No. 5 Penn State | Unranked | Home |
| 2005 | L 24-35 | No. 15 Ohio State | No. 16 | Road |
| 2005 | W 44-41 | No. 10 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 2004 | W 49-14 | No. 4 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 2004 | L 37-45 | No. 12 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 2004 | W 51-17 | No. 19 Minnesota | Unranked | Home |
| 2003 | L 3-17 | No. 23 Nebraska | No. 21 | Road |
| 2003 | L 23-33 | No. 7 Ohio State | No. 14 | Road |
| 2003 | L 20-27 | No. 11 Michigan | No. 9 | Home |
| 2003 | W 44-38 | No. 25 Minnesota | No. 15 | Road |
| 2003 | W 20-10 | No. 13 Iowa | Unranked | Home |
| 2002 | L 7-61 | No. 15 Penn State | Unranked | Road |
| 2002 | L 3-49 | No. 15 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 2002 | L 16-44 | No. 17 Iowa | Unranked | Road |
| 2002 | L 17-21 | No. 12 Notre Dame | Unranked | Home |
| 2001 | W 44-35 | No. 20 Fresno State | No. 22 | Road |
| 2001 | W 26-24 | No. 6 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 2001 | L 26-27 | No. 16 Northwestern | No. 23 | Road |
| 2000 | W 30-10 | No. 9 Purdue | Unranked | Home |
| 2000 | L 13-27 | No. 16 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 2000 | L 0-14 | No. 16 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 2000 | W 27-21 | No. 16 Notre Dame | No. 23 | Home |
| 1999 | W 37-34 | No. 10 Florida | No. 9 | Neutral |
| 1999 | W 35-28 | No. 13 Penn State | No. 15 | Home |
| 1999 | W 23-7 | No. 20 Ohio State | No. 19 | Home |
| 1999 | L 10-40 | No. 17 Wisconsin | No. 11 | Road |
| 1999 | L 28-52 | No. 20 Purdue | No. 5 | Road |
| 1999 | W 34-31 | No. 3 Michigan | No. 11 | Home |
| 1999 | W 23-13 | No. 24 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1998 | L 28-51 | No. 22 Penn State | Unranked | Road |
| 1998 | W 28-24 | No. 7 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1998 | L 17-29 | No. 25 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1998 | W 45-23 | No. 23 Notre Dame | Unranked | Home |
| 1998 | L 14-48 | No. 24 Oregon | Unranked | Road |
| 1998 | L 16-23 | No. 15 Colorado State | No. 23 | Home |
| 1997 | L 23-51 | No. 21 Washington | No. 25 | Neutral |
| 1997 | W 49-14 | No. 4 Penn State | Unranked | Home |
| 1997 | L 21-22 | No. 23 Purdue | Unranked | Road |
| 1997 | L 13-37 | No. 9 Ohio State | No. 21 | Home |
| 1997 | L 7-23 | No. 5 Michigan | No. 15 | Home |
| 1996 | L 29-32 | No. 7 Penn State | Unranked | Road |
| 1996 | L 29-45 | No. 9 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1996 | L 14-55 | No. 1 Nebraska | Unranked | Road |
| 1995 | L 26-45 | No. 21 LSU | Unranked | Neutral |
| 1995 | L 20-24 | No. 14 Penn State | Unranked | Home |
| 1995 | W 28-25 | No. 7 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1995 | L 10-50 | No. 2 Nebraska | Unranked | Home |
| 1994 | L 31-59 | No. 2 Penn State | Unranked | Road |
| 1994 | L 20-40 | No. 7 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1994 | W 29-10 | No. 15 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 1994 | L 20-21 | No. 8 Notre Dame | Unranked | Home |
| 1993 | L 7-18 | No. 25 Louisville | No. 25 | Neutral |
| 1993 | L 20-41 | No. 10 Wisconsin | No. 25 | Road |
| 1993 | L 37-38 | No. 14 Penn State | No. 25 | Home |
| 1993 | L 0-10 | No. 23 Indiana | No. 22 | Road |
| 1993 | L 21-28 | No. 5 Ohio State | No. 25 | Road |
| 1993 | W 17-7 | No. 9 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1993 | L 14-36 | No. 4 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1992 | L 10-35 | No. 3 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1992 | L 0-14 | No. 25 Boston College | Unranked | Road |
| 1992 | L 31-52 | No. 7 Notre Dame | Unranked | Home |
| 1991 | L 17-27 | No. 14 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1991 | L 28-45 | No. 5 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1991 | L 10-49 | No. 11 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1990 | W 17-16 | No. 21 USC | No. 22 | Neutral |
| 1990 | L 13-15 | No. 5 Illinois | Unranked | Road |
| 1990 | W 28-27 | No. 10 Michigan | No. 24 | Road |
| 1990 | L 7-12 | No. 25 Iowa | Unranked | Home |
| 1990 | L 19-20 | No. 1 Notre Dame | No. 22 | Home |
| 1989 | W 33-13 | No. 25 Hawai'i | No. 22 | Neutral |
| 1989 | L 10-14 | No. 13 Illinois | Unranked | Home |
| 1989 | L 7-10 | No. 5 Michigan | No. 21 | Home |
| 1989 | L 20-26 | No. 2 Miami | Unranked | Home |
| 1989 | L 13-21 | No. 1 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1988 | L 27-34 | No. 19 Georgia | No. 15 | Neutral |
| 1988 | L 3-17 | No. 17 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1988 | L 7-30 | No. 9 Florida State | Unranked | Road |
| 1988 | L 3-20 | No. 8 Notre Dame | Unranked | Home |
| 1987 | W 20-17 | No. 16 USC | No. 8 | Neutral |
| 1987 | W 27-3 | No. 20 Indiana | No. 11 | Home |
| 1987 | L 3-31 | No. 4 Florida State | Unranked | Home |
| 1987 | L 8-31 | No. 8 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1986 | L 6-27 | No. 4 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1986 | L 21-24 | No. 10 Iowa | Unranked | Home |
| 1986 | L 17-20 | No. 18 Arizona State | Unranked | Road |
| 1985 | L 0-31 | No. 3 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1985 | L 31-35 | No. 1 Iowa | Unranked | Road |
| 1984 | L 20-23 | No. 6 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1983 | L 6-12 | No. 11 Iowa | Unranked | Home |
| 1983 | L 11-21 | No. 16 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1983 | L 0-42 | No. 13 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1983 | W 28-23 | No. 13 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1982 | L 3-11 | No. 11 Notre Dame | Unranked | Home |
| 1982 | L 22-25 | No. 16 Miami | Unranked | Road |
| 1982 | L 10-31 | No. 12 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1981 | L 7-36 | No. 19 Iowa | Unranked | Road |
| 1981 | W 33-14 | No. 14 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 1981 | L 20-38 | No. 6 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1981 | L 13-27 | No. 8 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1980 | L 16-48 | No. 7 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1980 | L 25-36 | No. 20 Purdue | Unranked | Road |
| 1980 | L 21-26 | No. 7 Notre Dame | Unranked | Home |
| 1979 | L 0-42 | No. 5 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1979 | L 7-14 | No. 16 Purdue | Unranked | Home |
| 1979 | L 7-21 | No. 11 Michigan | No. 19 | Home |
| 1979 | L 3-27 | No. 10 Notre Dame | No. 16 | Road |
| 1978 | W 24-15 | No. 9 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1978 | L 9-30 | No. 2 USC | Unranked | Road |
| 1977 | L 14-24 | No. 1 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1977 | L 6-16 | No. 11 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1977 | L 21-23 | No. 15 Washington State | Unranked | Home |
| 1976 | L 10-42 | No. 1 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1976 | L 6-24 | No. 14 Notre Dame | Unranked | Home |
| 1976 | L 21-49 | No. 2 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1975 | L 6-16 | No. 8 Michigan | No. 15 | Home |
| 1975 | W 10-3 | No. 8 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1975 | W 14-13 | No. 19 Miami (OH) | Unranked | Home |
| 1975 | L 0-21 | No. 3 Ohio State | No. 11 | Home |
| 1974 | W 16-13 | No. 1 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1974 | W 28-21 | No. 20 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 1974 | L 7-21 | No. 4 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1974 | L 14-19 | No. 7 Notre Dame | Unranked | Home |
| 1973 | L 0-35 | No. 1 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1973 | L 0-31 | No. 4 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1973 | L 10-14 | No. 9 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1973 | L 21-34 | No. 16 UCLA | Unranked | Home |
| 1972 | W 19-12 | No. 5 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1972 | L 0-10 | No. 5 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1972 | L 0-16 | No. 7 Notre Dame | Unranked | Home |
| 1972 | L 6-51 | No. 1 USC | Unranked | Road |
| 1971 | W 17-10 | No. 9 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1971 | L 13-24 | No. 2 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1971 | L 2-14 | No. 4 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1970 | L 20-23 | No. 19 Northwestern | Unranked | Home |
| 1970 | L 20-34 | No. 5 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1970 | L 0-29 | No. 1 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1970 | L 0-29 | No. 3 Notre Dame | Unranked | Home |
| 1969 | L 13-41 | No. 10 Purdue | Unranked | Road |
| 1969 | L 21-54 | No. 1 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1969 | L 28-42 | No. 15 Notre Dame | No. 19 | Road |
| 1968 | L 0-9 | No. 15 Purdue | Unranked | Home |
| 1968 | L 20-25 | No. 2 Ohio State | No. 16 | Road |
| 1968 | W 21-17 | No. 5 Notre Dame | Unranked | Home |
| 1967 | L 7-21 | No. 3 Purdue | Unranked | Road |
| 1967 | L 13-14 | No. 5 Indiana | Unranked | Home |
| 1967 | L 12-24 | No. 10 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1967 | L 17-21 | No. 1 USC | Unranked | Home |
| 1967 | L 7-37 | No. 3 Houston | Unranked | Home |
| 1966 | T 10-10 | No. 1 Notre Dame | No. 2 | Road |
| 1965 | L 12-14 | No. 5 UCLA | No. 1 | Neutral |
| 1965 | W 12-3 | No. 6 Notre Dame | No. 1 | Road |
| 1965 | W 14-10 | No. 6 Purdue | No. 1 | Road |
| 1964 | L 7-34 | No. 1 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1963 | L 0-13 | No. 3 Illinois | No. 10 | Home |
| 1963 | L 10-13 | No. 7 USC | Unranked | Road |
| 1962 | L 7-28 | No. 10 Minnesota | Unranked | Home |
| 1961 | L 6-7 | No. 7 Purdue | No. 9 | Road |
| 1961 | L 0-13 | No. 5 Minnesota | No. 6 | Road |
| 1961 | W 17-7 | No. 8 Notre Dame | No. 1 | Home |
| 1960 | L 10-21 | No. 5 Ohio State | No. 17 | Home |
| 1960 | L 15-27 | No. 2 Iowa | No. 14 | Home |
| 1959 | L 13-18 | No. 12 Miami | Unranked | Road |
| 1959 | W 15-10 | No. 8 Northwestern | No. 11 | Home |
| 1959 | L 8-37 | No. 9 Iowa | Unranked | Road |
| 1958 | L 7-9 | No. 7 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 1958 | L 6-14 | No. 15 Purdue | No. 20 | Road |
| 1958 | T 12-12 | No. 14 Michigan | No. 9 | Road |
| 1957 | W 35-6 | No. 18 Michigan | No. 1 | Road |
| 1956 | L 13-14 | No. 7 Minnesota | No. 10 | Road |
| 1956 | W 9-0 | No. 12 Michigan | No. 2 | Road |
| 1955 | W 17-14 | No. 4 UCLA | No. 2 | Neutral |
| 1955 | W 21-7 | No. 4 Notre Dame | No. 13 | Home |
| 1955 | W 38-14 | No. 20 Stanford | Unranked | Home |
| 1955 | L 7-14 | No. 2 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1954 | L 13-27 | No. 13 Purdue | Unranked | Home |
| 1954 | L 19-20 | No. 8 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1954 | L 0-6 | No. 5 Wisconsin | No. 13 | Home |
| 1954 | L 10-14 | No. 12 Iowa | No. 7 | Road |
| 1953 | W 28-20 | No. 5 UCLA | No. 3 | Neutral |
| 1952 | W 21-3 | No. 7 Notre Dame | No. 1 | Home |
| 1952 | W 14-7 | No. 10 Purdue | No. 1 | Road |
| 1952 | W 34-7 | No. 15 Penn State | No. 1 | Home |
| 1951 | W 24-20 | No. 17 Ohio State | No. 3 | Road |
| 1951 | W 6-0 | No. 15 Oregon State | No. 1 | Home |
| 1950 | L 7-34 | No. 8 Maryland | Unranked | Home |
| 1950 | W 14-7 | No. 18 Michigan | No. 20 | Road |
| 1949 | L 3-7 | No. 12 Michigan | No. 15 | Road |
| 1948 | T 14-14 | No. 6 Penn State | No. 12 | Home |
| 1948 | L 7-26 | No. 1 Notre Dame | No. 17 | Road |
| 1948 | L 7-13 | No. 1 Michigan | No. 19 | Home |
| 1947 | L 0-55 | No. 1 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1945 | L 0-40 | No. 10 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1942 | L 0-20 | No. 11 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1941 | L 0-19 | No. 7 Missouri | Unranked | Home |
| 1941 | L 7-19 | No. 3 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1940 | T 0-0 | No. 15 Santa Clara | Unranked | Road |
| 1940 | L 14-21 | No. 3 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1939 | L 13-26 | No. 10 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1938 | L 0-14 | No. 16 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1937 | L 0-6 | No. 14 Auburn | Unranked | Neutral |
| 1936 | L 7-13 | No. 15 Marquette | Unranked | Home |
Methodology and coverage
A game qualifies when the opponent was ranked in the AP Top 25 at kickoff. Regular-season games use the poll recorded for that game week; postseason games use the last regular-season AP poll before bowl and playoff results. Final-season rankings never change qualification. Top 5 is a subset of Top 10, and Top 10 is a subset of Top 25. Games without a final score or a matching game-time poll row are excluded. Records use the final scores stored in the database and are not adjusted for wins or losses that were later vacated.
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