Michigan State Football: Where will Spartans be ranked in Week 9 AP Top 25?

Michigan State football got a bye week at the perfect time as the Spartans got a chance to scout Michigan and prepare for the huge top-10 showdown next Saturday in East Lansing.

The Spartans are 7-0 on the year and they’re facing the 7-0 Wolverines in Week 9 with a ton at stake. Not only is this for position in the Big Ten East standings, but it’s also to remain in the College Football Playoff race as the first rankings will be released on Nov. 2.

Speaking of rankings, the Spartans are looking to possibly move up in the second-to-last AP Top 25 before the first College Football Playoff rankings are released.

Michigan State watched as No. 7 Penn State and No. 8 Oklahoma State were both upset by unranked opponents in Week 8 which means they could move up from that No. 9 spot.

But just how far?

Where will Michigan State football be ranked in Week 9?

The new rankings come out on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. ET and everyone will be wondering where both the Wolverines and Spartans are ranked ahead of a guaranteed top-10 matchup in East Lansing in Week 9 — unfortunately it’s the Big Noon Kickoff on FOX.

If I’m going to guess, Michigan State is going to come in at No. 7 in the Week 9 rankings, moving up with the Penn State and Oklahoma State losses and I don’t think Oregon will jump the Spartans despite its win at UCLA. The Pac-12 just doesn’t get a ton of respect.

With the Spartans moving up to No. 7, I think Michigan remains at No. 6 as this will be a huge matchup between two top-seven teams.

The winner will probably be in that 5-6 range when the first playoff rankings come out on Nov. 2.