Michigan State Spartans

ESPN analyst: Michigan State football is best team in Big Ten

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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One ESPN analyst, Kevin Carter, has high praise for Michigan State football, calling it the best team in the Big Ten.

Kevin Carter might be a Gator, but right now, he’s every Michigan State football fan’s favorite ESPN analyst. On Tuesday afternoon, the former Florida defensive end took to the airwaves to boast somewhat of an unpopular opinion: Michigan State is the best team in the Big Ten.

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Woah. The Spartans are better than the third-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes and No. 4 Michigan Wolverines? Sure, Ohio State might be a much better comparison seeing as Michigan hasn’t proved anything in the past decade, but does he truly believe that?

Just check out what he said on ESPN:

"Michigan State is the best team in the Big 10"

BOLD prediction from @kevincarterESPN #ChampDrive pic.twitter.com/WmIMgF1bFH

— ESPNU (@ESPNU) September 20, 2016

That bold prediction might get laughs from folks around the country, but for those who have been in and around East Lansing over the past five years, his words hold some truth. Michigan State has been the best team in the Big Ten since 2010, winning 67 games in that time — more than Michigan or Ohio State.

Going into South Bend on Saturday night and winning a game that no expert gave the Spartans a chance to acted as yet another respect-gainer for the program.

Mark Dantonio’s teams never seem to get the respect they deserve, but if he keeps winning big games against ranked foes, that will change. Over the past few years, he’s beaten Michigan (multiple times), Ohio State (twice), Notre Dame, Oregon, Stanford and Baylor.

Does any program in the Big Ten not named Ohio State deserve more recognition or respect than MSU? Probably not.