Sports

Michigan St. Fans Are Getting Roasted For Claiming Spartans Should’ve Been 2013 National Champs

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A Michigan State defender breaks up a pass attempt to a Notre Dame receiver.

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Michigan State is trending on social media this week, sparking a huge debate about the 2013 college football season. That argument stems from Spartans supporters claiming that they should’ve been national champions.

The program went 13-1 that year, winning the Big Ten and the Rose Bowl. The lone loss on the schedule came to Notre Dame in South Bend.

Michigan State fans believe their team got the shaft on a couple of pass interference calls which aided the Irish in the upset. Had it not been for those penalties, MSU would’ve won, they claim 10 years later.

Let’s refresh our memories a bit.

The Spartans entered that matchup with Notre Dame undefeated, sitting at a perfect 3-0. The first real test of the season, the Fighting Irish came in ranked No. 22 in the polls.

In the first quarter of a scoreless game, MSU was called for defensive PI deep in their own territory. That drive led to a Notre Dame field goal.

Later in the action, a similar call helped the Irish reach the endzone.

With the game tied at 10-10 in the second half, Michigan State was victim of yet another interference, this time on a pass that they picked off in the endzone. Unfortunately, that interception was taken off the board.

With the drive continuing, the penalty flags came out again as the Irish approached the endzone. After that final call, Notre Dame would punch in what ended up being the winning touchdown in a 17-13 game.

Spartans’ fans have an argument, here. Of the four calls mentioned, at least two could be considered questionable. Most notably, that final PI which even the guys in the booth believed should’ve been called on Notre Dame.

Each helped lead to points in a low scoring game, though you won’t often win contests when putting just 13 points on the scoreboard, even with the third-ranked scoring defense.

But making the leap to national champions is a stretch, especially when looking at the landscape of the sport at that time.

Keep in mind that Florida State and Auburn competed for a title that year. An argument could be made that the Spartans would beat the Tigers as they escaped with back-to-back improbable wins against UGA (Hail Mary) and Alabama (kick six) to end the year.

But that Seminoles team was dominant throughout, rolling to an undefeated season.

Not only did the offense boast Heisman winner Jameis Winston, but it also had Devonta Freeman, Karlos Williams, and Kelvin Benjamin. The defense was even better led by Jalen Ramsey, Ronald Darby, and Mario Edwards Jr.

In all, 26 players went on to the NFL, 10 were named All-Americans, and three won awards for being the best at their position.

Many have been quick to point in what’s become an online roast of Sparty, including Bud Elliott of 24/7 Sports.

Elliott continued to say, “The 2013 FSU secondary has made a combined quarter billion dollars in the NFL and has a first-ballot hall of famer. Four of the five are still playing in the league a decade later.”

Some don’t think it would’ve been competitive after halftime.

But if it makes you feel better…

While possibly delusional, this is what makes college sports great. After all, the real would-be champ of 2013 was South Carolina if not for a man named Marquez North, and like these Spartans fans, nothing will convince me otherwise.