Michigan State Spartans Ranked 11th? AP Voter Rob Long Explains His Ballot

By Kevin Heitz

The state of football in Michigan is strong. Both the Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans boast undefeated records heading into this weekend's battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy.

Rich Rodriguez's Wolverines are led by electrifying quarterback Denard Robinson, who looks to be running away with the Heisman race. "Shoelace" has thrown for 1,008 yards and seven touchdowns while rushing for 905 yards and eight scores. Robinson was named the Davey O'Brien Quarterback of the Week for the second time this young season following his 494-yard outburst against Indiana. 

The Spartans are playing inspired football following coach Mark Dantonio's heart attack and subsequent hospitalization after State's Sept. 18 victory over Notre Dame won with a fake field goal in overtime. Dantonio was re-admitted due to a blood clot in his leg and spoke to his team via speaker phone from his hospital room after the Spartans upset Wisconsin this past weekend. He has been released from the hospital but may not be back on the sideline Oct. 9 in Ann Arbor.

Michigan State is off to its first 5-0 start since 1999, when the Spartans were coached by some guy named Nick Saban. The Wolverines have already matched their number of wins from last season.

The AP top 25 has the Spartans at No. 17 with the Wolverines one spot behind. But Rob Long of Baltimore's Fox 1370 Sports Radio has Michigan ranked 10th and Michigan State 11th. Only two voters have the teams from the Great Lakes State ranked higher, so I caught up with Rob for an explanation of his ballot. 

Read interview here.