Dave Dye
FOX Sports Detroit
Iowa City, Iowa -- Despite Saturday's lopsided loss, Michigan State remains in position to win its first Big Ten championship since a four-way tie in 1990, and possibly make its first Rose Bowl appearance since the '87 season.
The most likely scenario now, based on projected outcomes over the final four weeks, appears to be a three-way tie between MSU, Wisconsin and the winner of the Iowa-Ohio State game. All four of those teams have one conference loss.
Michigan State should win its next two -- at home against Minnesota and Purdue -- before closing the regular season at Penn State.
Wisconsin also has a great chance to run the table.
Iowa and Ohio State, meanwhile, meet Nov. 20 in Iowa City.
It will get a little complicated with the tiebreakers, depending on whether it's a three- or two-team tie. But MSU still has a chance to be Pasadena-bound.
If it's a three-way tie, Michigan State will benefit the most from Iowa beating Ohio State. That's because Iowa lost a nonconference game while the others went 4-0. One of the tiebreakers is overall winning percentage.
With Iowa being eliminated in that three-team version, and MSU having beaten Wisconsin, the Spartans would go to the Rose Bowl.
If Ohio State wins at Iowa, however, the next tiebreaker will become highest ranked in the BCS standings. Ohio State, ultimately, probably will become the Big Ten's highest ranked team under those circumstances.
So, again, the Spartans need to win their final three while Wisconsin wins out and Iowa beats Ohio State.
One catch: If Wisconsin loses a game, the tie-breaker scenarios change. Then it's a two-team tie and Michigan State would automatically lose out to Iowa because of Saturday's outcome.
MSU also would likely lose the tiebreaker with Ohio State. The teams didn't play and that BCS ranking would become the decisive factor.
More than anything, though, Michigan State just has to take care of its business.
"We still have a lot of great opportunities in front of us," coach Mark Dantonio said following the 37-6 loss to Iowa. "We're an 8-1 football team.
"We have an opportunity to win three more games and have an outstanding season.
"I do think our football team will handle this. The reason I thought our team was special was because we've been able to handle adversity. That has to take place now. We'll find out a little bit more about ourselves next week."
Michigan State plays Minnesota next Saturday before getting its bye week.
Brotherly love
Iowa's Micah Hyde got the last laugh in the brother competition.
Hyde, a sophomore cornerback, took a pitch from strong safety Tyler Sash and scored on a 66-yard return of an interception.
Hyde's brother, Marcus, is a fifth-year senior safety for the Spartans. Marcus was called for a late hit that led to an Iowa field goal. He also had a pass snatched away from him for a 56-yard gain after colliding with a tight end, leading to a touchdown.
Micah and the Hawkeyes are now 2-0 against Marcus and the Spartans the last two years.
The family is from Fostoria, Ohio.
Parker returns
Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker returned after missing a few weeks following a foot amputation. Parker, a former Michigan State assistant, worked from the coaches' booth. He left the stadium early to try to beat the crowd out.
Quotable
MSU defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi, suming up the game: "They kicked our tails."
Dantonio, explaining the loss: "You have to be able to run the football effectively and stay balanced. You can't turn it over three times and not get any (turnovers) on defense. You can't win without sacking the quarterback. You can't win if you can't stop the run. There were too many of those things."
Dantonio, on Iowa's physical superiority: "We had to out-physical them. We did not. That's where it all starts, I think, and that's probably where it ends."
Dantonio, on the game becoming a rout: "When things start snowballing on you, it's hard to stop it. That's what I think we ran into."
Dantonio, on bouncing back: "When you get knocked down, you have an opportunity to get back up. That's what life teaches you. That's what football teaches you. That's what we have to do."
Oct. 30, 2010
