Today, my alma mater, Michigan State, defeated their arch-rival, the University of Michigan, for the third year in a row.

Michigan fans have long insisted that their football rivalry is with Ohio State … and this now makes more sense to me. After all, for something to be a rivalry, you need serious competition. You need a sense that either team could win any of the games.

And, frankly, in the Rich Rodriguez era at Michigan, there’s no rivalry with Michigan State.

It’s been more than 1,000 days since Michigan’s won a football or basketball game against Michigan State. They’ll get another crack at it at the end of January 2011, a little more than three months from now.

Keep reaching for that brass ring, Wolverines. In the meantime, I’ll be gloating.

For more, read the full Sporting News article, Big House of pain.

For ESPN’s video report, go here.