Rutgers and Michigan State face each other this weekend, but the back-and-forth has already started.

After the Spartans’ win over Western Kentucky last week, Michigan State coach Mel Tucker told his team to “keep chopping.” That sure sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

That’s because Rutgers has used “keep chopping” as a mantra since 2006, when the Scarlet Knights went 11-2 and shut out Kansas State in the Texas Bowl, 37-0. Greg Schiano was the coach that season and he shared his thoughts on Tucker’s usage of the saying.

Well, this should add an interesting ripple to Saturday’s game.

It should be an interesting game, though. Rutgers has a solid run defense and it’ll have to stop Michigan State standout Kenneth Walker III — the top rusher in the B1G. With all this talk about “keep chopping,” could we be looking at a new B1G rivalry?