For the second time this season, Michigan State has cut off media access to its players heading into a critical road game.

Spartans players are off limits to myself and other reporters this week as they prepare for a huge Legends division showdown at Iowa. Coach Mark Dantonio did the same thing before an Oct. 1 game against Ohio State, which Michigan State won 10-7. Dantonio obviously hopes for similar results this week.

I'm obviously not a fan of this tactic -- talking to the media for 30-45 minutes isn't the worst thing and many players enjoy it -- but it's interesting to see when Dantonio has imposed the lockdown. His decision before the Ohio State game certainly had something to do with 25 of his players hailing from the Buckeye State.

While the Iowa game is huge, Michigan State's lockdown could relate to last year's 37-6 loss at Kinnick Stadium -- or what is becoming a heated rivalry with the Hawkeyes.

Make no mistake: the Iowa-Michigan State rivalry is real, especially between these two coaching staffs. They run similar schemes and recruit similar players. The recent results have only added fuel to the fire.

Should be a good one Saturday.