Michigan State and Michigan fans will be having a good time next fall If Mark Schlabach of ESPN is close on his rankings for the 2012 college football season.
In fact, the UM-MSU game Oct. 20 at Michigan Stadium will be for the right to represent the Legends Division in the Big Ten championship game.
Schlabach has the Spartans as the Big Ten’s top ranked team at No. 9, followed by the Wolverines at No. 11, Nebraska at No. 13 and Wisconsin at No. 19.
Schlabach has LSU as his No. 1 team, followed by USC, national champion Alabama, Oregon and Oklahoma.
The Crimson Tide will face Michigan in the season opener Sept. 1 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. MSU will host No. 20 Boise State a day earlier, Aug. 31, a Friday night on ESPN.
Schlabach notes the Spartans will have to rely on their defense and running game with the loss of quarterback Kirk Cousins.
On the Wolverines, Schlabach points out the Wolverines have most of their key skilled players returning, including quarterback Denard Robinson.
By the way, Notre Dame is listed at No. 23 in his top-25.
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