holy crap, msu is ranked!

Okay, that’s it. We’ve officially been jinxed. MSU is now ranked in the top-25 of the Coaches’ poll. We came in at the #23 spot, and barely missed the top rankings in the AP poll, placing in the #28 spot.

Now, let’s keep in mind that we started 4-0 in 2005 and 3-0 in 2006, and failed to make a bowl in either season. The history of Spartan football is littered with shattered dreams.

Yes, we played four mediocre-to-piss-poor teams so far, but these were all games that MSU could’ve managed to screw up too. Am I glad we won them? Absolutely! Do I think Dantonio was the right choice for our program? Time will tell, but so far… yes. Could we still screw things up and finish in the bottom of the league? You bet!

That’s why I try to take this kind of speculation with an ENORMOUS grain of salt (h/t Gang Green):

THE BIG TEN RACE IS GOING TO BE A FREE-FOR-ALL: Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin have shots at the crown. It should make for some entertaining times in what, at times, has been a far-too-staid league. - Mike Huguenin

MICHIGAN STATE IS BETTER THAN ANTICIPATED: The Spartans’ 31-14 victory over Notre Dame proved two things: The Irish are horrible and the Spartans (4-0) are capable of a balanced offensive attack. Quarterback Brian Hoyer threw for 135 yards and four touchdowns, and the Spartans piled up 219 rushing yards behind Javon Ringer and Jehuu Caulcrick. - Gerry Ahern

Considering that we haven’t won the league in nearly two decades, I’d say the odds of us winning the Big Ten are pretty steep.

However, the fact that the league is so bad this year might mean… it could… perhaps… naw, I won’t say it.

Here’s hoping we put up a good fight against the Badgers next weekend. That’s all I care about right now.