Below are Michigan State's conference schedules for 2011 and 2012.
2011
10/1 - at Ohio State
10/8 - Open
10/15 - vs. Michigan
10/22 - vs. Wisconsin
10/29 - at Nebraska
11/5 - vs. Minnesota
11/12 - at Iowa
11/19 - vs. Indiana
11/26 - at Northwestern
Off the schedule: Illinois, Penn State, Purdue
2012
9/29 - vs. Ohio State
10/6 - at Indiana
10/13 - vs. Iowa
10/20 - at Michigan
10/27 - at Wisconsin
11/3 - vs. Nebraska
11/10 - Open
11/17 - vs. Northwestern
11/24 - at Minnesota
Off the schedule: Illinois, Penn State, Purdue
Although Michigan State caught a break by drawing Indiana as its protected crossover opponent, the other two crossover opponents for 2011 and 2012, Ohio State and Wisconsin, are going to be extremely tough. What's more, there are two ridiculously tough stretches in each season. In 2011, for example, MSU opens the conference slate with games against Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin and Nebraska. In 2012, MSU has a stretch against Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin and Nebraska. This allows the end of the schedule to shape up with a couple easier games, but there's no doubt the Spartans will be tested in a big way early on in both seasons.