It's possible that we're seeing a legitimate new rivalry emerge.
It has all of the classic elements; a comrade who returns to haunt as a villain, struggle after struggle that ends with a victor by the barest of margins, and high stakes that makes every contest significant.
In 2011, Kirk Cousins and Le'Veon Bell overcame three turnovers and topped Joe Bauserman and a freshman named Braxton Miller in the 'Shoe, winning 10-7 in the kind of tightly contested game that appears to have become the norm for this matchup. In 2012, Braxton accounted for over 300 yards of offense, every single one of which was needed in a 17-16 victory in East Lansing. The 2013 upset loss (34-24, the most lopsided game in the last five years) in the Big Ten Championship game to Michigan State was heartbreaking for a number of reasons, but the Buckeyes stormed back the following season to avenge their loss in a 12 point victory that saw them rack up 568 yards of offense.
Tonight... well, tonight saw Sparty land another body blow to Ohio State. Their 17-14 win marks the beginning of a shift in a rivalry, that for years had been incredibly lopsided in favor of the Buckeyes. Not anymore. In the past five seasons, which has seen three Michigan State wins, the point differential for both teams works out to: three.
Four meetings between Mark Dantonio and Urban Meyer: Michigan State 104, Ohio State 104.
— Mike Wilson (@MikeWilson247) November 22, 2015
That's it. Three points in five years separate what have become the best two teams in the Big Ten. Hopefully their next meeting is more lopsided in the Buckeyes' favor.
