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Michigan State football has toughest 2017 schedule, per CBS Sports

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 19, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans players huddle on the field prior to their game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans players huddle on the field prior to their game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan State football has the toughest 2017 schedule in the country, according to CBS Sports.

Mark Dantonio cannot wait until the 2017 season begins. In fact, the Michigan State football team has had a rough past year and it’s not going to get much easier, especially since the schedule for the upcoming season is one of the toughest in college football.

Must Read: MSU Recruiting: Top priority 2018 football targets remaining

Some experts even believe the Spartans have the toughest slate of all.

According to Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports, Michigan State has the toughest schedule in the country for 2017. Here’s what he had to say about the Spartans’ slate of games:

"If Michigan State rebounds from an awful 3-9 record last year to compete in the Big Ten East this year, it will have earned it. The nonconference isn’t murderous, but it’s not simple, either. Bowling Green should be a win, and Western Michigan won’t be easy, but there’s some question as to how good the Broncos will be following so many key losses. Then there’s Notre Dame, which went 4-8 last season, but Notre Dame was a better team than its record reflected. Still, what does it for Michigan State is its Big Ten schedule. The Spartans not only have to play Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State this season, but only Penn State will be coming to East Lansing.Also, five of Michigan State’s Big Ten games will be on the road this season (it’s the East’s turn), and its cross-divisional draw avoids the West’s heavyweights, but it still provides challenges in Iowa, Minnesota and Northwestern."

The Spartans have some work to do if they’re going to turn things around in 2017. After a tumultuous 3-9 season in 2016 and multiple off-field issues regarding future, current and former players, Michigan State needs all the help it can get.

Unfortunately, it won’t be coming from the 2017 schedule. The Spartans start the season with some winnable games, but should once the middle of the Big Ten slate hits, they will be in for a rude awakening.

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As long as the Spartans remain healthy in 2017 and have some consistent quarterback play, they should be bowling by the end of the season. Under Dantonio’s standards, just making a bowl is a low bar, but given the circumstances, that’d be a huge win. Think of 2017 as a stepping stone into a better 2018 season.

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