Spartans win on the field, but could lose in the long run

by Michael Ferro, Michigan State Spartans Examiner

Some Spartan fans may have been rooting for Penn State to lose yesterday to Iowa. They did just that and some thought that signaled a better possibility for Michigan State to win the Big Ten Title. Well, I'm sad to inform those that yesterday's loss by Penn State is also a loss for the Spartans.

Let me explain.

Had Michigan State gone into an undefeated Penn State and won, like many had hoped we would, things would be different. If all goes according to the way analysts think it will, Ohio State will win it's next two games and close out their season with a win against rival Michigan. That would make them 7-1 in the conference. If Michigan State beats Penn State, the Nittany Lions will be 6-2 in the conference and the Spartans will be 7-1.

That's good right? Wrong.

With a tie for first place in the Big Ten between Ohio State and Michigan State, Ohio State will automatically go to the Rose Bowl since they beat us in the regular season. Had we faced an undefeated Penn State and all records between the three schools been 7-1 in the conference, Michigan State would go to the Rose Bowl because of the three, we are the only school to not face a lower division team.

What does all this mean? How can Michigan State still win the Big Ten Title?

Brace yourself Spartan fans. What I'm about to say might startle you.

Michigan State has to root for the Wolverines.

You see, if Ohio State loses to Michigan, their record goes to 6-2 in the conference. If Michigan State beats Penn State, the Nittany Lions would suffer the same record as Ohio State. The result? Michigan State winning the Big Ten Title and a trip to the Rose Bowl.

So, Spartan fans, can you bring yourself to root for a school that constantly ridiculed you. A school that called you it's "little brother" and said it would "never lose to you, ever"?

The University of Michigan is having a historically bad year. The Spartans are having a historically good one. Lets face it, that makes it easier to root for them. Wolverine fans are often booing their own team nowadays instead of the usual arrogance to the rest of the country. Let's face it, that too makes it easier to root for them. Also, Ohio State made a mockery of the Spartan team and the yearning to have them suffer (as in possibly losing to one of the worst Michigan teams in history) would make it easier to root for the Wolverines.

It's a hard question to ask, but can Spartan fans set their anger aside and root for Michigan? It's going to be hard to even focus on the Wolverines with the Spartans playing Penn State at the same time. Michigan State is the better team this year when it comes to college football in Michigan and that's very comforting. Spartans must be cautious not to become the over-zealous team that Michigan has been in the past (and quite possibly will continue to remain).

Let me put it this way: I won't root against Michigan and I definitely will root against Ohio State. I hope Michigan wins and Ohio State suffers a terrible embarrassment that allows Michigan State a chance at the Rose Bowl. Is this all too vague? Perhaps. We'll see how I feel when the game approaches (I can't wait to see if Michigan players open their mouth in the week leading up to the game like Brandon Graham did in the week leading up to the Spartan/Wolverine game).

Bottom line: None of this matters if Michigan State loses to Penn State. If that happens, Penn State gets the title and the trip to the Rose Bowl (they beat Ohio State). The Spartans have a bye week coming up before they face Penn State. I hope they use that time to get healthy and mentally prepare themselves for one of their biggest games in recent history.