If there was a moment on Tuesday that was telling of the meaning of Michigan State's upcoming showdown with Ohio State, it was one that nearly never came to fruition.
After all, it wasn't until the final question of Mark Dantonio's weekly press conference that the Spartans head coach was asked to compare his program's recent history with the Buckeyes to the storied Ohio State-Michigan rivalry.
And when it was suggested that Michigan State's contention with the Buckeyes didn't measure up to the Wolverines', Dantonio jumped at the opportunity to interject.
"We're so conditioned in this region to think Michigan and Ohio State, Michigan and Ohio State and for good reason," the reporter began.