Since John L. Smith became its coach in December 2002, Michigan State has been interesting only when hes slapping himself in the face or when the Spartans are folding against Notre Dame or, jeez, when Smith is still coaching Louisville without telling anyone hes actually been hired by the Spartans.
John L. Smith has the dazed look of a man whose team got drilled by mighty Michigan.
None of that happened Saturday. Michigan beat up Michigan State 31-13, and while that mattered to the 111,349 at Michigan Stadium, it was of national relevance only in the bigger picture, and that picture is this:
After wearing out its sixth consecutive opponent, No. 6 Michigan is better than No. 6. Several spots better, possibly all the way to No. 2.
Do you have any idea what that could mean?
It could mean -- if Top 25 voters would fall out of love with overrated Southern California, if they would ask themselves what West Virginia has done to be ranked ahead of Michigan, and if Florida would lose one of its brutal SEC games -- that Ohio State and Michigan would be ranked No. 1 and No. 2 when they play in Columbus on Nov. 18.
Finally.
Michigan and Ohio State have played 102 times, but never as No. 1 and No. 2. That kind of matchup, anywhere, has happened just 36 times in 70 years -- usually a marquee nonconference game in September or a bowl in January.
Full Story
