Michigan State might as well wear camouflage green, considering how hidden its football team’s success is nationally. The Big Ten East produced one headline after another this offseason, but there wasn’t much buzz coming from a program that is 53-14 over the past five years. It was Ohio State this, Michigan that. The Buckeyes created new levels of hysteria by winning the inaugural College Football Playoff in January, and the Wolverines electrified their fan base by hiring Jim Harbaugh. Michigan State remained stealthy, even though two of the most important national developments were quarterback Connor Cook and defensive end Shilique Calhoun’s decisions to return for their senior year. “Nothing new for us,” Cook said at Big Ten Media Days. “Ever since I’ve been at Michigan State, we’ve been overlooked.” With everyone expecting to chase Ohio State again in the Big Ten East this year, Michigan State still might be the one team that not only could catch the Buckeyes but wrestle them down. The division continues to get more interesting, with Harbaugh back at Michigan and Penn State done with the scholarship limits from the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Most figure it will be only a matter of time before those two programs regain national prominence. But like last year, the Ohio State-Michigan State game is the one everyone has circled on the calendar. The Buckeyes trailed last year’s game 21-14 in East Lansing before rolling behind a five-touchdown performance from J.T. Barrett to a 49-37 victory. …
Continue Reading: Big Ten East preview: A Spartan existence amid the hype
