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Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi celebrates following an NCAA college football game against Minnesota, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013, in East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State won 14-3. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas -- The olive branch has been extended.

Auburn has not yet adopted Lansing, Michigan as its sister city, but one of Auburn's coaches has a great appreciation of its college: Michigan State

The Spartans paved the way for No. 2 Auburn to reach the BCS National Championship thanks to a 34-24 victory against then-No. 2 Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship on Saturday.

Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee and Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi met for the first time Monday on the eve of the Broyles Award ceremony in Little Rock.

"Actually, at dinner we sat right beside he and his wife and so the first thing my wife (Lauren) did when he walked in was give him a big hug and said thanks," Lashlee said. "He said, 'Yeah, I bet you probably enjoyed that, didn't you?'"

Narduzzi's defense made a key stop on fourth-and-2 late in the fourth quarter to help secure the Spartans' victory. The Spartans only led 27-24 with less than six minutes remaining, but Denicos Allen stopped quarterback Braxton Miller at the Michigan State 38-yard line to end the drive. Six plays later, the Spartans scored a touchdown to seal the victory and send Auburn, the SEC champions, to Pasadena.

When told Monday he helped make Auburn the happiest village on the plains with the defensive stop, he laughed. "I'm sure I did," he said.

Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall (14) celebrates a touchdown with Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013, during the fourth quarter of the Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn may reach out to Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio in the near future as well.

"I need to," he said Sunday.

Lashlee and Narduzzi were in Little Rock to be honored as finalists for the Broyles Award, which goes to the nation's top assistant coach.

"They're good people," Narduzzi said of the Lashlees. 'Great opportunity to come here and meet with them and have a chance to eat dinner with them last night. "

Narduzzi credits the decision to leave the press box at the end of the fourth quarter to coach the Spartans' defense from the sidelines as one of the keys to the fourth-quarter turnaround.

"It wasn't a big adjustment as far as what schematically we were doing but it was an adjustment of just, 'Hey, guys we came here to win this Big Ten Championship. We didn't come here to compete with them and give up," Narduzzi said. "(We were there) to come out and play with better fundamentals and take this game in the fourth quarter."