By Neil Koepke
MSUSpartans.com staff writer
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame has clinched first place in the Big Ten and Michigan State is locked in to finish in seventh.
The Irish know they’ve got a first-round bye in the conference playoffs and the Spartans are on track to play Ohio State in a best-of-three first-round series.
But for both teams, there’s still much to gain from this weekend’s series between MSU and No. 5-ranked Notre Dame.
For the Spartans, it’s the final dress rehearsal for their playoff series against the Buckeyes.