Beanie

Over the last half-century, the team that wins this one particular statistical category in the annual rivalry game has emerged victorious nearly 90 percent of the time. But just how predictive is it?

Michigan has beaten MSU by 23 or more points just five times in the last 45 years.

Social media and sports radio are rife with MSU fans calling for defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton's firing in the wake of the Spartans' lopsided loss in Seattle. But Washington exposed a number of glaring deficiencies for MSU that should gravely concern fans.

MSU has lost its last 13 regular-season games played on the West Coast. Washington hasn't beaten a ranked Power Five nonconference opponent at Husky Stadium in 21 years.

Since 1957, the Spartans have lost 13 consecutive regular-season road games on the West Coast. That doesn't bode well for the 2022 squad's trip to Washington.

Going into its finale, the program has yet to cover Jeff Okudah and his attempted comeback, 12th-overall draft pick Jameson Williams as he battles back from a torn ACL, and who will be calling plays for the Lions in 2022.

In 2022, the only college football programs paying a head coach more than MSU are Alabama and Georgia. The resources invested in Tucker and his program have exponentially raised MSU's profile, stakes, and standards.

College sports is changing. You have two choices: Get with it, or get out of the way.

On Thursday, the Big Ten finalized its new TV deal, which will nearly double its member schools' annual revenue sharing check within a few years. The new contract positions the Big Ten to remain the driving force in major college sports, without Notre Dame.

Many speculated that the Big Ten gaining a mutual business partner with Notre Dame would help the league in luring the Fighting Irish into its ranks. But actually, the Big Ten's pursuit of Notre Dame has ironically secured the school's football independence for many more years.