Michigan Football: Everything you need to know about Michigan State

Michigan State and Michigan Football are headed in opposite directions, and yet they will meet this Saturday on the gridiron.

While Michigan State is in panic mode after a shocking loss to a now bowl-eligible Illinois crew, the Michigan football team is coming off back-to-back victories with one of them being over a top ten ranked opponent.

You could say MSU was banged up a bit after the land mine of a schedule over the four weeks before the disaster last weekend. The Spartans met Ohio State at The Shoe, followed by another away game at Wisconsin, and it culminated two weeks later in East Lansing with a thrashing from Penn State. In that series of matches, Michigan State was outscored 100-17.

Dantonio and Co. head into the lion’s den known as the Big House to try and obtain bowl eligibility, knowing they need at least two wins from their final three games. After they play the Wolverines, MSU’s schedule gets a little easier with contests against Rutgers and Maryland; although, judging by past performances, those opponents might give Mark Dantonio’s guys all they can handle.

The young men that dawn the maize and blue uniforms are well aware of the struggles faced by the Spartans and some, including Ambry Thomas, took the extra step of delivering a jab directly to their northern counterparts.

“You can’t let them get their heads up,” said Thomas. “Try to step on their throat and stay there all game. …  “It’s about who’s the big brother and who’s the little sister in this state. That’s what it’s really about. We plan to give them our all just like they plan to give us their all.”

It’s all fun and games until kickoff. That’s when the men separate themselves from the boys. So before the two teams battle, here’s a look at what the Spartans bring to the table.