You can try to plot a season out until you're Boise State blue in the face, but the joy is running smack-dab into things you never see coming.
We offer this week No. 17 Michigan State (5-0) at No. 18 Michigan (5-0), a flower that sprouted from a dump.
It would have been maize-boggling a month ago to think this Big Ten stinker in Ann Arbor would have implications beyond the campus police station or an NCAA appeals board.
Michigan State started the year with seven players suspended for the Alamo Bowl in the aftermath of a brawl at a residence hall. The Spartans exited a 6-7 campaign looking to get into witness protection — not on ABC.
But then, Michigan State defeated Notre Dame on Sept. 18 in overtime on a trick play — "Little Giants," by coach Mark Dantonio, who later suffered a little heart attack.
Suddenly, it was Babe Ruth swatting a home run for a kid in the hospital, with Michigan State defeating Wisconsin last week while Dantonio was sending text messages from his infirmary bed to his defensive coordinator in the press box.
Dantonio was hoping to coach against Wisconsin until a blood clot in his leg sent him back to the hospital. He expects to work this week's game, with doctors' permission, from the press box.
The fact Dantonio says he feels good makes this a feel-good weekend.
Michigan State's improbable public relations reversal is matched only by Michigan. There was not an employee in America on a hotter seat than third-year Michigan man Rich Rodriguez, who seemed on the precipice of dismissal after misleading a storied franchise to a 5-7 record last year. If losing wasn't bad enough, Michigan also was cheating, breaking NCAA rules for practice-time limits.
Rodriguez isn't in the clear yet — his team started 4-0 last year before collapsing — but he somehow located his career repair kit. His decision to start sophomore Denard Robinson at quarterback over incumbent Tate Forcier has proven to be a stroke of genius, or, "Why didn't I think of this earlier!"
Robinson has rushed and passed his way to the top of the Heisman Trophy race, becoming the first player to rush and pass for more than 200 yards in a game twice. Robinson needs only 95 rushing yards to top 1,000 for the season and 87 to eclipse 2,000 total yards.
"I guess I'm in the right place at the right time right now," Robinson said this week on a Big Ten teleconference. "Right coaches, right place, right teammates."
Michigan State and Michigan have come a long way fast when you consider the only team from the state that had votes in the Associated Press preseason poll was Central Michigan.
Fifth-down memory: Colorado's game at Missouri this week will mark the 20-year anniversary of the "Fifth Down" call that helped the Buffaloes prevail on their way to a share of the national title.
Colorado scored the winning touchdown with no time left on fifth-and-goal from the 1 after officials failed to change the down marker from second to third down. Lead official J.C. Louderback told the Boulder Daily Camera this week, "I live it over and over again every year."
By the numbers: Oregon has outscored opponents 114-7 in the second half. … The combined record of the three schools that have defeated Notre Dame — Michigan, Michigan State and Stanford — is 14-1. … Boise State's schedule strength in this week's Sagarin ratings is No. 38. How that compares: Alabama (26), Oregon (57), Ohio State (99), Oklahoma (14), Nebraska (134). Schedule strength of top two teams Boise State has defeated: Virginia Tech (6), Oregon State (1). … The first Bowl Championship Series standings will be released Oct. 17, but BCSGuru.com already is offering simulated standings. The top five: Alabama, Boise State, Oklahoma, Oregon and TCU. Ohio State is sixth.
cdufresne@tribune.com