Jan 01, 2014 12:53 PM EST By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

The last time Michigan State played in the Rose Bowl, most of the players on the team were not likely to have been born and their coach, Mark Dantonio, was Youngstown State's defensive coordinator.

After a 26-year absence, the Michigan State Spartans (4) are back in Pasadena, Calif. to play for the Rose Bowl against the Stanford Cardinal (5), a team that won this very game last year. Both teams weathered tough schedules with outstanding coaching, key victories and powerful defenses.

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Stanford's defense ranked ninth in the nation by allowing an average of 18.6 points per game. They won key upsets against UCLA, ranked ninth at the time, and Oregon, ranked third at the time.

Michigan State was a long shot BCS National Championship hopeful after their Big Ten title game against Ohio State. Still, the Rose Bowl is one of the most prestigious games in the entire sport.

The Spartans defense allowed a mere 12.7 points per game this season, good for fourth-best in the nation. Their only loss of the season came in week four against Notre Dame, ranked 22nd at the time.

"It's going to be a special moment when we walk out on that field," Dantonio told reporters, according to ESPN. "When you set down and write down your goals and think about the goals in whatever job that you take or occupation, you're going to have some different things that you want to try to accomplish. That was one of the things we were trying to accomplish."

Led by David Shaw, Stanford's head football coach since 2011, the Cardinal won the schools first Rose Bowl in 40 years last season with a 20-14 win over Wisconsin.

"Our guys have fond memories of it, but they've already started to say it: 'Last year was last year, and we have to prepare this year completely different,'" Shaw told reporters, according to ESPN. "Michigan State has been on a phenomenal run, tough competition, and has come to play every week. We know it's going to be a great game."

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