Michigan State shoots up into ESPN's top-3 after Oregon win

The Michigan State Spartans were tabbed as one of the few teams to challenge Ohio State in the Big10 Conference coming into the season, but the team’s play recently has many believing it is poised to dethrone the Buckeyes as national champs.

The Spartans big win versus the Oregon Ducks (31-28) Saturday puts MSU in position for a rather easy schedule until Nov. 7 when the team battles Nebraska on the road. Two weeks later, Sparty squares off against Ohio State in a game that could have national title implications.

As happy as MSU was to avenge last season’s loss to the Ducks, ESPN was just as pleased with the team’s performance. In it’s latest college football rankings, ESPN has Michigan State as the No. 3 team in the nation — three spots higher than last week’s ranking — behind Ohio State and Alabama.

TCU fell a spot (No. 4) after failing to inspire in its offensive performance against Minnesota in Week 1. The Horned Frogs scored just 23 points against an unranked Golden Gophers squad.