Michigan State Football is Just Getting Started

Fear not, Sparty, Michigan State (2-1) is on a clear path to a second consecutive Big Ten title and again represent the Big Ten in this seasons College Football Playoff. Many college football fans and professional pundits alike were turned off by the 30-6 drubbing the Spartans suffered at the hands of Wisconsin Saturday afternoon, but let me tell you in two words why that game was more misdirection than credible indication: Riley Bullough .

The Spartans star middle-linebacker and defensive anchor missed the game . More to the point, his presence was missed throughout the game. Those who watched the first half witnessed Wisconsin pull off big third down (and long) conversions, one after another. And twice when MSU stopped them short on third, Wisconsin successfully converted on fourth down.

Insert Bulloughs hard-nosed 230 pounds onto the field for those critical plays, and everything changes. Michigan State walks off the field at the end of the second quarter in control of this game, and the Spartans cruise to their fourth consecutive victory to open the season.

Even if this upset gives Wisconsin a push toward winning the Big Ten West division, Michigan State will win the Big Ten East after the Spartans, with their defensive stud Bullough, run the table the rest of the way. That will include home games against highly ranked East rivals Michigan and Ohio State. Then Michigan State slides back into the Big Ten title game where a healthy MSU might get a chance to deliver a revenge thrashing of Wisconsin in the rematch.

Whomever they take down to win the Big Ten, the Spartans will stand tall at 11-1, with this only blemish being sufficiently early in the season that the teams ranking will be long forgiven if not forgotten.

During his tenure, Mark Dantonios Spartans have been known for defensive prominence and dominance, a role they will reprise as soon as Bullough is back on the field. And come the end of the 2016 college football season Michigan State, led by star linebacker Riley Bullough, will be where they belong: competing in the College Football Playoff.