Michigan State football vs. Notre Dame in Fiesta Bowl a popular projection

Michigan State football fans may be half-rooting for Michigan to win on Saturday night against Iowa in the Big Ten championship game. Why? Because a Michigan win would send the Spartans to a New Year’s Six bowl while an Iowa victory would knock Michigan State out.

if Michigan wins, the Spartans, Wolverines, and Ohio State would be the three teams in the New Year’s Six and playoff. Michigan making the playoff would make way for the Spartans to make a New Year’s Six bowl along with the Buckeyes.

If Iowa wins, the Hawkeyes would grab a New Year’s Six bowl over Michigan State as the Big Ten champion, and both Michigan and Ohio State, too, would make the field.

So as much as we love to root against Michigan (you still can on Saturday), it would benefit Michigan State more if the Wolverines won. Still, it’s a win-win situation for Spartan fans. Michigan wins, it helps MSU make a better bowl game. A Michigan loss would add another year to the Big Ten title drought.

But let’s talk about Michigan State’s bowl projection for a minute before we even think about rooting interests for Saturday night.

Michigan State football projected to make Fiesta Bowl

Bowl projections are always fun to look at around this time every year and the Spartans are in a good spot. They will either make the New Year’s Six or a New Year’s Day bowl.

Assuming Michigan beats Iowa — which about everyone is doing — the Spartans are likely to make the Fiesta Bowl, matching up with Notre Dame, according to Jerry Palm of CBS Sports.

Palm is not the only one to project this as this is a popular pick for Michigan State this postseason. Making the Fiesta Bowl and playing Notre Dame in a rivalry game would be huge for the program and recruiting.

Bowl season is going to be fun, folks.