Michigan State Football: Spartans Should Want Wisconsin Rematch for Big 10 Title

The Michigan State Spartans became the first team to clinch a spot in the inaugural Big Ten Championship game in Indy after beating Indiana and having Michigan beat Nebraska. In the Leaders Division, Penn State and Wisconsin are competing head-to-head to clinch the second spot.

It all comes down to the Nittany Lions versus Badgers matchup.

The Spartans should want to face Wisconsin the the title game. The Badgers will be itching for a rematch for the Hail Mary loss against them earlier this season. Both of them will have strong motivations, but Michigan State should want to face a rematch against Wisconsin.

After all, in the game against the Badgers, it was the best the Spartans ever played this year.

Discipline

Though sometimes it's a rarely repeated act when a previous matchup faces each other again later in the season, the Spartans know how to stop Wisconsin, and they need to repeat what they did in the Spartan Stadium in October: have discipline.

They didn't commit a single penalty in the game. They only committed one turnover, a fumble. They forced two interceptions for yard gains.

They studied hard to prepare against Wisconsin. They know what to expect. If Wisconsin makes it to the Big Ten title game, the Spartans will be ready to go out there with the discipline they had earlier with them.

Explosive Offense

It may have been the home-field crowd. It may have been the fact that they were playing against the No. 6 Badgers. Whatever the reason, the offense was explosive against Wisconsin in that game.

Kirk Cousins completed 71.0 percent of his passes. While he only threw for 290 yards, mostly in thanks to the two turnovers by the defense, he threw for three touchdowns and no interceptions. The offense fought all game, down to when it really mattered: the last few seconds of the game.

Cousins threw a Hail Mary that was caught by Keith Nichol in the end zone as time expired. The offense will be ready for the Badgers defense. They will be making some explosive plays.

Defense & Special Teams

If the offense would want to face the Badgers again, so will the defense and special teams.

The special teams blocked a field goal and a punt, one that was returned back for a touchdown. The defense caught two interceptions. While the Wisconsin offense had one of the most passing yards against the Spartans defense, the Spartans did well in trying to give the ball back to the offense.

Both defense and special teams want to play like that again. The memories will come fresh alive about the game, and they will push themselves to perform the same results.

It is rare, but they've done it. They may do it again if Wisconsin faces them.

Seniors

For the Spartan seniors, this year has already been a memorable one. Cousins became the winningest quarterback in Michigan State history. They beat Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin in back-to-back games. They got their revenge on Iowa for making them miss the Rose Bowl last year.

To play against Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship will be a game to remember for the seniors, especially if they win. It will be their first and only time playing in the Big Ten title game. They are one of the first teams to play in the inaugural championship.

Wouldn't facing the Badgers be perfect for these seniors?

They beat a No. 11 Wisconsin last year and a No. 15 one this year.

Wouldn't it be awesome if they beat the Badgers in the championship game?

Shut Them Up

Michigan State has been criticized throughout this season for having a predictable offense and not being strong on the road. They almost shut their critics up in the game against Iowa, but the doubts still linger.

They said the Spartans were lucky to beat Wisconsin because they were playing at home. The Spartans don't have a strong football program. The Spartans aren't reliable.

If Michigan State plays in the title game and wins, it will silence them for a moment. If they beat Wisconsin for the championship in Indy, it will quiet their critics, at least until next season.

They've been striving to prove they are a good football team. They have an explosive offense, a great defense and a sound special team.

They want to face the Badgers. They want to prove their worth.

Imagine the headlines if the Spartans beat the Badgers for the Big Ten title.