• MSU 21, Purdue 7, and the Spartans are playing for a share of the Big 10 title this year. Purdue had several chances to get back in the game (two Rex Grossman-like picks thrown by Hoyer, fumbles by Leggett and Ringer), but the defense was swarming today, and Purdue only scored a pity touchdown at the end to prevent the shutout.
• I think that first interception affected Hoyer, and one could see him attempting to learn from the mistake, as he took off for 3-4 yard runs when no one was open. Sadly, he did not do this in the second half when he overthrew Cunningham (?) for the second pick.
• Explanation for Michigan's suckitude the past 10 weeks: they've been saving up all the good plays to win the Little Brown Jug, which I'm sure Michigan fans will now hold higher than all those Rose Bowl victories. As for Minnesota, no explanation exists for their failure, the interception that Northwestern returned for a victory last week might have been the event that sends them into a tailspin where they finish 7-5. Still though, much improved after last year.
• The only comment I have about the OSU-NU game is that the result was completely, utterly expected.
• The other WTF of the day: Western Michigan beating Illinois at Ford Field. That does worry me slightly for next year. MSU has the same deal with Western @ Ford Field, but hopefully MSU can fill up the stands.
• I was only slightly surprised that Iowa beat Penn State yesterday. If you've watched Iowa all year, you know that the only team that could stop Iowa was Iowa, and they only shot themselves in the foot once or twice compared to the five or six times in their losses. Congratulations to Iowa, even though...
• The PSU loss has made it harder for MSU to get to the Rose Bowl. Now the Spartans need an OSU loss either @ Illinois or against Michigan, and MSU needs to beat PSU in Happy Valley, which last happened on the fifth of never. At any rate, MSU's most likely bowl destination is the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, and I'm elated about that.

Now let’s look at the other (more likely) scenario: an MSU loss in Happy Valley. That would leave the Spartans at 9-3 overall, 6-2 in the league. If Ohio State wins its final two, that would virtually guarantee that Ohio State gets a second BCS bid for the Big Ten. If you don’t believe me, check the ACC, Big East and Pac-10. At-large candidates are lacking. OSU sells tickets and TV ads. It’s a cinch. And that would put MSU in the Capital One Bowl, likely against LSU or Georgia.

Regardless, it appears the Outback Bowl is the worst case scenario.  Rexrode notes that technically Minnesota, Northwestern, or Iowa could get picked ahead of us–despite being lower in the Big Ten standings–but I really don’t see them passing up a 9-3 MSU team with a fan base like ours.