By all accounts, Michigan State football has had a Cinderella season, managing to start the year on an 8-game winning streak and getting a huge win over a major rival in Michigan. But all teams lose eventually, and that happened this weekend when the Spartans dropped one to Purdue on the road. Because of the loss, the Spartans fell three spots in the latest AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports to No. 9.
This will likely frustrate some fans, since Michigan is now back ahead of MSU at No. 8, but it is what it is. The Spartans still control their destiny with upcoming games against No. 5 Ohio State and No. 23 Penn State.