Brian Hoyer News

When the Michigan State Spartans traveled to Happy Valley to play the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 2008 season, both programs were having pretty good years by their standards.

Penn State and Michigan State have fought over it every year since 1993, the season the Nittany Lions joined the Big Ten.

Jamie Samuelsen, the sports director for the "Deminski & Doyle" morning show on WCSX-FM , blogs for freep.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the Detroit Free Press nor its writers.

When game times for this weekend's Big Ten games were announced, a friend of mine, who happens to be a Michigan fan, texted me, "Michigan-Ohio State at noon on ABC .

Here's the second half of my interview with Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio.

Traveling to play a Purdue team featuring a potent quarterback and talented wide receivers on Senior Day in West Lafayette, Ind., isn't the best scenario for Michigan State in its attempt to win its sixth game of the season.

Blair White ranks fourth in the Big Ten in receiving yards with 90.7 yards a game.

Brian Hoyer hasn't taken the time to look around, take stock of his situation and think of the departed quarterbacks who once battled for his spot.

Lou Holtz and Mark May make their picks for Michigan vs. Michigan State, Wisconsin vs.

The countdown now begins for Michigan vs. Michigan State. Pardon me while I yawn.

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio won more games in his first two seasons than any coach in school history.

After such a strong start at home, Michigan might be a little hesitant about heading to Spartan Stadium.

Wisconsin running back Zach Brown, right, runs past Michigan State cornerback Chris L. Rucker during the Spartans' loss Saturday.

EAST LANSING - Everyone knew Michigan State would miss players such as Javon Ringer, Brian Hoyer and Brandon Long from last season's 9-4 team.

It would appear that a 1-2 start and missed plays in South Bend would call for some changes.

Going into Brian Hoyer's senior season, Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio was blunt about what separates a great quarterback from the good ones.

's loss to Central Michigan last Saturday has taken some time to digest. The hard part is not coping with a loss to an inferior opponent ... CMU is good, and the Big 10, as it has been the last few years, is mediocre.

It's a place full of college football lore - Touchdown Jesus in the background, the Golden Dome highlighting the university's illustrious campus.

The Patriots appear to be in no hurry to find a veteran quarterback to backup Tom Brady .

The Defense Department has turned down a Michigan congressman's request to let state and local officials tour a facility holding terrorism suspects in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.