Hey Joe top 10: The best of Michigan State’s opponents

When it comes to teams that have played the Spartans, hard to top Alabama football Hey Joe!(Photo: Photo illustration) If you thought these top-10 lists were carefully mapped out, you’re wrong. I might even have room for another idea or two, if you care to contribute. This is a great idea of Lansing State Journal Stringer Hall of Famer (and author, and former Battle Creek Enquirer sports writer) Jeff Karzen: the best teams I have seen play against Michigan State teams during my time on the beat (to review those years again, 1998-2000 and 2003-present). I easily could do this for football and basketball, but let’s combine them and go for the elite of the elite. This is an easy category in which to forget someone, but I think I’ve got it sorted out: 1. Alabama football 2010: Yeah, that’s right. MSU has played several national champions in both sports over the years, yet I went with the 2011 Capital One Bowl champions as the best football or basketball team I’ve ever seen play a Michigan State team. As Alabama fans will tell you, that team had tons of injuries. And it had inconsistency. And it had a ridiculous collapse in a loss to Cam Newton and Auburn. It also had Julio Jones, Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson, Barrett Jones, D.J. …

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