ESPN College GameDay Will Be at B1G Title Game for Ohio State vs. Michigan State

It's not at all rare, and in fact rather common, for ESPN's College GameDay to pack up for the Midwest and host a game of national import between Ohio State and a conference opponent from the state of Michigan.

It's just usually the Wolverines...not the Spartans.

Alas, according to GameDay's official Twitter account, Chris Fowler and the boys will be at Lucas Oil Stadium this Saturday for the Big Ten Championship Game between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 10 Michigan State:

If Ohio State wins this game, no matter what happens between Auburn and Missouri, it is likely to reach the BCS National Championship. That is no sure thing, of course, but it's hard to imagine a one-loss team—even one like Auburn from the SEC—jumping the undefeated Buckeyes.

Winning will not come easy, however, as Michigan State is 11-1 on the season and boasts one of the best collegiate defenses in recent memory. It leads the nation in total defense and has held five of its last six opponents to less than seven points.

If not for a few dubious pass interference calls at Notre Dame earlier this season, the Spartans might also be undefeated, and this game would be a de facto national semifinal. But even as is, there will be intrigue to spare come Saturday.

Ohio State has won 24 consecutive games since Urban Meyer took over the program last season, none closer than last week's one-point survival over Michigan in Ann Arbor. Prior to that, though, Meyer's closest call with the Buckeyes came in East Lansing last season, when his team survived 17-16 over Sparty.

That MSU team finished the season 7-6 and generally underachieved. This MSU team is quite the opposite, and it intends to exact revenge Saturday.

Even with rivalry games like Oklahoma at Oklahoma State—along with other conference championship games, like the SEC's between Auburn and Missouri—on the schedule, this appears to be the optimal GameDay locale.

We'll see you in Indy!