The Indiana–Michigan State football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Indiana Hoosiers and Michigan State Spartans.
The Old Brass Spittoon is awarded to the winner of the game. It was first presented in 1950.[2] This tradition was started by class president, Eugene McDermott of Allentown, PA.[citation needed]
Prior to the expansion of the Big Ten in 2011, there were stoppages in the series because the schools were not protected rivals in the rotating conference schedule (note no game in 1971 and 1972, 1979 and 1980, 1999 and 2000, and again in 2009 and 2010).
With the split of the Big Ten into divisions starting in 2011, Indiana and Michigan State were placed in separate divisions but were assigned as "cross-over" rivals, meaning they played each other every year. This arrangement lasted through the 2013 season. After the addition of Maryland and Rutgers into the Big Ten starting in 2014, the subsequent geographical realignment of the divisions placed both Indiana and Michigan State in the Big Ten East, assuring that the rivalry will be renewed annually.
When MSU takes on Indiana on Saturday, the two teams will duke it out for the Old Brass Spittoon. With a trophy involved, this game is technically a rivalry game. Yes, Indiana and MSU are considered rivals and the trophy dates back to 1950.
Michigan State will forfeit its five football victories of 1994 because it used an ineligible player, university president M. Peter McPherson said Wednesday. McPherson said NCAA regulations were violated by an academic adviser in order to keep a player eligible and that a technical violation occurred when a Florida man gave gifts to recruits.
