The numbers say Michigan State is 1 of 11 teams that can win a national title

Michigan State was the last Big Ten team to win a national title, but it’s been far too long for the Spartans and the conference as a whole.

Tom Izzo has been chasing national title No. 2 ever since he won his first back in 2000. He’s had some teams that probably should’ve won it all but fell short in heartbreaking fashion — the 2013-14, 2015-16, and 2018-19 teams all come to mind. This year’s team may not be Izzo’s most talented, but it has the feel of a tough, junkyard dog type of squad that just gets it done.

This was also one of Izzo’s best coaching jobs, taking a team that lost seven players from a Big Ten title-winning team and making it back to the top three in the conference.

Michigan State has had one of the best defenses in the country this season and the offense has been improving throughout the year. The Spartans are top 40 on KenPom offensively and top 25 on defense. According to br_betting on X, being in both of those categories means that the Spartans match the criteria of the last three decades of national champions.

Izzo’s Spartans are one of just 11 teams who can win a national title this season, if we’re going by the trend since 1997.

The only other Big Ten team that can win a national title is Michigan. Imagine those two playing for a national title in three weeks. The internet would break.

If the Big Ten is going to claim its first national title since 2000, the numbers say that it’s going to be either Michigan or Michigan State. Sorry, Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Purdue fans, it’s just not your year.

One expert sees a Michigan State vs. Michigan title game

Jay Bilas predicted that Michigan State would make the Final Four and even the national title game before losing to Arizona. Seth Greenberg also had Michigan State in the national title game, but he predicted that it’s going to be the Spartans against Michigan.

I honestly don’t know how the state would survive that game. Both making it to the title game would be impressive in itself, but the winner of that game would have bragging rights until another national title is won between the rivals.

Let’s hope we see a Michigan vs. Michigan State title game. I’d love to see the Spartans get revenge on the biggest stage for Izzo’s second national title. It’d be too perfect.