It’s college football rivalry week, and things are about to get ugly. However, nowhere will things be quite so unappealing as in East Lansing, where the Penn State Nittany Lions and Michigan State Spartans will engage in the Battle for the Land Grant Trophy. Whoever wins the ferocious on-field battle is rewarded with the most grotesque symbol of glory known to man.
What is the Battle for the Land Grant Trophy?
The Battle for the Land Grant Trophy is the annual rivalry game between Michigan State and Penn State. When Penn State joined the Big Ten conference in 1993, the two programs became permanent rivals despite having no geographical or historical relationship. The matchup has been played on the last week of the season every year except from 2011-2013, when the Big Ten placed the programs in separate divisions.
While the Battle for the Land Grant Trophy dates back to 1993, the teams had clashed before. Michigan State enjoyed superiority in the early part of the 1900s. Ahead of the 1993 matchup, they held an 8-1-1 advantage. Since Penn State joined the Big Ten in 1993, they hold a 16-9 lead, leveling the series at 17-17-1 with their victory last year. The Nittany Lions also have the largest win in the series, a 61-7 thrashing in 2002.
Why is it called the Battle for the Land Grant Trophy?
Why, you may ask, is it called the Battle for the Land Grant Trophy? When the rivalry was concocted between Michigan State head coach George Perles and Penn State head coach Joe Paterno, they needed something that connected the two programs. They were left with just one connecting factor with no geographical or football historical connection to lean on.
Both programs are land grant universities. But, what does that mean? Well, land grant universities are higher education institutions designated to receive the benefits of the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890. They were traditionally agricultural, mechanical, military, or arts-based schools. Both Penn State and Michigan State were traditionally agricultural establishments.
History of the Penn State vs. Michigan State rivalry
Furthermore, the two institutions were the oldest land grant universities in America. They’d also been the focus of a 1955 postage stamp to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the land grant system. There was no more substantial connection between the two, and a rivalry was born.
Like every good rivalry, the Battle for the Land Grant Trophy needed, well, an actual trophy. This was where things were to get truly ugly. The trophy was adorned with pictures of Penn State’s Old Main, Michigan State’s Beaumont Tower, and figurines of The Spartans and Nittany Lion Shrine. The combination of elements formed a grotesque figure, which was potentially made better with a 2005 defacing by Penn State students while under “Spartan Watch.”
When is the Battle for the Land Grant Trophy in 2021?
As has become customary, the Battle for the Land Grant Trophy takes place on the season’s final weekend. The 2021 iteration takes place at Spartan Stadium on Saturday, November 27. The clash from East Lansing is a 3:30 PM ET kickoff. With the series tied, the winner will take the overall lead in the head-to-head record.
Unfortunately for both teams, there is little to play for besides pride and the Land Grant Trophy. Michigan State slipped to 6-2 in conference play with a defensive performance as ugly as the trophy against Ohio State. Additionally, Penn State’s 4-4 in-conference record means that neither team is in a position to contend for a place in the Big Ten Championship Game.
NFL Draft prospects to watch
Although there is little at stake but pride in the Battle for the Land Grant Trophy, there are a number of 2022 NFL Draft prospects to watch. Who should you be watching out for when the game kicks off on Saturday?
- Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State
- Xavier Henderson, S, Michigan State
- Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State
- Jarrett Horst, OT, Michigan State
- Rasheed Walker, OT, Penn State
- Brandon Smith, LB, Penn State
- Ellis Brooks, LB, Penn State
- Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State
- Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE, Penn State
- Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State