The Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines both rank within the top five teams in college football according to the AP and Coaches polls this week. Urban Meyer's team dominated Oklahoma on the road to cement their place in the elite class, while Jim Harbaugh's club has been quite impressive in three decisive home victories behind Jabrill Peppers and newly minted quarterback Wilton Speight.
However, ESPN analyst Kevin Carter doesn't believe that the Buckeyes or Wolverines are the class of the Big Ten. His choice?
The Michigan State Spartans.
Mark Dantonio led his squad to a very encouraging and impressive road win over Notre Dame on Saturday, and that was enough to inspire strong words from Carter. He indicates that Michigan State is "going to beat Ohio State" and "beat Michigan" before the 2016 season expires, and those are the two biggest road blocks in the way of the Spartans.
Coming into the season, there was widespread skepticism about MSU considering all that they lost (including QB Connor Cook) on both sides of the football. Still, Dantonio has done a phenomenal job in East Lansing in recent years and, if nothing else, the Spartans currently own the series against in-state rival Michigan.
Poll voters and (most) pundits disagree, but Kevin Carter's thoughts are clear and he might not be crazy based on what Michigan State displayed in South Bend a few days ago.