Dantonio On Playoff: 'I Would Love To See A Big Ten Team Play In There'
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT - Only a couple of weeks removed from Ohio State's defeat of Michigan State that shattered dreams of the Spartans contending for the national championship, Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio said he would absolutely want the Buckeyes to be included in the four-team playoff.
"If it's not us, I would love to have a Big Ten team play in there," Dantonio said Tuesday in his weekly press conference. "I don't care who it is, but I'd love to see a Big Ten team play in there. In this case it would be them."
Before the committee updated the rankings Tuesday night, the top four included Mississippi State, Oregon, Florida State and TCU. Sitting fifth, sixth and seventh in those standings are Alabama, Arizona State and Baylor. In the eighth spot, Ohio State sits closer than any other team in the Big Ten.
As it stands now, it would take a fairly serious shake-up for the Buckeyes to move up in the standings. Based on Saturday's games, there may be some movement but none that will likely benefit Ohio State.
Mississippi State may well trade places with Alabama, to whom it lost Saturday. TCU could drop after barely escaping an upset by perennial basement dweller Kansas. Florida State yet again trailed for much of its game before squeaking out a win over unranked Miami, but the Seminoles remain undefeated, so they will most likely stay in the top four. Oregon had a bye, so it is also unlikely for the Ducks to be removed from the top four.
While the Spartans will miss out on the playoff this season - barring some unprecedented set of circumstances - Dantonio made it clear Tuesday that the team still has plenty it wants to accomplish.
"We've got a chance to go to a great bowl game ... I don't know what you guys call it, Power Six bowl game, selection committee bowl game," Dantonio said, "so we've got a chance to have a great football season."