Oregon, Michigan State Agree to Future Series
There’s little question college football is one of the best sports going, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to make it even better (and no, this post doesn’t have anything to do with a play-off believe it or not).
One of those things is scheduling better out of conference games. Michigan and Alabama will fit that bill perfectly in 2012 just as LSU-Oregon, Oklahoma-Florida State, LSU-West Virginia, and Georgia-Boise State (among others) did a season ago.
You can now add Oregon and Michigan State to the list of attractive future matchups as it appears the two schools are set to meet in East Lansing in 2014 and in Eugene in 2015. Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis confirmed the rumors on Tuesday afternoon via twitter.
Spartans football will play at Oregon in 2014 and in Spartan Stadium in 2015.Replaces WVU due to their transition to Big 12.
— Mark Hollis (@MSUAD) March 20, 2012
Michigan State is fresh off back-to-back 11 win seasons and captured the first ever Legends division title in 2011 qualifying them to play in the inaugural Big Ten title game where they fell to Wisconsin, 42-39. The Spartans are 44-22 under Mark Dantonio during his five seasons as the Spartans head coach.
Oregon is coming off three straight Pac-12/10 titles which happened to be their first three seasons under head coach, Chip Kelly. The Ducks also played for the national title following the 2010 season losing to Auburn on a last second field goal, 22-19, in the BCS title game.
The games between the Spartans and Ducks will be a glimpse into the future as the Big Ten and Pac-12 had already agreed to an arrangement in which all 12 teams will play one another as part of their nonconference schedule. That agreement is set to start beginning with the 2017 season. Apparently the Ducks and Spartans decided to get a head-start on the rest of their conference mates.
Whether or not you have a rooting interest in either of the teams, you have to agree games such as this beat the heck out of matchups college football sometimes gives to us early in the year. Look no further than Oregon’s 2012 schedule as an example as they are set to square off against Arkansas State, Fresno State, and Tennessee Tech.
Not to pick on the Ducks, however. After all, they should get a free pass this season after traveling to Arlington to take on LSU in 2011. Let’s hope more teams begin to follow their lead.
