Know Your Opponent: Week 10, Michigan State Spartans

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesThe Dantonio era at Michigan State (2007-now) has followed some symmetrical ebbs and flows. The Spartans will take a minor rebuilding year full of close losses and ugly wins to build the necessary depth and experience to string together a sequence of seasons where they compete for a Big Ten title.

This is what good developmental programs do.

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty ImagesThe one constant, in the seasons where they compete, is the presence of competent quarterback play which creates a dynamic enough offense to complement a perennially elite defense. The seasons that would be considered a success under Dantonio — 2008 with Brian Hoyer at Quarterback; 2010 &…